The Principles Of A People Of God (1)

by J.D. Terrell, Carlisle | Category: The Principles Of A People Of God | Jul 1979

In a short series of articles we shall look together briefly with our readers at the New Testament presentation of a people for God today. Christians are referred to in the New Testament under a variety of names as individuals. We have the term 'Christian' itself - first applied, we learn, at Antioch to disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26). This very direct and personal identification, by name, with the Master who bought us can never lose its unique preciousness. Then, believers are widely described and addressed as 'saints' - those sanctified and set apart by the saving work of Christ through the shedding of His blood. Furthermore, we are 'children'; we are 'heirs' (Rom. 8:16,17). And we shall see later in 1 Peter 2, the designation 'living stones'. Each name, each title, has its distinctive value and significance, enriching our understanding of divine grace and of our amazing standing in Christ.

But the Scriptures also speak of believers of this 'dispensation' - as we often refer to the era of divine purpose in which we live - in a collective way. The great 'collective' which is most familiar and precious to those who love and trust the Saviour, is 'My Church'; otherwise spoken of in the Word as "the Church which is His Body" (Eph. 1:22,23). From the moment the Lord said, "I will build ..." (Matt. 16:18) till the 'rapture' revealed to Paul (1 Thess. 4), when the dead and the living in Christ' will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, the grace of God rules in His dealings with men. The building of the Church, that wonderful purpose of the ages (Eph. 3:1-11), began on the day of Pentecost and proceeds daily as believing souls are united with it. This magazine has unfailingly gloried in the splendour of this truth; and it will continue to do so till the Master comes. At the same time it has consistently asked the question, Is there a New Testament presentation of believers, collectively, which involves truths beyond those associated with 'the Church', i.e. the Church which is His Body? And if there is, what is its practical significance for us today;. what demands does such make on us in terms of service and testimony?

We shall look at the term 'people of God' from this point of view and explore over a few months some of the principles of Scripture which emerge when we study this collective designation of believers. We shall see that the essential truths of salvation are at the very root of the thought. But we shall also show the outworking of a series of principles which governed a people for God in Old Testament times; and which apply equally to a people today.

The term 'people' has been used by some Christians just a little freely, assuming its proper application to all believers. This has been very apparent in the expression 'The Jesus People' adopted by modern groups of Christians in some parts of the world. But our readers are invited to consider the context of the term people in one of the key scriptures to which we shall refer again, namely 1 Pet. 2:9. Here it is linked figuratively to ethnic origins ('elect race') and to national standing ('holy nation'). It is presented in the context of a functioning priesthood facing God, holy; and facing men, royal, It is seen related to spiritual growth; thus, 'long for the spiritual milk'; and to a spiritual house comprising 'living stones', living, and then 'built up'. And so we are surely looking for a community of born-again persons with a discernible pattern of divine service; discernible in the Scriptures and belonging to that people wherever found; a people with a body of laws identifiable in the Word, by which to live and serve on earth till the Lord comes. What did the apostle mean by "the pattern of sound words" (2 Tim. 1:13); "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27); "that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered" (Rom. 6:17)? Can believers today be confident that they rest both their individual and collective service upon "the foundation of the apostles and prophets" (Eph. 2:20); "the things concerning the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3); "the faith once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3)? We believe they can, and that the doctrine encompassed in such expressions constitute the spiritual 'Magna Carta' of the people of God today.

So to our first principle- REDEMPTION. Readers of Needed Truth will recall that in last month's issue the subject of redemption was presented within the series, The Gospel and its Ministry'. There is no intention now of simply repeating the precious truths outlined there on this major theme of Holy Scripture. But we draw attention to both the price' and the 'purpose' as they affect the people of God. In Exod. 13:11-16 we read of the instruction to Israel about the redemption of the first-born sons by sacrificial blood-shedding. This took its message from the Passover night in Egypt where the paschal blood applied as directed by God ensured protection and deliverance. The price of redemption for Israel was the life-blood of the lamb "without blemish, a male of the first year". So in our day the New Testament application could not be more precise. "Ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things ... but with precious blood, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18).

But the purpose for Israel is as clearly stated as is the price. Look at Exod. 6:6,7. Before the Passover night ever became history, God declared, "I will redeem you... and I will take you to Me for a people". There was a land reserved, and a heritage, as the following verses in Exod. 6 show. Again, after the great event, we listen to the song of Moses, "Thou in Thy mercy hast led the people which Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in Thy strength to Thy holy habitation" (Exod. 15:13). After their redemption, the Israelites were led, were guided; and the destination was "Thy holy habitation".

Return now to 1 Peter and to chapter 2, verses 1 to 10. Readers are asked to make a point here of reading this key passage of Scripture. It was in chapter 1 of the same epistle that the Holy Spirit so precisely identifies the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ as the basis and price of our redemption (1:18,19). Now in the second chapter, we learn of the purpose - the spiritual house, "thy holy habitation"; the priesthood, race, nation, people. All part of the divine ambition for those beloved new-born babes growing unto salvation; those living stones to be built up. This people, "which in time past were no people, but now are the people of God" (v.10) were to be for God's own possession. We shall say a little more next month on POSSESSION, our second principle.

J.D. Terrell, Carlisle | Jul 1979
The Principles Of A People Of God