SUNDAY SERMON. TOPIC: THE UNMISTAKABLE MARKS OF GOD’S PECULIAR PEOPLE TEXT: Titus 2:11-14 There are different kinds of people in this world: the perverted and polluted people who live in sin and the pardoned, pure, powerful and peculiar people of God. Peculiar people of God have a heavenly deposit of grace and power that their unbelieving neighbours cannot understand. This extra-ordinary lifestyle of grace exposes them to persecution. God’s plan and purpose for choosing to redeem believers from sin is so that they will be a peculiar people unto Him. “The Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2; 26:18). God saves people from their sins with the aim of bringing them into His family of peculiar people. With this reason for redemption in mind, the believer, among his colleagues is expected to be peculiar in lifestyle, behaviour and action. To be peculiar is to be different from other people and nations in character, comportment, aspirations and lifestyle. God’s calling on every believer then is to be peculiar. This requires that they maintain a righteous lifestyle. There are times the believer must say ‘no’ to his personal interest, ideals, ambitions, the flesh, the world, and Satan. Though the Israelites were not able to memorize the Ten Commandments, if they had remembered they were called to be peculiar, they would have distinguished themselves from the lifestyles of other sinful nations and held on to the principles of righteousness. So, whatever the worldly people do, believers must remember they are called to be peculiar to God. God requires this peculiar lifestyle not only from Old Testament saints but also from New Testament believers. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). What then are the unmistakable marks of God’s peculiar people? 1.SALVATION FOR ALL THROUGH GOD’S GRACE Titus 2:11; 1 Timothy 2:3,4; 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 10:8-13; Acts 2:21; Romans 5:18; Isaiah 45:21,22; Revelation 22:17. Salvation from sin is the will of God for everyone. This is the essence of the revelation of grace. But it should be borne in mind that God has not predestined anyone to be lost. This should encourage believers to, instead of giving up, keep praying for and preaching to those who are yet to be saved. Believers must not fail to declare the gospel of salvation to their friends, neighbours, spouses, children, colleagues, etc. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth”. God’s love that brings this experience of salvation is available for all men. It is clear that (1) God wants all men to be saved, and (2) that all men should come to the knowledge of the truth. Obviously, it is contrary to His will to remain in a so-called Christian assembly where there is no knowledge of this truth. Believers must leave no stone unturned to bring new converts to the place where the truth of God’s word is taught without fear of hurting those who are not willing to teach the truth. All categories of sinners must be warned of the danger of hell and their need of repentance from sin. The Lord is “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Salvation by grace is for all people. And the steps to receiving this indispensable experience are simple. The sinner must confess his sins to the Lord, surrender to the Lordship of Christ, and believe that He died and rose again for his salvation. Though the steps are simple, it is the sinner who determines when he gets saved from sin. Until he takes these steps in prayer and calls upon the Lord for forgiveness and salvation, he cannot be saved. Salvation is a free gift of God but the sinner must look unto the Lord by faith to receive it. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else”. Clearly then, the sinner uses his will to choose his destiny – either to spend eternity in hell or in heaven. Everyone will face this eternal reality. God calls everyone to prepare for eternity by receiving the free gift of eternal life through salvation in Christ. This is the only way to escape punishment in eternal fire after death. Everyone who has obtained the salvation of God must also be diligent to keep the experience to be able to see God in heaven. In fact, salvation experience is the unmistakable mark of God’s peculiar people. 2.SELF-DENIAL AND STEADFASTNESS IN GODLINESS Titus 2:12; Galatians 2:20; 5:24-26; Romans 6:6; Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23-26; 1 Timothy 6:6-11; Hebrews 12:25-28; 2 Peter 3:11-14. When a sinner gives his life to the Lord, he becomes different and peculiar. The grace of God keeps activating his heart to desire more of God. His new life is different from the old. Whereas he was in darkness, the power of God’s grace regenerates him to live in God’s light. And though he was polluted, by the transformation of God’s grace, he begins to live according to the perfect, revealed will and word of God. The evil things he used to do cease in his life. But after a while, the evil and ungodliness that the believer had once renounced will seek re-entry into his heart to defile him. Since temptations will come to every believer, it requires self-denial and steadfastness in godliness to remain peculiar to the Lord. Thus, every believer must learn to say ‘no’ to the flesh, the world and Satan. Apart from the outward life of freedom from sin, the believer must watch over his inner desires. In lieu of the vainglory he once craved, he should desire the glory of God in all he does. Also, he should bear in mind that envy, deceit, bitterness, jealousy, etc. are no more part of his life. And though the world pressurizes him to do evil in the workplace or neighbourhood, he should remain uncompromising and unspotted by sin. He must stand firm against all Satan-induced actions and suggestions that could rob him of his salvation experience. Steadfastness in godliness comes through self-denial. Christ’s says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”. Contentment is another unmistakable mark of God’s peculiar people. Why do people fight, and why are they contentious? Lack of contentment. For this Korah, Dathan and Abiram, Absalom, king Saul and Demas, etc., made shipwreck of their faith. Lack of contentment makes people belittle and waste opportunities or privileges they have. We must be ready to resist the tendency to over-estimate our lives. Believers who seek to be peculiar to God must persevere in godliness. This is because salvation is eternally invaluable. On the other hand, mundane things of life are perishable with time, unlike our spiritual experiences. To jealously guard the mundane instead of our salvation is unwise. We must get ready for eternity by abiding in Christ and watching over our souls. 3.SANCTIFICATION AND ZEAL FOR SPREADING GOD’S GOODNESS Titus 2:14; Ephesians 5:25-27; Galatians 1:3,4; 2:18-20; 1 John 1:5-7; 1 Peter 2:9. Jesus gave Himself to be crucified so as to cleanse, sanctify and make us peculiar people to Him. For every believer to be holy and blameless, He made this great and final sacrifice. He died to deliver us from all the sins, uncleanness and social perversions of this evil world. It is ominous that many believers are growing cold in their zeal for God. Their first love, zeal and conviction are waning. This is not the experience of all Christians, however. Christ who lives in us does not grow old, tired, weak, impotent or cold. He is unchangeable. We must let the fire of the indwelling Christ burn continually within us. Service rendered without zeal, love and passion in the heart is not going to be acceptable to the Lord. With zeal and enthusiasm, our lives must daily beam the light of good works and show forth the praise of God. We must be passionate and zealous in spreading God’s goodness through good works and sacrificial service.
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 11:45:21 +0000