A Peculiar People

Titus 2:13-14 says, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." I'm going to focus on the word, "peculiar." Webster's dictionary defines peculiar in this manner: Of only one person, thing; exclusive. Special, odd, or strange. Jesus gave himself on Calvary's cross to save a lost sinner and purify him and make him peculiar in this world. One thing we need to understand is what does Jesus mean when he says peculiar? He's not referring to peculiar in the sense of religious groups or zealots such as the modern day Charismatic movement or cultish leaders like Jim Jones or David Koresh. He's not making reference to peculiarity that's not scriptural. In this religious world in which we live, we have all kinds of strange, odd, and peculiar people. Some teach you shouldn't pledge allegiance to the flag or teach it's wrong to wear cowboy boots, or receive a blood transfusion. Those kinds of oddities aren't supported by the Bible. Christ didn't give himself to make oddballs with no purpose behind it. Jesus wants Christians to be peculiar in the sense that they're uniquely and distinctly different from the world in regards to morals, personal attire, personal conduct, attitude about the things of the world, etc. There's a purpose for Jesus giving himself to redeem lost man and in the process purifying man to make him peculiar. This world is at enmity with God so therefore those that are redeemed, purified, and made peculiar will be despised by the world.

Romans 12:1-2 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transfored by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." God has a specific purpose of purifying unto himself a peculiar people. It's not for the purpose of being odd or strange in and of itself. God doesn't want Christians to be different for the sake of it. There's a specific purpose. God wants us to be conformed to the image of Christ. Why is that? In Mark 16:15 Jesus gave a command which is called the Great Commission. We're to go out into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. We have a responsibility to reach those that don't know God. In order to reach people, we must be separated from this world and consecrated unto God. We are to be salt and light to this world. In order to accomplish this task we must be saved and we must be filled with the Holy Spirit to have a dramatic impact on this world. When you read the book of Acts and read about how God used the apostles to reach the lost, you see a group of peculiar people. Those in Antioch gave them the name "Christians" because they were Christlike in their character and followers of Christ. If those Apostles weren't peculiar, they wouldn't have much of an impact upon the communities in which they journeyed.

Today's contemporary churches have lost sight of the importance of Christians being a peculiar people. Today we want to fit in and mesh with the world. We have people today that profess Christ but you can't distinguish those that claim to be Christian from those that are of the world.

What are some of the characteristics of a peculiar people that Titus is talking about? First of all when we're speaking of peculiar as Titus mentions, we're talking about people that have been sanctified and set apart to serve the Lord. They're a special people unto God. They are considered strange to the world because the world's system is in diametrical opposition to God's ways. The peculiar people that you read about in Titus are saved first of all. They've been saved, set free, and redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Also, these peculiar people are purified. Titus says that Jesus gave himself to redeem mankind from sin and to purify himself a people. Who has a will and a purpose for those that he purifies. He desires for his people to be conformed to the image of Christ. A peculiar person can't be conformed to the image of Christ unless they've been washed by the blood of the Lamb and purified.

Another characteristic of peculiar people in Titus is that they are separated from the world. However, they aren't separated for the sake of separation. They aren't separated so they can boast about how they're different from the world. No, no. They're separated from this world and its system so they can be set apart to serve God. God has a purpose for separation. He wants his people to be separated so they can be set apart, sanctified, and fit for the master's service. God's people are to be salt and light to this lost and dying world. Their lives are to be testimonies to God's grace. How can God's people be a living representative of Jesus if they walk, talk, and smell like the world? It's impossible! God's people can't be a witness nor win anyone to God unless they are separated. A peculiar person is one that's separated. God wants his people to not be identified with this world's crooked system. I John says that we aren't to love the world, neither the things in the world. I John says that anyone that loves the world the love of the Father isn't in him. You can't be full of God and full of the world simultaneously. Jesus says you can't serve two masters. However, that's what you find in today's contemporary churches. Many pastors, teachers, and church members are straddling the fence to fit in this society. However, peculiar people that are of God don't fit in this world's sytem. They are considered strange, oddballs, and part of the problem. That's the mentality this world has when it comes to a peculiar people.

Lastly peculiar people are zealous of good works. That's what the latter part of verse of verse 14 in Titus 2 says. These people love good works. They want to serve God. James talks about faith and works and it says that faith without works is dead. God has a work for his people to accomplish. Peculiar people in the Bible love to serve God. They have a desire to perform good works. They enjoy serving Jesus. They follow God's commandments. Peculiar people dedicate themselves to the church and the ministries that are involved. They are consumed with zeal for God's house. Their whole life revolves around serving and worshipping God.

God's people who are peculiar are considered an oddity to the world. They are a special people unto God that's been bought and redeemed by the blood of the lamb. They are set apart to serve the Lord. The world believes peculiar people are misfits and strange. Actually God's peculiar people are misfits in this world. The world is not the home of a peculiar Christian. A child of God is just passing through trying to make a mark in this life. Their real home is in Heaven. God wants his people to make a difference in this world in reaching those without God.