Exodus 19:5-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:9-12
Introduction:
1. Everyone re-created in Christ, as set forth on the first Sunday of this year (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10), have become a part of His special/peculiar people.
2. The focus of this series is the Lord’s demand that His people be in the world but not of the world (John 17:15-20; 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17).
3. This will unfold in a series of discussions ranging from the necessity and means of becoming one of His special people, expectations for worship, church leadership, Christian morals/ethics, brotherly love, service to all, etc.
4. Today we begin with the reality and meaning of His call to be distinctly His.
Discussion:
I. Defining Terms
A. Our New Testament passages describing the church are taken from Exodus 19:5-6.
B. The context is God’s separating Israel from all other nations as His own special treasure, set apart as His special purpose (Acts 15:13-14).
C. This concept undergirds our purpose when we become one of His special people.
II. The Call
A. This setting apart begins with the Lord’s call.
B. Much confusion exists as to how He calls us.
C. Following John Calvin, many believe this to be a direct call from the Holy Spirit.
D. Peter and Paul help clear this confusion.
1. Paul described God’s grace that brings salvation as “teaching us…” (Titus 2:11).
2. Peter agreed though using different language (1 Peter 1:22-25).
3. This is consistent with the full sweep of NT revelation on the matter (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-47; John 6:44-45; 17:17; Romans 10:12-17; 1 Corinthians 1:17-24).
E. God’s grace was manifested in His Son (John 1:16-17), through Whom He revealed His final will (Hebrews 1:1-4), by which we are able to become part of His special people.
III. The Contrast
A. As Israel’s calling distinguished them from their peers, so it is with the church today.
B. Notice the sharp contrast with the world.
1. Ungodliness and worldly lusts give way to sober, upright, godly living (Titus 2:11-13).
2. Rather than stumble over the cornerstone as the disobedient, the called are built into the house of God upon it (1 Peter 2:4-10).
3. This “special people” live to proclaim His excellencies, a task demanding abstention from fleshly lusts and practice of honorable deeds (1 Peter 2:9-10).
C. The catalyst to all of this is the same in both:
1. Being called out of darkness and into His light is the motivation (1 Peter 2:9)
2. Those once not His people became His people; those once not obtaining mercy obtained mercy (1 Peter 2:10; Hosea 2:23).
3. These look for His blessed hope and glorious appearing, a hope that drives pursuit of purity (Titus 2:13-14; 1 John 3:1-3).
Conclusion:
1. These passages demonstrate the broad principle that His special people must live in a very different way in pursuit of very different ends.
2. If we are to belong to Him, we must become increasingly like Him.
3. Life’s most important question is, are you part of His special people?
Further Food for Thought
1. How would you rate your pursuit of the principles above?
2. Does the life you are currently living proclaim His excellencies to the world?
3. If not, what would it take to actuate your faith and prompt you to do so?
4. If so, how can you urge someone who is not so living to begin?