A Peculiar People

Reading in the book of John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:9-10 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

Isn’t that something: that the God of this universe came into this world in the form of man and the world in general did not even recognize who He was? We are not just talking about the common people, but much more so the religious leaders of that time, who claimed to keep and follow God’s way. -They were the majority and they starred straight into His eyes and tried to find fault with Him, simply because He was not doing things the way that their well-trained ‘leaders’ said that He should. After all, their buildings and organizations had been standing and ‘serving’ God in the same manner for many years? Surely, being the majority, they knew best of the things of God? Well, Jesus proved them wrong, didn’t He.

1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Did you ever notice that God often deals with the base things? With the minority, and not the majority? Here are some scriptures that back up this statement:

1 Corinthians 1:25-29 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide isthe gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Judges 7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

It is clear that God performs most works in and through those that are not well-esteemed in this world. Why?

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Luke 11:42-44 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

1 John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

What “evil” works is “the world” in general guilty of, and that Jesus is speaking of here?

1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

And, what does Jesus say about His people?

Titus 2:11-15 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

“A peculiar people.” What makes them peculiar? It says right here: “zealous of good works”. What good works are we talking about here? Let’s ask this question… is it peculiar for people to claim to be sinners? It is clear that God’s people will not be part of “the world”, correct?

2 Corinthians 6:16-18 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

1 John 5:18-19 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but He that is begotten of God keepeth Himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, what’s the opposite of knowing God?) and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

This is why Jesus tells us not to love this world! We cannot be a servant of sin and a servant of righteousness at the same time!

James 3:11-14 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

Romans 6:16-17 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Romans 2:7-11 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.

So, God’s people will be “peculiar”. What is peculiar about them again? Good works – but not just any good works; these must be the good works that God has ordained of us…

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

1 John 2:3-6 And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him. But whoso keepeth His word, in Him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.

Obedience to God – now that’s peculiar in this world! I know, I know, “works”. The question is, are you performing the works of obedience by faith, like Abraham for instance? Or, are you performing your own works in attempts to do what you think will be pleasing to The Lord? There is a HUGE difference, you know.

James 2:21-26 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. (This hope is the New Testament covenant that Jesus shed His blood for!)

The law had many things that the keepers of the Law had to perform. More than keeping though, was what not to do. Specific, and to the letter, you could not travel more than a “sabbath day’s journey” on a sabbath day – for example. Under grace, we are not licensed to sin, but we are not focused on what we cannot do, but rather those things that Christ has asked of us. If we are following Him, performing the same works as He did, we will not live in sin because He was not guilty of sin. The life that He led, was not sinful. Therefore, if He is living in and through us, the life manifested will be His perfect life (as it pertains to godliness.)

We simply do what He has commanded of us and He takes care of the sin. Does this mean that we can voluntarily take part in sin – God forbids it! If we love God, His commandments are not grievous to us, so, as we are cleansed, we will no longer desire sin. Being free from it, it is then cleansed from every part of our being, and no more a part of our lives. -We have put on Christ’s righteousness!

It is just that simple! We cannot rid our lives of sin through and by our own power. If we could, we would not need Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. we do, however, need to be obedient, because He was.

Hebrews 5:8-9 Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him

This is really no different than many of the examples that God left us in the Old Testament. Take, for instance, the battle of Jericho. The army needed to overcome the wall of Jericho in order to overtake it, correct? If we were generals of an army that needed to take down a wall, how do you suppose that we would go about doing it? Man’s way is to attack and attempt to overthrow it, is it not? Well, in this example, that would represent our righteousness, or how we would conquer sin in our lives if we were left with that task. Problem? We are not strong enough to conquer sin in our own lives!

So, what happened at the battle of Jericho? They used God’s way to overcome that “wall of sin”, if you will? God could flick it over with His little finger, right? But what did He do? God knew that they were not strong enough to take down the wall on their own, so He told the army to march around the wall for 7 days and sound trumpets, etc. (Please read the story, if you are not familiar already.) Once God saw their obedience to His commandment, what happened? The wall came down before them, right? Just like chains of sin falling from our wrists at the moment of conversion to Christ! Just like the motions of sin in our members being crucified; the deeds of our bodies being mortified as we obey God’s Word!

So, what “good works” is this “peculiar people” of God’s zealous of? -His righteousness, or the things that are right in the sight of God.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

But unto the world He says:

Luke 6:45-49 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Now that’s peculiar! It may seem impossible to live a life without sin to the world, but not with God…

Mark 10:26-27 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Amen! Praise God!

rob@INTRUTH.site

Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

#PeculiarPeopleOfGod #InTheWorldButNotOfThisWorld #BeYeSeparate