A Peculiar People

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people…” (Titus 2:14) “But ye are…a peculiar people…” (I Peter 2:9)

The ungodly will sometimes in their description of God’s people bear testimony to the truth of Scripture. They look at Christ’s redeemed people and say, “What a peculiar bunch!” They use the same word, but they do not mean it in the same sense as do the Apostles Paul and Peter in the two texts quoted above.

In the eyes of the world Christians are odd, Scripture does not deny that it is true; however, Scripture’s meaning is that we are peculiarly Christ’s own. He has called us out of the world so that we should be separate. When the ungodly say of us that we are odd misfits, they may be right, but what they see as undesirable, Christ sees as well-pleasing. Thus, our peculiarity ought to be worn as a badge of honor.

Webster defines the word “peculiar” as “something different from the normal or usual.” If the world around us is seen as normal or usual, then let us be peculiar. Christians ought to be manifestly different from the world with respect to the things in which we take delight and with respect to the object of our love and worship. (I John 2:15; Matt. 6:24)

The word “peculiar” also means “characteristic of a particular person or group.” This seems to be what the Apostles mean when referring to Christ’s redeemed Church as “a peculiar people.” They are particularly His, and they bear a peculiar resemblance to Him. Again, whatever the intended connotation, believers should consider it their highest honor to be described as “a peculiar people.”

The desire of every longing soul whom God has moved by His Spirit is sweetly breathed forth in the language of Ruth the Moabites when she said to Naomi, her mother-in-law, “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” It is true of every living soul whom God has quickened to new life that they see in His people something unusual; something characteristic of a blessed people who make up a peculiar family – the family of God. Ruth’s heart cleaved to Naomi with affection, and with desire to be one with her and her people. She would leave her friends and family and homeland in order that she might dwell with the people of God, and that she might die with them. (Ruth 1:16)

Though they are far from perfect and though in them are many faults and failings, yet with all their imperfections and infirmities, they are the people of the living God. If then we are walking with those who are on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life, we will inevitably carry about with us some mark, some evidence, that we belong to this peculiar people. It shall be manifest that God has separated us by a work of grace upon the soul which distinguishes us “from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.” (Exodus 33:16)

These peculiar people were set apart by the original separation of them in the eternal council of the Triune God. They were chosen in Christ before all worlds, that they might be holy and without blame before Him in love; that they might be a people in whom the Lord Jesus takes delight, and in whom He might be glorified. And thus, this peculiar people are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” In the beginning, when there was nothing but God, before the creative Voice of God made all things, this people had being in the mind of the Creator. In virtue of this, they are each brought forth in time, and in God’s appointed season given new spiritual existence by the quickening operation of the Holy Spirit. This new life is made manifest by holy actions and desires which set us apart from the world and declares us to be a peculiar people.

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