“A Special People unto the Lord”
The special people unto the Lord are His own people, the ones He has chosen and called to be a holy and blessed people.
Deu 7:6 For thou art an holy people [obedient] unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special [peculiar] people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Deu 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
Deu 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
To be holy one must be blessed of the Lord and given the Spirit of God and then endure through the suffering and fiery experience that delivers us from spiritual death and raises Christ in us [the First Resurrection]. This is how we are caused to obey the Lord (Eze 36:27) and become obedient children unto our Father.
Deu 26:18 And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;
1Pe 2:9 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 marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 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.
The Favor of the Lord
It is the chastening, scourging grace of God that appears to all men that is the favor of the Lord that first comes to His people in this age. This is the blessing of grace that is teaching us righteousness and purifying us into the special people the Lord promised in His covenant.
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he [the Lord] for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
The favor that brings forth the new man is also destroying the old man brings forth the peculiar people who make of the Lord’s people.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing [within] of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
As we have seen in recent studies since the sharpening of our sword, there is no difference in the experience and events all men will live by in coming to know the Lord. Only the timing of our judgment and harvest to life is different.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we [the Elect, chosen of God now] shall be saved, even as they.
One of the first orthodox lies we come out of is regarding the flesh Jews and knowing who the Israel of God and the Jews in our bible are actually referring to. With ears to ear, we quickly learn that is not the physical nation of Israel nor are the physical Jews throughout history who are the true people of God.
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
For those new to the faith and the doctrines of Christ, here is an article focused on distinguishing between the true Jews and Israel after the flesh. Such basic truths are needed to come out of the bondage of orthodoxy and the “other jesus” that is preached there. Who is the Israel of God?
The carnal minds of men [of our father the devil] will have us perverting the timing differences of the second and third harvest and twisting the Scriptures into different sets of rewards and punishments. The recent studies on Rewards and Resurrections have revealed these errors and corrected them expunging any darkness about God’s plans and processes for all mankind. The Lord is making ONE of two [twain]. ALL mankind will be ONE with Him and that by living by every word which is the one event for all.
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both [Jew and Gentile] unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Ezekiel’s prophecy of the valley of dry bones and the two sticks becoming one in the hands of Christ is an OT witness of this immutable truth of God.
Eze 37:16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Eze 37:17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
The stick of Joseph and all his companions becomes one with the stick of Judah and all of his companions. This gathering together of all in ONE is by the fire words that the Elect speak (Jer 5:19) which converts those prepared to hear the words of Truth and transforms them into the Israel of God.
Eze 37:21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
Eze 37:22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: [all one, no Jew vs Gentile]
Eze 37:24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
The doctrine regarding the Elect (chosen few) has been corrupted by carnal minds that lusted after rewards and was led astray by pride and gain seeking as the Scriptures warn everywhere (Balaam, Cain, Core, Jezebel, etc). The Scriptures teach one class of men, all receiving the same rewards and same blessings by the very same process.
Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
The Lord is going to make Himself known to ALL men in the appointed times, to the Jews first and then the Gentiles. All men will be the people of God as the Lord makes known the riches of His glory [His Word] in every man in the times declared from the beginning.
Rom 9:25 As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
Rom 9:26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
A remnant is being saved now in this age, yet all men will come in before the ages are consummated. Lord willing, we can completely purge from our heavens any prideful self-exalting spirit that we are somehow better than or superior to other men not chosen (elected) of God now in this age. Any such thoughts are of the flesh and the pride of life that have ensnared many who forgot in their heart that all blessings and gifts are from the Lord given freely and not based on any merit.
1Co 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights …..
We should never deny or acknowledge the great blessing that has befallen us. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!. Yet our election of the Lord and being given faith is a gift of God that is 100% the Lord’s work in us. We have nothing to boast, the law of faith precludes it and our speaking down to others thinking we are better.
Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
All Men Will be God’s Peculiar People in the End
There is an Elect or a chosen remnant in every generation that is called out of the world which becomes the church of the Lord. Nothing in this study takes away from that pivotal truth. The called out ones are the church and IS the Body of Christ in ever age and generation as His Word is always at work and will never pass away. In each generation of man those elected of the Lord is a very small number.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are Elect [chosen – Elecktos G1588].
Deu 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
The chosen few, the Elect are the church of God and in due time that will extend to all mankind. All men will be in the Holy City, will be with the Lord and be His Church and His chosen ones. Yet the Lord is only working with the few in this age and is not now working with those not yet brought into the faith.
Rom 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
All men are Israel in the Lord’s eyes who declares (Isa 46:10) and sees the end from the very beginning (Rom 4:17). This is how Christ can say He is every man we help or did not help that He put into our path (Mat 25). Only the new man, the younger, the second Adam in every man is being saved.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
The sum of the word depicts the salvation of all in the three harvests of the Lord, hence we know that the timing (i.e. “the when) is the only difference between the chosen (elect) of today and the chosen (elect) of tomorrow.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved [made alive]: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Our flesh so badly wants to take some credit and some glory for its salvation, even abusing the doctrines of the Elect and the Body of Christ by creating a special class of people contrary to so many other doctrines and attributes of the Lord. No man, who is mere clay in the Lord’s hands has any part of saving Himself so there is no place for anything SELF in the discussion.
Rom 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
Psa 3:8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
Our outward enemies and persecutors who reject us (Christ) were made that way by the Lord. Yet they are beloved for the Father’s sake of them being the Election of God, part of all men being saved and part of the Israel of God in the end.
Rom 11:27 NKJV FOR THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” [the enemies, the heathen, the Gentiles – the rest of mankind]
Rom 11:28 NKJV Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they [the rest of mankind] are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
They are beloved of God concerning the election because they are Elect in the Lord’s eyes. Thus, we have commands to see every man as Jesus Christ Mat 25) and follow the example the Lord gave in ministering to ALL MEN that came across His path.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household [because all men are Israel and Christ, His Body and His chosen ones in the end]
Who do we think we are to be worthy of special rewards and elite status with the Lord when all of it was the Lord’s work without any merit on our part? Such carnal thinking is the opposite of humility and thinking above what is written and more highly of ourselves than we should. The only reason we have been given faith is because of the unbelief of the rest of mankind.
Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Our sins are blotted and forgiven first because He loved us first. But the Lord loves all men and came to save all men and He will via he same one process.
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We need to reexamine how we look at those unbelieving heathen out there in the world, even our worst enemies and persecutors. All things are in the vine of Christ and are growing exactly on His schedule. All will partake of eternal life which is to know the Lord (Joh 17:3). We need to see Christ and a holy root when we look at our fellow man.
Rom 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
We are warned not to have a high minded attitude with us being elected now in advance of our fellow man.
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Seeing all men as Christ is a Walk [Game] Changer
Seeing the big picture and the Elect (all Israel) as being all men in the end; it becomes easier to walk humbly before the Lord. Our Election is a gift from God that will come alike to all men in their appointed time as well. We are nobody special, God is truly not a respecter of any person, race, or nation.
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Knowing these truths, we will be more circumspect in NOT looking down on our fellow man whether they be in the faith or not. We know that all will be saved, they even as us and no man of themselves can do anything (Joh 15:5). A more humbler spirit devoid of pride will begin to take root within us.
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace [that saves us] unto the humble.
Mic 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Doctrines that have the Elect ruling outwardly over men, having dominion and lordship is false. Getting this vision corrected will help us see that we are unworthy servants, working out of duty to God (Rom 12:1) who has redeemed us from our sins. As ministers of the gospel, we bring the grace of God to all prepared to receive it and do not lord not over the Lord’s flock.
Isa 45:13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, [carnal gain, exaltation among men] but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Seeking after rewards and dominion over men is expressly forbidden for the people of God. That is what the carnal world and the unconverted pursue.
Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Isa 1:23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
The truth is that ALL MANKIND will get the same reward, even the same coat of many colors as all will go through the same experiences and one event. The Lord loves the new man in each of us and that is how we will all move from death unto life and from being lost to being found. This should bring great joy to our spiritual hearts to know and receive this truth.
Luk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
We are instruments (ministers of God) who are used of the Lord to pass on His gifts and blessings to others. It is a wonderful thing to serve in the kingdom of God and be a part of His living and active ministry in the world.
1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Flesh will be disappointed to know it gets no exaltation and shares not in the glory of the Lord. The same carnal thoughts of why obey God if all men are going to be saved will try us also when we realize there is nothing special in it for us except to be blessed first and used of the Lord to bring in others. We are chosen now so we can serve Him only and work in His kingdom. It is our greedy father the devil who will perverts to blessing of God into self-seeking glory.
Luk 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Lord willing, we will keep growing in the faith knowing we are not our own and all that we do is for the Lord’s glory.
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.