1st Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Before we begin to answer this important question, we must have a clear understanding of the meaning of the word Peculiar. A Royal Priesthood refers us to the fact that those who believe in Christ as Lord and Savior, are adopted into God’s Royal family, and as such, they become ministers of His salvation to the unbelieving world.
A Holy Nation refers to the fact that those who are the Royal Priesthood are to live by the laws and the principles as laid out in the Scriptures. In this way, a synthesis of the word of God would take place on an ongoing basis in such persons, refining, purging and cleansing from all unrighteousness.
A chosen generation means that God was deliberate and intentional in choosing all those who would use their freedom of choice to serve, love and obey Him. Persons are never saved by accident, because God sends out both angels and His people to go looking for those who shall be heirs of salvation. The Bible is specific about this fact. Let’s read:
Hebrews 1: 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
John 15: 16 You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
But when it comes to being a Peculiar People, we’re looking at something very different to that which is considered normal by the secular, unbelieving world and for this reason, we must seek for a clearer and a deeper understanding of what “Peculiar” means. So, here it is:
The Greek word, PERIPOIESES, from which the word peculiar is taken, refers to God’s acquisition of His people, or, individuals who are His possession because of, and through the purchase of Christ, and as such, they are in a special sense His own unique people.
The modern dictionary’s rendering of the very same word is as follows:
Peculiar: Characteristic of only one person, group, or thing: DISTINCTIVE: Different from the usual or normal: SPECIAL, PARTICULAR, CURIOUS, RARE, ABNORMAL, EXCEPTIONAL, EXTRAORDINARY, SINGULAR, PHENOMENAL, UNIQUE, ODD.
Thus, the general gist of the interpretation of that word “Peculiar” is that God’s people who have been purchased with the blood of Christ are His unique possession, and this fact should be reflected in their own persons, on all levels, so that clear distinctions can be easily made, even by the casual observer.
Thus, this begs the question: What’s Peculiar About You? In other words, after we’ve become His chosen people, and a royal priesthood, and a holy nation, is there supposed to be a distinct difference between God’s people, and those who have not believed, and if so, what does that translate into, in real time?
It’s interesting that when God’s peculiar people are asked concerning their peculiarity, many often tend to turn to our peculiar beliefs, and doctrines which are for the most part outside of the mainstream of modern Christian theology.
Now, while this is true, the Bible does not speak of a set of peculiar doctrines as being God’s purchased possession; instead, it refers to real people who are supposed to be distinct and unique as a result of us being God’s own possession.
This distinction between doctrines, and real people significantly raises the bar, because persons could hold a set of unique beliefs only intellectually, and yet those beliefs are not incorporated into a living, breathing experience, by which those unique views are demonstrated in real time. The Lord cautions us against a mere intellectual approach to our unusual beliefs. Let’s read:
Matthew 5: 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 23:1 Then spoke Jesus to the multitude and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not you after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Thus, when the Bible speaks of a peculiar people, it not only encompasses our doctrinal elements, but more so, refers to the living persons, through whom there ought to be a real time manifestation of that Royalty spoken of, and as such, it should inevitably translate into stark differences, and significantly elevated ways of doing things, when compared to average norms.
Therefore, for all practical intents and purposes, the study will deal very specifically with what that word “Peculiar” should translate into, as it pertains, both to the true people of God, and to the observer who, might be contemplating joining God’s unique family, so that they too may become partakers of the same peculiarity the Bible speaks of.
Now, God does not desire His people to be peculiar just for peculiar’s sake. It must always be peculiarity for the better, never for the worse, because the one who is seeking to link up with God’s people must be a beneficiary of the ways, and means adopted from the Bible.
In other words, if a person were to give up on their former way of life, to link up with God’s people, and were to espouse the uniqueness of God’s kingdom, he/ she, in most cases should not come up short, in any aspect of life, because the tenor of the Gospel, and the principles, and laws of God’s kingdom are greatly superior to those espoused by the popular, secular majorities.
The Scriptures are clear, and unequivocal in stating that every law, and instruction pertaining to God’s kingdom would put the believer on a significantly higher plane of existence, when the principles laws and statutes are incorporated into our everyday experiences.
If this were not the case, then persons could point to the Gospel as being malicious, for if one were to surrender their former life for the Scriptural ways of doing things and then become worse off than they were before, then the abundant life Christ spoke of would be a mere figment of the imagination.
That this is absolutely not the case, is made clear in the Bible, for the tenor of the Gospel is to elevate, not to depreciate, to build up, not to tear down, to make better, not to make worse. In other words, at the end of the day, the bottom line of the Gospel is that individuals should absolutely be better off, on every level than they were before. Let’s read:
John 10: 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Deuteronomy 4: 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Joshua 1: 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand, or to the left that you may prosper withersoever you go.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
2nd Peter 1: 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, you shall never fall.
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
[8LTMS LT 44 1893 Par 13] 2 Peter 1:1-11. There is no place in the school of Christ where we graduate. We are to work on the plan of addition and the Lord will work on the plan of multiplication. It is through constant diligence that we will, through the grace of Christ live on the plan of addition making our calling and election sure…
To put it plainly, if after 31 years of following God, I were to be in a worse position than when I was first baptized into God’s Royal family, then I might as well go back to playing music on South beach, for all of the good news of the Gospel would’ve been a farce.
On the contrary, whenever I may come across some of the former musicians I used to play with, I should be to them a living testimony, and real time witness of what the Royalty of God could to for a person like me. In this way they will scratch their heads and say, I want to give it a shot too, since it has made such a huge, undeniable difference in your life.
Therefore, the fact that persons are God’s peculiar people has to translate into a living, breathing, you and me who are to become the embodiment of the principles, laws, statutes, and instructions of God’s kingdom. It is only in this way that we could show forth the praises of Him Who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
The following therefore, are just a few of the areas of concern that we will be looking at, to see how the peculiarity referenced in our first passage ought to be manifested in persons in real time. But before we delve into them, let us just be reminded of the word “Peculiar” and its meaning. Here it is again:
Peculiar: Characteristic of only one person, group, or thing: DISTINCTIVE: Different from the usual or normal: SPECIAL, PARTICULAR, CURIOUS, RARE, ABNORMAL, EXCEPTIONAL, EXTRAORDINARY, SINGULAR, PHENOMENAL, UNIQUE, ODD.
[1] Peculiarity in business and finances.
Like as it is with all other aspects of Christianity, the peculiar people are to demonstrate a peculiarity in doing business, because all transactions, both with believers and unbelievers are to bear the stamp of Royalty, for the Bible says we are a Royal priesthood and the very description should be productive of a vastly superior way of doing business.
In other words, the ways and means, the methods and the strategies utilized by the world should be in a great degree, different or unusual when compared with the way the peculiar people do business.
For instance, when doing business transactions, the world usually adopts what is known as “Net 30”, a system of payment by which the receiver of goods and services has thirty days to pay the full invoice of that which was forwarded up front. This practice is considered standard procedure and has become the norm.
However, even though it’s now accepted as the gold standard in business circles there is a “peculiar” way of paying for goods and services, that is quite out of the mainstream, and yet it is quite superior by any measurement, and if adopted, will in most instances be preferred by merchants and suppliers alike. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 2:4 And command you the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir and they shall be afraid of you: take good heed unto yourselves therefore.
6 You shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 424] While the Israelites were the chosen and favored people of God, they must heed the restrictions which He placed upon them. They were directed, in all their intercourse with the Edomites, to beware of doing them injustice. They were to trade with them, buying such supplies as were needed, and promptly paying for all they had received. They were not dependent upon the Edomites, for they had a God rich in resources. In all of their intercourse they should exemplify the principles of the divine law, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Don’t take our word for it, try it if you are a business owner, and see if it would make a difference in the prices you would get from the very same supplier you have been doing business with for many years. The supplier will “ALWAYS” prefer prompt payment instead of a thirty-day lapse, and in many cases, will be willing to offer steep discounts as a result.
Again, there is a Royal way for technicians to do the trade they specialize in. One of the principles that is to be incorporated into the portfolio of the peculiar people is that if a job cannot be done correctly, for financial reasons, in most cases it is best not to take the job, rather than take it and be forced to do sub-standard work.
There is a product called Red Angel in the country, and its companion is White Angel in the country. Both products afford the ways and means of doing a quick fix that may seem as a viable option, especially if the customer is cash strapped to pay to do the work in the correct manner.
As the peculiar people, and as a holy nation and the peculiar people, we may have some difficult lessons to learn and some difficult choices to make. In some instances, we may be torn between showing mercy by doing substandard work, or conversely sticking to the Royal way of doing things.
The question is whether or not, in some instances it is warranted to do substandard work because of the financial constraints, or whether it is God’s will that everything we do, be able to pass the smell test of heaven. Let’s read:
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither you go.
[The Desire of Ages pp 72] As Jesus worked in childhood and youth, mind and body were developed. He did not use His physical powers recklessly, but in such a way as to keep them in health, that He might do the best work in every line.
He was not willing to be defective, even in the handling of tools. He was perfect as a workman, as He was perfect in character. By His own example He taught that it is our duty to be industrious, that our work should be performed with exactness and thoroughness, and that such labor is honorable.
Therefore, some may find it necessary to throw out all their angels, both red and white, if peculiarity is to characterize whatever we do. The genius of our peculiar ways and means becomes apparent when they are incorporated into our everyday experience.
And even if in times past some might have buckled under pressure to go with plan “B”, it is God’s will that we make every needed change in perspective and practice, where warranted. In other words, the peculiarity of God’s kingdom must be manifested in a real time application of His laws and principles.
[2] Peculiarity in dress.
There is also to be peculiarity in dress and outward adornment, in harmony with the instructions given in the Bible. There was a time in days of yore, when the chosen people of God could be distinguished by the way they presented themselves.
But nowadays, the lines have become very blurred, in so much that it can be said in many instances that there is no difference, or uniqueness to be seen. If persons are governed and driven by what the world deems the latest, without a regard to the Scriptural instructions, then there won’t be any recognizable distinctions between the believer and the secular.
When going shopping or when deciding on anything for that matter, the glory of God, and the instruction He has given on the issues in question, should be at the front and center of our decisions and choices, so that at the end of the day, there will be a higher and nobler standard laid down when observed. Let’s read:
1st John 2: 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides forever.
The world glorifies and peddles nakedness exposure and bling, while the word of God instructs decorum, decency, neatness, and humility. Therefore, in every aspect of outward adornment, let God’s instructions reign supreme and there will not fail to be very stark differences between the world and God’s peculiar people.
[3] Peculiarity in diets and foods.
Daniel 1:3 And the king spoke unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so, nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as you see, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
Question: Did God have to work a miracle in Daniel and his companions, for their faces to appear fairer and healthier than the others within the given ten days?
If God had to work a miracle, then God would be cheating, because the food Daniel and his friends requested, would, in and of itself be inferior, and as such, would put them at a disadvantage, and thus, causing God to pick up the slack through a miracle.
In addition to this, all the other students under the care of the cook didn’t have the benefit of miracles, and therefore, if The Lord were to secretly beef up the faces of His servants, that would constitute an unfair advantage over those who subscribed to the king’s food and drink.
When the issue of diet and food, as specified in our health message, is subjected to the closest scrutiny, it should be able to stand up on its own two feet without any direct miracle from God, for if He has to backstop the diet He gave to us with supernatural interventions, then, the rational conclusion is that, without miracles, the diet would fall flat on its face.
This in turn would call into question God’s wisdom and His intentions, if what He instructs us to eat has to be continually supported by a miracle. In other words, the peculiar diet of the peculiar people must have legs of its own, for either it is inherently good, or it’s not.
God always gives to the human family the very best and this is made manifest when the raw facts in the matter are examined carefully. There were giants in the land of Canaan, in so much that the children of Israel got scared of their immense size. Therefore, we must ask a simple, logical question: “What were they eating” to support such massive bodies on an ongoing basis. Let the word of God speak for itself. Let’s read:
Numbers 13:17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:
18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;
22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were.
23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it between two of them upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
31 But the men that went up with him (Caleb) said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Unlike Daniel and his companions, the sons of Anak did not fear The Lord, and thus, we have to rule out any miraculous intervention, as far as diet and food is concerned. The raw facts in the matter point to a greatly superior diet, as was originally given in the garden of Eden, and which, when adopted by the peculiar people would speak for itself. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 378] God brought the Israelites from Egypt, that He might establish them in the land of Canaan, a pure, holy, and happy people. In the accomplishment of this object, He subjected them to a course of discipline, both for their own good and for the good of their posterity.
Had they been willing to deny appetite, in obedience to His wise restrictions, disease and feebleness would have been unknown among them. Their descendants would have possessed both physical and mental strength. They would have had clear perceptions of truth and duty, keen discrimination, and sound judgment.
In our day, we have been given gold, diamonds and pearls in the knowledge that God has caused to be shed upon our pathway, and it behooves everyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, to be the very best that they can be, by adopting, and practicing the Royal way of doing things.
Doing so will often be found to be going against our natural grain, but if we were to persist through our freedom of choice coupled together with the power and presence of the Holy Ghost, we can become the specimens of God’s grace that He intends us to be. We therefore end with passages of scripture which will keep this goal ever before our faces. Let’s read:
Malachi 3:2 But who will abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap.
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
18 Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.
God Bless!