You Are a Peculiar People

As the world around us grows more corrupt and people become more ungodly, faithful disciples of Christ will stand out. We may even become targets of ridicule, harassment, and persecution. This will make it tempting for us to try to hide our distinguishing characteristics as Christians in order to blend in with the world.

However, there are blessings that come from being different from the world as we strive to be what God wants us to be as His people. When the apostle Peter wrote his first epistle, he reminded Christians that they were “a peculiar people” (KJV) or “a people for God’s own possession” (NASB).

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession [a peculiar people, KJV], 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).

Let us briefly notice how Christians are different from the world and why that is a blessing for us.

A chosen race – People in our society talk a lot about race. We must understand that all are equal before God (cf. Galatians 3:28; Acts 10:34-35). So then, what is the “chosen race”? This is different from how we typically refer to race. In a sense, there are two races – those who have been born (cf. Acts 17:26) and those who have been born again (John 3:3-5). We are “born again” when we are “baptized into Christ” (1 Peter 1:3, 23; Galatians 3:27). God has chosen those who are “in Him” (Ephesians 1:3-5).
A royal priesthood – Under the old law, only the Levites could be priests (Numbers 3:6; Hebrews 7:11-14). All were “chosen…to be a people for [God’s] own possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6), but not all of them could serve as priests. Under the new covenant, all of God’s chosen people are priests, offering “spiritual sacrifices” to God (1 Peter 2:5). These sacrifices include our own lives (Romans 12:1). Not only that, but we are a royal priesthood because we serve the King directly (cf. Hebrews 12:28).
A holy nation – There are typically benefits that one receives as a citizen of an earthly nation. However, as Christians, our primary “citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Jesus is King over a spiritual kingdom (John 18:36), and we are part of this holy nation. The word holy means to be set apart. The purpose for which we have been set apart is to do God’s will (Ephesians 2:10). Even as the world becomes increasingly godless, we must strive to be more like God and “be holy” as He is (1 Peter 1:14-16).
A people for God’s own possession – We belong to God, collectively (as the church) and individually (as Christians). The church belongs to Him because it was purchased with the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). Individually, we belong to Him because we have been redeemed by His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). Because we are His, we must glorify Him collectively (Ephesians 3:21) and individually (1 Corinthians 6:20). We do this by being “zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14) and acting in harmony with the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called us – We are to be teaching others about Christ. This does not mean that all will teach at the same capacity (cf. James 3:1), but all of us are to be involved. Each one must be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). In doing this, we proclaim the “excellencies” or “praises” (KJV) of God and declare the reasons why God is worthy of praise. One of these reasons is that He “called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light” (cf. Colossians 1:13). He was willing to save those who had rebelled against Him (Romans 5:8-10) – even us.
Once were not a people – Originally, we were “not [God’s] people,” yet He was willing to say, “You are My people!” (Hosea 2:23). The salvation He offers is open to all. Peter told Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, that “in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:35). Though the Lord’s church is made up of those who come from different nations, we have a common bond in the Lord (cf. Isaiah 2:2-4). We are united not based on our ethnicity or nationality but by striving to follow the word of God (John 17:20-21).
Received mercy – God, through His mercy, has made forgiveness of sins possible for all. Those who have been “transferred…to the kingdom of His beloved Son” receive “the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). As we noticed earlier, we must be “born again” to enjoy this mercy (1 Peter 1:3). God’s grace has been extended to all (Titus 2:11); however, not all will be saved. Jesus said that “many” would be told to “depart” from Him in the day of judgment (Matthew 7:22-23). We must do the will of the Father if we want to be part of His kingdom and be saved (Matthew 7:21).