Will God choose to save the Jewish people over the African people, or the Europeans over South Americans?

on Jan 22, 2026

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: Some people believe that God chooses who He will save and who He won’t save. This is very confusing to me, and it doesn’t quite sync with very famous passages that God loves the world and that whoever believes will have eternal life. Will God, for instance, choose to save the Jewish people over the African people, or the Europeans over South Americans? How can this be properly understood? – N.E.

Q: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for the whole world. It brings hope to those who repent of sin and receive Christ’s forgiveness. Now, this doesn’t mean that all people will indeed call upon the name of the Lord for salvation. The majority of people resist Him, block His voice out, and ultimately reject Him.

The Bible says clearly: “Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13, WBT). God our Savior “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth” (1 Timothy 2:4, NKJV). And salvation brings transformation in a life.

The Bible teaches that life is only a vapor that appears for a moment and then vanishes (see James 4:14). Every cemetery testifies to this fact. This is why God calls out to the nations of the world to get right with Him. History will someday come to an end, rendering the world’s system, dominated by evil, a total failure. Wickedness in every form will cease: hatred, greed, jealousy, war, and death. This “day of the Lord” will be glorious, when He comes to bring peace to the “whosoevers.”

This word whoever is a wonderfully big word; it speaks of the grace of God and His invitation that extends to all people: “There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him” (Romans 10:12, NKJV).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)