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"Looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself A PECULIAR PEOPLE."
Titus 2:13-14
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It seems clear to me that the purpose of Jesus Redemptive work is to create A Peculiar People. Who are they? How do I join them? And how do I identify
them?
In Genesis 4 we have the story of Cain & Abel and in their story we find four identifying marks of God's Peculiar People.
The
first identifying mark is whether we are God-governed or man-managed. In other words, are we going to do it God's way or our own way? "Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering." Genesis 4:2-4
Abel followed God's instruction implicitly, however Cain changed God's program. He still brought an offering, he still worshiped but he did it His way. In other words he was man-managed not God-governed.
So in your daily life are you His peculiar people or merely the religious ones? Do you rely on your culture of religion for your identity or upon Christ in you? Just because a mouse is in a cookie jar doesn't make him a cookie. And just because you go to a certain church, believe a certain doctrine, live a certain lifestyle, doesn't make you a Christian.
Romans 2:28, 29 says it very well, "For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly. But he is a Jew which is one inwardly." Which one is it with you personally? Is it God's way or your way in everyday life? This determines whether you are His peculiar people. Whether you are the true or the counterfeit.
The second identifying mark is liberty versus control. In Genesis 4:8 it says that, "Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." Just think of all the bloodshed, gossip, innuendo, tale bearing, false witnessing, and smearing which represents about two-thirds of all the church's problems. Can man's wrath ever work the righteousness of God?
How do you treat those who disagree with you? How do the professionals in the church regard the blue-collar workers? How do the conservatives consider the liberals? How do the liberals talk about the conservatives? When your spouse crosses you, are you the real or the counterfeit? Would your children say you are His Peculiar People? Rather serious questions to ask wouldn't you say?
When you talk with a disagreeable person, is it liberty and love or is it force and domination? So based upon your fruit are you the real or the counterfeit? God says, "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit. Nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit." Luke 6:43, 44.
In other words, His peculiar people pass the FRUIT test!
The third identifying mark is honesty versus coverup. "Then the LORD said to Cain where is Abel your brother? He said, I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" Genesis 4:9
When God comes to you and speaks to your conscience, do you hide? Do you excuse? Do you blame? Do you cover up? God's peculiar people always have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men. (Acts 24:16) Is your conscience right now void of offense toward your brother? Have you slandered or twisted the truth against anyone? Have you transgressed or smeared anyone? If so, and you are truly God's peculiar people you make it right.
Is God asking you to make things right with your spouse? A child? A parent? Employer or employees? A church member? An old friend, brother or sister? If you are God's peculiar people you go and do what is right. In other words you are honest in your conscience and are not one who covers up.
What we are looking to determine is if you are truly under the Lordship of Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit whispering to you conscience. If so, then you are honest and will follow through.
The fourth identifying mark is found in Genesis 4:16, "Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD." Have you left the presence of the LORD in your daily living, yet remained culturally religious? Christ dwelling In you and you dwelling In Christ--never leaving off the presence of God in your daily living is the fourth identifying mark.
In Exodus 33:14 God said to Moses, "My presence will go with you." Wow! What a calling. Are we missing it as professed Christians? Do we go out into our daily lives without His presence? Or do we in the midst of our day leave off His presence? These are very serious questions and ones, which we need to not only answer, but we also need to live our lives In Christ.
You see what makes us His Peculiar People are that we are distinctly in Oneness with Christ. Always doing His will and not our own!
Belonging to God,
Jim & Sally
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