Christians Are Peculiar - They Are Possessed

The Apostle Peter wrote that those who have been born again are a "peculiar people." (1 Peter 2:9) The Apostle was not suggesting that Christians are odd, curious or unusual. The sense of the word is to describe the child of God as belonging to God or "God's possession." (NASV) It is true that being the possession of God would make a person peculiar from those of the world but here Peter assigns the worth of the individual to the relationship with the Father. Paul also refers to Christians as "peculiar people" in Titus 2:14.

The Christian is a person who is different from the world. As the "elect of God" they are "holy and beloved," filled with "tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another," as Christ forgave them. (Colossians 3:12,13) In the same text of Colossians 3 we find the Christian is filled with love, peace, thanksgiving, the word of God, wisdom, grace in the hearts filled through song with those things that are above. Here is the possession of God in the lives of His children.

Christians are peculiar as they show forth the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) The possession of God in the lives of His children is found in their speech, their minds, their actions, their thoughts and their motives. Paul wrote: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) How complete and full is his surrender to the possession of the Father.

Crucifixion was an instrument of death. The figure is used to describe how the old man of sin was destroyed to let the new man of holiness live. (Ephesians 4:17-24) Christ lived in Paul. Christ possessed Paul. The life that was Paul following his obedience to the gospel of Christ was filled with the overwhelming presence of God in his life. He was peculiar because he knew he was possessed by God.

Our lives as children of God must manifest themselves in the character of God's possession. Christ gave Himself to redeem us from iniquity and purify unto Himself a people given to the Father who are zealous of good works. (Titus 2:14) As the redeemed, we live every day seeking to show forth the life of Jesus Christ. Christianity is not a prosthesis that we can take on and off at every whim. It is a life filled with drinking deeply in the spiritual well of God's goodness and grace.

Those who walk in the ranks of God's army are soldiers of the highest banner who present themselves fully clothed in the armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-18) Truth is girded about them with righteousness protecting the heart. The preparation of the gospel is borne upon the feet of those who march boldly through the enemy lines of the devil and with the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of truth, victory is given each day in the lives of every person who belong to the Almighty God.

"Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'" (2 Timothy 2:19) Christians are a peculiar people because they are possessed of God. God knows the hearts of all men and He knows the hearts of those who are His possession. He implores those who take on the name of His Son to depart from iniquity. Live like a child of God, act like a child of God, stand like a child of God, speak like a child of God - you belong to God! You are God's possession!

By Kent Heaton

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