Four new names are given to Christians, terms that are now even more fitting for the New Covenant people God has created.
A New People of God
This final term is the culmination of the first three terms, “people,” meaning the People of God. We as Christians are now part of the People of God, called out by Him as His own “treasured possession” from among all the peoples of the world to be a New People of God.
We have been chosen for a unique and personal relationship with God and for a purpose in Christ for all eternity! Our calling out fulfills the pattern that began with the “calling out” of Abraham, the “calling out” in the Exodus, and the “calling out” from the Exile.
We read often in the Old Testament about this honor and purpose. It reminds us who we truly and fully are in Christ.
The purpose of the Church is that of Isaiah 43:21, “the people whom I formed for myself, my praise they will declare (literally).” It could only be partially fulfilled by the original recipients, those coming out of the Exile.
This purpose of the “people” finds its fulfillment in Christ in the fulness of times in redemptive history. It is to proclaim what He has done in calling us out of our sinful darkness into His marvelous light—the light of holiness, knowledge and salvation!
Our main purpose, reason for existence, is to proclaim the excellencies of God. We do this first and foremost in our worship, our prayers, our evangelism and all our relationships with people—declaring the outstanding qualities of God Himself!
Sometimes we don’t do this, we forget, and we sing praise without mentioning the full range of the attributes and works of God, or we pray staring into our needs and other’s needs, failing to look up to our God, or perhaps we evangelize expecting an affirmation and transaction, without a real spiritual vision of the beauty of Christ.
Instead, if we start these activities (and others) with words about the glory and greatness of the Triune God Himself, the rest of the matters have a way of falling into place, becoming more meaningful, and bringing more glory to God. We proclaim back to God His glories and our joy in who He is, and then we proclaim the same to one another and to the world.
Think about being so undeservedly honored as to be part of the “New People of God!”
1 Peter 2:9 ESV “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”The terms “chosen race,” “royal priesthood,” “holy nation” and “a people” are packed with meaning, being rooted in Old Testament history in God’s powerful dealings with Israel, most notably in their times of the Exodus and the Exile.
Exodus 19:5-6 ESV “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. . . .””Isaiah 43:20-21 ESV “. . . my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”(See related blog entries: A New Chosen Race, A New Royal Priesthood, A New Holy Nation.)
A New People of God
This final term is the culmination of the first three terms, “people,” meaning the People of God. We as Christians are now part of the People of God, called out by Him as His own “treasured possession” from among all the peoples of the world to be a New People of God.
We have been chosen for a unique and personal relationship with God and for a purpose in Christ for all eternity! Our calling out fulfills the pattern that began with the “calling out” of Abraham, the “calling out” in the Exodus, and the “calling out” from the Exile.
We read often in the Old Testament about this honor and purpose. It reminds us who we truly and fully are in Christ.
Deuteronomy 26:18-19 ESV “And Yahweh has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to Yahweh your God, as he promised.””Our New Purpose
The purpose of the Church is that of Isaiah 43:21, “the people whom I formed for myself, my praise they will declare (literally).” It could only be partially fulfilled by the original recipients, those coming out of the Exile.
This purpose of the “people” finds its fulfillment in Christ in the fulness of times in redemptive history. It is to proclaim what He has done in calling us out of our sinful darkness into His marvelous light—the light of holiness, knowledge and salvation!
Our main purpose, reason for existence, is to proclaim the excellencies of God. We do this first and foremost in our worship, our prayers, our evangelism and all our relationships with people—declaring the outstanding qualities of God Himself!
Sometimes we don’t do this, we forget, and we sing praise without mentioning the full range of the attributes and works of God, or we pray staring into our needs and other’s needs, failing to look up to our God, or perhaps we evangelize expecting an affirmation and transaction, without a real spiritual vision of the beauty of Christ.
Instead, if we start these activities (and others) with words about the glory and greatness of the Triune God Himself, the rest of the matters have a way of falling into place, becoming more meaningful, and bringing more glory to God. We proclaim back to God His glories and our joy in who He is, and then we proclaim the same to one another and to the world.
Think about being so undeservedly honored as to be part of the “New People of God!”
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