| The Christian Life | January 1941 |
A Peculiar People
“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”—Titus 2:14
THE Greek word translated “peculiar” in our text is, periousios, which, according to Prof. Strong, means that which is special, or beyond the usual. The apostle’s thought evidently is that this people whom Christ purifies unto Himself are esteemed by Him and by the Heavenly Father as a special treasure. Similar language is used by God concerning natural Israel. We read, “Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall he a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine. And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, arid an holy nation.”—Ex. 19:5,6
High indeed was the possibility of Israel’s relationship toward God, but it was dependent upon continued faithfulness in obeying His voice and keeping His commandments. As a nation Israel failed all along the line; and finally, when the nation rejected Jesus, was cast off from all hope of enjoying the chief place of favor in the divine arrangements. Concerning this Paul explains: “Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.”—Romans 11:7
The apostle explains, however, that a remnant of individuals from among Israel qualified for the chief blessing. This agrees with the statement concerning Jesus which says that “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not; but as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.” (John 1:11,12) But there were not sufficient who received the Master to make up the foreordained number of the special people, so the remaining ones are called from among the Gentiles. Explaining this Paul says that the Gentile branches are grafted into the Jewish olive tree to take the places of the natural branches that were broken off because of unbelief. (Rom. 11:17-30) This is a “graft” which is “contrary to nature,” because usually it is tame branches that are grafted into a wild root; and the nature of the branches determines the kind and quality of the fruit. But not so with the Gentiles grafted into the Jewish tree.
TAKE HEED
Israel’s standing as God’s peculiar treasure continued only as long as the nation was zealous for hearing and obeying the voice of God. So we, who have come into this favored position as spiritual Israelites can hope to be reckoned among God’s choice treasure only if we are “zealous for good works.” “Take heed,” the apostle warns, for if God spared not the natural branches He will certainly not spare us if we become unfaithful. Evidently the one characteristic above all others which commends an individual to God is that of zeal for doing His will. Without this zeal no one can hope to be a part of God’s peculiar people.
While God may exercise a measure of tolerance toward lukewarm Christians, such cannot for long remain within the inner circle of His chosen few. Their lot is to be “spewed out” from God’s special favor. Whatever may be their final destiny they cannot hope to be a part of that “royal diadem” in the hand of God which will be used by Him for the accomplishment of His purposes toward the children of men.
The example of zeal which we should endeavor to emulate is that which was displayed by Jesus. The zeal of God’s house consumed Him; and we ‘are called to follow in His steps; Jesus’ zeal was manifested in the sacrifice of His earthly life on behalf of the church and the world. We are invited to lay down our lives for the brethren, and also to be baptized for the dead. Jesus’ sacrifice constitutes the basis of redemption for both the church and the world, and we are invited to share with Him in administering the benefits of the ransom. No matter how much zeal we might display, our sacrifice would not be acceptable apart from the Master’s; but because we serve in His name we have the assurance of being “holy and acceptable.”
HE GAVE HIMSELF FOR US
In our text the apostle tells us that Christ “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity.” As members of the condemned and fallen race we were contaminated with sin, because “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) Jesus’ redemptive work makes it possible for us to be made free from “the law of sin and death,” and acceptable as joint-sacrificers with Him. But the mere fact that we accept this provision of divine grace is not sufficient to constitute us a part of God s peculiar people. In addition to this we must be “purified.”
This purification is effected by our obedience to the truth—the “washing of water by the Word.” This is a cleansing from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit. It is the washing away of selfishness and self-will so that the divine will may reign supreme in our hearts. This cleansing must be thorough if we are to be God’s peculiar people. It must be more than a mere passive submission to His will. It must be a consuming zeal for the accomplishment of the divine will irrespective of what the cost to us may be. To thus be purified will mean that we are, indeed, a people “zealous of good works.”
In brief, these “good works” for which we will be zealous are God’s works. It was so in Jesus’ case. He came, not to do His own will and work, but the will and work of His Father. In a prayer to His Father, Jesus said, “As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” (John 17:18) This is a wondrous partnership in which we are invited to share. We can add nothing of value to the partnership, and the only way by which we can commend ourselves to the Lord in connection therewith is through our zeal for the work that is being done. As “workers together with Him” are we endeavoring to set everything else aside in order that we may zealously engage in that which He has put into our hands to do?
The Apostle Peter (I Pet 2:9) also speaks of the consecrated followers of the Master as being a peculiar people. The Greek word used by him has the thought of a “purchased” people, or a people acquired by purchase. The thought is essentially the same as that outlined by Paul in our text. This people is purchased at great cost, even by Jesus’ laying down His life for them. Acquired at so great a sacrifice they are precious in His sight, a very special treasure.
A CHOSEN GENERATION
Peter mentions other characteristics of these peculiar people. He says, for example, that they are a “chosen generation.” In I Peter 1:2 we are told that these people are “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience.” Paul explains the manner in which God’s foreknowledge operates in connection with this elect people, saying, “Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.”—Rom. 8:29
Here again we are reminded of the condition requisite to being the peculiar people of God, that condition being zeal for good works. God has predestinated that each one of this class must be conformed to the image of Christ. The zeal of God’s house consumed the Master, and if we are like Him, then the same zeal will consume us. The Master’s zeal was for the good work of God, and our zeal must also be for God’s work. It will not do merely to be zealous. It will not do merely to be “live wires,” for live wires, out of control, are often dangerous. Our zeal must be controlled by the will of God, then it will result in blessings to others and to the glory of the Lord. Otherwise, we might be “workers of iniquity.”
God wants us to “give diligence to make our calling and election sure,” and if we do, we will become more and more conformed to the likeness of His beloved Son. (II Pet. 1:10) To be like Jesus we need to get acquainted with Him. We can do this through the Word. As we note the details of His consecrated life we are at once impressed with the full extent to which He sought to know and to do His Father’s, will at all times and under all circumstances. In the most trying moment of His earthly career He lifted up His heart to God and said, “not My will, but Thine, be done.”—Luke 22:42
Jesus met temptation by appealing to the expressed will of God—“it is written.” Jesus was faithful in prayer, and could say to His Father, “I knew that Thou nearest Me always.” (John 11:42) Jesus let His light shine so faithfully that it finally cost Him His life. Jesus was ever on the alert to bless others, even the little children. His “union hours” were all the hours He could put into the glory of His Father and the service of His disciples and others as He had opportunity. Such is the portrait of the Master as revealed to us in His life of devotion and sacrifice. And God has predestinated that if we are to he a part of the “chosen generation” of this age, we must be conformed to the Master’s image.
A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
“Ye are a royal priesthood,” the apostle asserts. Here again the language God employed to describe His typical people is applied to spiritual Israel. Israel was designated “a kingdom of priests,” but in order to make good that title continued zeal for the doing of God’s will was necessary. (Exod. 19:5,6) This zeal was lacking, and now the title is transferred “to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”—Matt. 21:43
The priests of Israel represented God among the people. Their work was twofold. They offered sacrifice, and they dispensed the blessings of God to the people vouchsafed by the sacrifices. All Israel was to be a nation of priests in representing God before the rest of the world, but failed to actually attain this high position of divine favor. Now the title and privilege goes to God’s peculiar people of the Gospel age. In I Peter 2:5 the apostle explains that the consecrated are “an holy priesthood” to “offer up sacrifices.” Peter also says that we are built up a “spiritual house.” This is a reference to the symbolism of the temple as the meeting place between God and Israel. The people came to the temple to receive God’s blessings. So God’s peculiar people are to be the channel of divine blessings to the whole world when the work of sacrifice is complete. What wondrous grace is thus bestowed upon those who are “zealous of good works.”
AN HOLY NATION
To be holy means to be pure, unadulterated. The holiness for which God is looking in His people is that which was suggested on the mitre worn by Israel’s typical High Priest. Thereupon was the inscription, “Holiness unto the Lord.” The thought evidently is that of an unmixed devotion to God. Israel was to have no other gods except Jehovah. To the extent that their worship and service was divided with other gods, they were impure, unholy—an unholy nation.
God expects that His peculiar people will be undivided in their devotion to Him. He doesn’t want us to be “double minded.” There may be little danger today that we will worship Moloch or other heathen deities, but there are, nevertheless, many “idols” which our wayward hearts may set up, and through the worship of which we would become unholy in our devotion to God. There’s the god of pleasure; the god of wealth; the god of ease; the god of pride and ambition. Then there is the “self” god. How we need to be on the alert lest we become worshippers of our own clear selves. To qualify as a part of God’s holy nation of today the divine will must reign supreme in our hearts and lives.
Yes, God wants us to be “obedient children, not fashioning ourselves according to the former lusts.” “But as He which hath called you is holy,” says the apostle, “so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” Then the apostle quotes from the Old Testament, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (I Pet. 1:14-16; Lev. 11:4,45) The entire text in Leviticus from which Peter quotes, reads, “For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
God is here reminding Israel that He was exclusively their God. Later, through Amos, God declared, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2) God is pure and sinless from whatever standpoint we may view Him, but in these passages He seems to be emphasizing the point that He had not been a God to any other nation except Israel. It is upon the basis of this holiness toward them, that He asks them to be holy toward Him. He had no other people; they were to have no other gods.
The same thing is, true today. God loves all nations, and has provided blessings for them but He considers the “holy nation” only as being His peculiar people. To these He becomes Father, Helper, and Friend. He engraves them upon the palms of His hands; they are as dear to Him as the apple of His eye. His name is written in their foreheads. He provides for all their needs; gives them strength when they are weak; comfort when they are discouraged; and joy when they are sorrowful. In the end, He will exalt them to His own nature and glory. Yes, they are a peculiar treasure unto Him, and no good thing will He withhold from them.
SHOWING FORTH GOD’S PRAISES
After applying these various symbolically descriptive titles to the followers of the Master the apostle explains the practical significance of what they all imply, saying, “that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (I Peter 2:9) This, after all, is the objective of the “good works” for which God’s peculiar people should be zealous. All that is clone by The Christ, both in this age and in the next, shows forth the praises of God.
The Millennial age work of healing the sick and raising the dead will certainly show forth God’s praises. When, through the instrumentality of The Christ, Head and body, the knowledge of God’s glory fills the earth as the waters cover the sea, all mankind will praise the Lord. Then every creature in heaven and in earth will be praising Him that sitteth upon the throne, and will also give glory to the Lamb that was slain. (Rev. 5:13) But those who are privileged to share in that future-work of filling the earth with the glory of God will be those only who previously have zealously sacrificed all their earthly interests in showing forth the praises of the Lord in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom—now this side of the veil—they shine as lights.
The extent to which the light of the Gospel penetrates the darkness of this world is not the responsibility of the Christian; but we are responsible for letting the light shine. Whether men hear or whether they forbear does not affect the responsibility imposed upon us by divine grace to show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We are sacrificing priests to this end; we are a holy nation for this purpose; we are a chosen generation to be the light of the world; and a consuming zeal for carrying on this good work as God directs in. His Word, and in recognition of the fact that it is all by grace that the privilege is extended to us, will mean that God will continue to encircle us with His love as His peculiar people.
This doesn’t mean that we can earn our way into the Kingdom. It doesn’t mean that salvation is of works, and not of grace. It does mean that we will be demonstrating our faith by our works; and that, realizing we have been bought with a price, we do not belong to ourselves, but to Him, and are to be His servants forever. It means that we qualify to be God’s peculiar treasure by showing our appreciation of what He has done for us. If we really appreciate His love, we will want to tell everybody about it; and by doing this, we show forth His praises. Are we willing to have the telling of it cost us our lives? That is the question for each one of us to decide.