Peculiar? How About Special?
“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14
The Apostle Paul was writing about Jesus Christ who voluntarily went to the cross, suffered, and died so that He could redeem all those who would come to Him in repentance and belief. To redeem means to buy back or to ransom or rescue from the penalty of sin. Adam and Eve were two innocent human beings whom God created to have a relationship with Him. They had a perfect set up: plenty of food, beautiful weather, and peace. It was just about the closest thing to what we would consider utopia on earth. However, that old devil, Satan, in attempting to break the relationship between the first couple and their Creator, the LORD God, came on the scene in disguise and convinced God’s only two people that God was holding out on them by not allowing them to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Well, they fell for Satan’s lie, ate of the forbidden fruit, and, just as Satan desired, their relationship with their Creator was broken. Thus, in order to be in fellowship with God again, they had to be redeemed, that is, to be bought back, but the cost would be extreme, a cost that neither one of them would be able to meet.
Those of us over 50 years of age may remember the “green” stamps that were given out when one purchased groceries. The stamps would be glued into booklets, and when enough booklets were accumulated, they were taken to the redemption center and traded for household items. Sometimes it would take a long time to save up enough stamps for the desired item. I still have the silver plate tea service that my Mother got after saving lots of stamps. These items for which people traded their green stamps didn’t cost them anything except the time that it took to glue the stamps into the booklet, and, of course, the sales tax.
However, there was another form of redemption which cost the Son of God His life. When He died on the cross, He paid for our way back to the Father, a once and for all act of love and mercy to buy us back from the clutches of Satan. As previously stated, when Adam and Eve sinned, their relationship with God was broken. Everyone born since that time is separated from God, but He took the initiative to provide the way back to Him. Jesus, sinless and perfect, took our sins and in exchange gave us His righteousness, making us pure before God and setting us apart as a peculiar people devoted to pleasing Him by good works.
The term “peculiar” has often had an unflattering connotation as describing one who is odd or strange, and to the secular world, committed Christians are seen as weird, backward, or “out of touch” with the “real world” . However, the word “peculiar” actually means distinctive, exclusive, unique, and special. If one thinks about it, we must be pretty special that Someone would die for us.