As
a Christian you are special. The Bible says so. Titus 2:14 says that Christ “gave
Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for
Himself His own special
people, zealous for good works.” The Greek word translated “special” is periousios and Titus 2:14 is the
only place in the New Testament where the word appears. The old King James
Version translated it as “peculiar.” The word “peculiar” though carries the
idea of odd or strange in our day. That works for me but I don’t want to put
that label on you.
Periousios literally
means to be around. Draw a dot and then draw a circle around it. As the circle
is around the dot so Christ is around His people. They are his own special
treasure. We have been saved from a world full of lawless deeds and surrounded
by Christ so that we can zealously do good works – not to earn salvation but to
show the fruit of our salvation (Ephesians 2:4-10).
Being
Christ’s special people also means that we are in a place of protection. Place
a dot outside the circle that has the original dot in it and label this new dot
trials and temptations. Then draw an arrow from this new dot to the one in the
circle. Just as the arrow cannot reach the dot until it goes through the
circle, so there will be no temptation or trial in your life unless Christ
allows it. And why would he allow trials and temptations? The apostle Peter
says that we are tested “if need be…by various trials, that the genuineness of
your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it
is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation
of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6, 7).
Just
as the purity of gold is brought forth by the refining fire, so the reality and
purity of your faith is revealed by life’s trials. This is like when a coach
puts a good athlete in a difficult spot so that he or she learns to be more
skilled in the sport. And God will never allow you to be tempted beyond what
you are able to bear. He will always provide a way for you to overcome (1
Corinthians 10:13, 14). The grace of God given to us in Christ is sufficient to
face every trial with faith, love and hope as we overcome it (1 John 5:4, 5).
Rejoice! You are Christ’s special people!
Thanks for the ‘special’ message Chuck!
ReplyDelete“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor 5:17 - NKJV)
"Behold all things have become new."
Yes, the man in Christ is a new man, with a new life in a new world. "All things have become new." He has life in Christ, he has immortality in Christ. He has life instead of death, salvation instead of sin, justification instead of condemnation, acceptance instead of banishment, peace instead of enmity.
We have new affections, fixed upon things above; new hopes, entering within the veil;
a new song put in our mouth; and a new heart with which to praise Him for setting our feet on the Rock of Ages, for ordering our goings, for holding our hand, for guiding our feet into the way of peace.
May it be ours to know the blessedness and power of these divinely "new things," and to go on our way rejoicing, while waiting for that great proclamation to go forth -- "Behold I make all things new," and walking in newness of life, to the praise and glory of GOD.
“Proclaim with me the LORD's greatness; let us praise his name together!” (Psalm 34:3 - GNB)