Remember, holiness has to do with difference or uniqueness. It also has to do with distinction and separation. As we have seen, God is infinitely distinct, separate from all creation. He also applies this holiness to believers.
Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy. (Leviticus 22:32 NAU)At the time of salvation, God makes us holy, He sets us apart from the mass of humanity to make us His people making us different, unique. Peter explains this change and what it means very clearly.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)Peter refers to believers as a “chosen race.” The Greek word is genos and refers to the offspring of a person or people group, or a nationality. This may seem peculiar to us. After all, we are all from different races. But, Peter is thinking of the fact that God has chosen people from all races to become His people, forming a new and distinct group of people. In fact, by the second century, Christians are referred to as a “new race.” Perhaps in the time that Peter was writing, Christians were already being recognized as a distinct group of people who are separate and unique among the mass of humanity.
Second, Peter refers to us as a “royal priesthood.” This could also be translated as “the king’s priests.” Here believers are viewed as both royalty and priests. This is another statement of distinction from the world. Believers are part of God’s royal family and also serve as mediators between Him and those who remain outside the family of God.
Third, we are called a “holy nation.” The word for nation here is ethnos and again refers to a distinct people group. This is a people group that is “holy.” And again we see that we have been set apart. We are a distinct group of people in the world of humanity.
Finally, we are called, “A people for God’s own possession.” Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest explains that the Greek word that is translated “possession” literally means “to make around,” that is, to make something and then to surround it with a circle, thus indicating ownership. It speaks of the unique, private, personal ownership of the saints by God. Each saint is God’s unique possession just as if that saint were the only human being in existence.
Through three unique descriptions, Peter makes it clear that believers have been placed in a new position as God’s people, His possession. We are no longer like the average human being, we are different, set apart, unique. We are now part of a new race, a new priesthood, a new nation. We are now God’s people, part of His family. And so, our lives are not ours to live as we please. We belong to God. Peter continues and explains that God has a specific purpose for us as His people.
God chose us to be His people for a very specific purpose, to “proclaim the excellencies” or praise of the one who “called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.” In other words, God made us His people so that we would live, with exclusive purpose, to give Him glory. It is a reasonable expectation that we would live exclusively for the praise and glory of God because it is God who made us His people and gave us the gift of His mercy (v.10) .
Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14 ESV)Christ redeemed us “for Himself”, to be God’s possession. God has separated us to Himself. We have been set apart as His people, His possession, to live for His purposes EXCLUSIVELY! God expects His people to live as people who are distinctively different, unique, and set apart from the lost world in that we live our lives exclusively for His purposes, by His design, to fulfill His desires. This it what it really means to be holy. Holiness is not jsut about moral purity. It is about being different. It is about living our lives in a way that is quite unique compared to the way unbelievers live. Being holy means living my life as a child of God, according to God's desires alone, to fulfill His plans and purposes alone, for His praise and glory alone. Holiness is about being distinctively and uniquely God's.
So, I must ask myself, “Am I really different in my values, desires and lifestyle?” “Does my thinking, planning, and choices in life reflect a unique, distinct and all encompassing demonstration of life lived for God and His glory?” "Am I really living a holy life?" Or, in my values, desires, and lifestyle, do I look a lot like the average unbeliever in my community? Think about it. Does God really have all of you?
Share
Next: (83) The Holiness of God - Conclusion
No comments:
Post a Comment