>>18085500
Well, according to what the Bible says, they always were.
"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"
(2 Timothy 1:9)
"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."
(Acts 13:48)
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
(1 Peter 2:9-10) [this passage is quoting Exodus 19:6 and Hosea 2:23]
"A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this."
(Psalm 22:30-31)
So yes, these are the people who God had foreknowledge of from the beginning. Christians are His one true people. The Bible predicts all of this.
With regards to the ancient Jews who chose to reject Christ, they will be cast into outer darkness. See the following:
"And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
(Matthew 8:11-12)
"For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people."
(Acts 3:22-23)
That's what the Bible says. Anyone who says otherwise is going against scripture.