The People of God

There is a special bond among those who are followers of Jesus Christ. We may come from different backgrounds; have diverse gifts and talents; individual tastes, etc, but one thing unites us. The secret and beauty of our relationship to one another is found in our relationship with Christ. Consider what the "Big Fisherman" wrote in 2 Peter 2: 9-10 “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 marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

What a title! What a standing we have – to be referred to as “The People of God”. Perhaps we don’t give as much thought as we should to the concept that we are God’s people. So much of our culture is geared to the “ME” concept, that we sometimes forget that we belong to God. (1 Cor. 6: 19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”)

This term, "the people of God" only appears a few times in the Bible, and always refers to those who have given their lives to God in faith. How important is faith to that concept? The writer of Hebrews tells us in chapter 11, verse 6, “…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Notice that the Apostle Peter says that this diverse group of individuals, who once had nothing in common to make them “a people”, now are not only “a people”, but “THE people of God.” We have been chosen by almighty God, and adopted into His family. He calls us a “royal priesthood”. Royal, because we have been adopted into His family and are now “heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ” (Romans 8) and “ He has made us unto our God, kings and priests” (Rev. 1:6) and one day “we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10) with Him.

Peter further calls us a “holy nation” and a “peculiar people”. Peculiar because holiness is now our desire, and the fruits of our life will show forth the praises of the one who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We who were once without hope, bending low under the burden and guilt of all our sin, now have obtained mercy. We now have an identity that is eternal, and a title more special than anyone else on planet earth today, “The People of God”!

Many of you who are reading this writing today, are already a member of this royal family through the Grace of God and faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Won’t you rejoice with me today in this truth, and “show forth His praises’? But for that one who may be reading today, who does not have this assurance – I have good news. The “adoption agency” is open, today! You too may become a “King’s Kid” and part of the People of God. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3: 9.