Sermon Tone Analysis

*Not Weird but Definitely Special.*

Tell old Good News club story (a bit corny but illustrates a point) – boy made a model yacht, lost it, saw it months later in a second hand store.

Told shop keeper "That's mine, I made it."

Shop keeper said I'm sorry, son, but I bought it.

You can have it if you pay the full price.

The boy worked, saved enough to buy back his precious boat.

That is what Jesus has done – He's bought us back, now we are His special possession.

*Read Titus 2:11-14* Jesus has bought a people for His own possession.

We are His.

We are His because He made us but we sold ourselves to satan when we went our own way, not the way of our Master and Maker.

Jesus paid the ransom price to  buy back that which was His in the first place.

We are doubly His.

*? Peculiar people:* The King James version has a rather quaint rendering of Titus 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./)

It uses this expression in three other places: (*1 Peter 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 marvelous light: /*Deuteronomy 14:2** */ For// thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a *peculiar people* unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

// /*Deuteronomy 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/).

Of course language has changed since 1611 and "peculiar" didn't mean "weird", "strange" or "odd" at all but "special", "particular", "specific" – dictionary definition: "Belonging exclusively to, belonging to the individual, particular, special, singular – the Jews as God's chosen people".

The King James translated the word properly, its just that we get the wrong impression.

It does not mean that we are weird, but we are definitely special.

What does the word in the original language mean?: comes from two words, one  meaning beyond and the other meaning "substance"~/"being".

It means abundant, costly, select.

It pertains to being a special or a distinctive possession of someone - ‘one’s private possession, one’s special possession.

- so the verse translates: ‘to make us a pure people who belong to him alone’ Another interpretation is: pertaining to that which is special about some entity – the verse then translates ‘and purify for himself a special people’.

So putting the two meanings together: we are a people /belonging to God alone/, His /special people/ – possession and value are the two concepts.

It refers to God's chosen people in whom He has a special interest, one which exceeds His common concern for mankind in general.

Thus the phrase should better be translated "His treasured people", the same as "purchased people" referred to in 1 Pet 2:9.

*God's treasure *The word only occurs this once in the whole NT but it is the word the Greek version of the OT it is used to translate a very special Hebrew word: סְגֻלָּה.

This word only occurs eight times in the whole of the OT the basic meaning of this noun is "personal property"..

It is used of the people of Israel,  but you get the sense of its meaning from the 2 places where it doesn't refer to them: (*Ecclesiastes 2:8** */Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the *treasure* of kings and provinces.

/*1 Chronicles 29:3** */Moreover, in my delight in the house of my God, the *treasure* I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God,/).

It is treasure, something valuable and precious.

This is what we are as those God has redeemed!

God's treasure!

His treasured possession!

Precious to Him!

We weren't precious before – we were dross, rubbish, filthy and contaminated with sin.

God's eyes are to holy to behold sin, He couldn't bare to look at us!

But solely because of the price Jesus paid we are valuable [Avro Anson in Wilbur Dodge's front paddock – bits of aluminum, a mere shell, just the barest framework, corroded and neglected – no value, the sheep grazed around it.

Someone saw it, recognized it for what it was and bought it and restored it.

Restored, it was a rare aircraft and extremely valuable but  very little of it was what had been in Wilbur Dodge's paddock.

The value came from the time, effort, skill, money and love poured into the worthless object].

Some say how valuable we must have been for God to have paid such a high price for us.

No, we were worthless – our value in God's sight comes from the price paid, the love and grace that has been lavished upon us in redeeming us.

The word סְגֻלָּה means: /valued property/, /peculiar treasure/, that which יהוה has chosen and taken to himself; treasured possession, i.e., valued personal property, what is owned by someone, which the owner has special affection or holds special value.

Now we are God's treasure, the KJV says we are His "jewels" - who remembers singing "When He cometh.

"?

It comes from:  (*Malachi 3:16-18* /they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my *jewels*; and I will spare them, /*NASB*/ // //Then// those who feared /יהוה/ //spoke to one another, and /יהוה/ gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear /יהוה/ and who esteem His name.

They will be Mine,” says /יהוה /of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My *own possession*, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”

So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.) /- the word "jewels"~/"own possession" is סְגֻלָּה.

Those who fear יהוה become His peculiar possessions whom he will never forget, even in that time of great judgement.

We are God's treasure – He bought the whole world (by Jesus dying on the cross) in order to get the treasure within it (*Matthew 13:44** */The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field./).

It cost God all He had – His Son!

*God's covenant people *[Exodus 19:5,6] – The word סְגֻלָּה occurs first in Exodus 19 where  יְהוָה came down on Mount Sinai and made a covenant with Israel – by that covenant they became His special people.

(*Exodus 19:1-8** */they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of the mountain.

Moses went up to God, and the //יְהוָה// called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.

Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My *own possession* among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which //יהוָה// had commanded him.

All the people answered together and said, “All that //יהוָה// has spoken we will do!”/).

They were special, picked out of all the nations.

All the earth is God's but they would be His own – a kingdom (He would rule them) of priests (they would minister to Him), a holy nation (set apart and separate from the rest).

We too are God's people because of the covenant in Jesus blood (*Matthew 26:28** */ this// is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins/).

Picked out of the world – God's special people.

A Kingdom (with Jesus ruling), priests (we minister to God) (*Hebrews 13:15** */Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name./), a holy people (*1 Peter 1:15,16*/ //but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;  because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”/* 1 Peter 2:9 */But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s *own possession*, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light/)

*God's chosen people *[Deut 7:6; Psalm 135:4] – Israel was about to enter the Promised Land, Moses wasn't going in with them, so he speaks to them before they cross the Jordan.

He exhorts them not to mix with the people of the land – we are to keep separate from the world because they will turn us to other gods.

They were to destroy the idols of the nations – why?

Because they were יהוָה's special people (*Deuteronomy 7:6** */For you are a holy people to //יהוָה// your God;  יהו//ָה// your God has chosen you to be a people for His *own possession* out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth./)

- holy – He has chosen them out of all the peoples of the earth to be His treasured possession – to be His.

We are the chosen of God (*Ephesians 1:3-6** */Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved./).

There are all the people in the world – and He chose you!

He chose me!

Hallelujah!

How wonderful to be God's own, chosen, special treasure!

The psalmist gives praise to God for His choosing (*Psalm 135:1-4** */Praise //יהוָה//!

Praise the name of //יהוָה// Praise Him, O servants of //יהוָה//, you who stand in the house of //יהוָה//,in// the courts of the house of our God!

Praise //יהוָה//, for //יהוָה// is good;sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.

For //יהוָה// has chosen Jacob for Himself,Israel for His *own possession*.//).

/Israel was God's personal possession – the one He has especially chosen, just as He chose you too.

*God's separated people *[Deut 14:2] – God gave Israel a lot of detailed (and to us finickity) instructions on what foods they could and couldn't eat, what they could and couldn't do.

They were not to do the same things as the nations amongst whom they lived – why? (*Deuteronomy 14:2** */For you are a holy people to //יהוָה//  your// God, and //יהוָה//  has chosen you to be a people for His *own possession* out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth./)

Moses reminded Israel that God chose her and redeemed her from bondage not because of her goodness, but solely because he loved her and was faithful to the promises given to the patriarchs.

Israel should reflect God's holiness and live out his commandments reflecting his standards in a life of wholehearted compliance with the terms of the covenant made at Sinai - they were His treasured possession – holy, separated, not like every one else.

We are a peculiar people in the sense that we are not like everyone else, nor should we be.

If we lose our distinctiveness how will people know that we are God's special people?

(*Matthew 5:13** */You// are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?

It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men./).

Many Christians today are keen to show non-Christians that they are normal people, just like everyone else – if we are just like the world, what is the point?! What difference does Jesus make?

Does it make no difference to be God's own?

It must do! (*1 Peter 1:14-16** */As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”//)/.

Many people don't like being different, standing out, but as God's people we are.

We are God's special people – we are not part of this world.

*God's dedicated people *[Deut 26:18] – So there, to the east of Canaan, Moses reviewed the Law for the people of  Israel before they entered the Promised Land.

As he came to the end of all the regulations he said (*Deuteronomy 26:16-19** */This day //יהוָה//  your// God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances.

You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul.

You have today declared //יהוָה//  to// be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.

//יהוָה//  has today declared you to be His people, a *treasured possession*, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to //יהוָה//  your God, as He has spoken.”/).

They  were יהוָה 's covenant people and as such must keep His laws, by doing so they were separated to Him.

Here יהוָה  declares them to be His special people as He promised – but they had to keep their part of the covenant – show their dedication to Him by obeying Him, doing as He said, keeping His commandments.

If they did יהוָה  would exalt them and honour them.

They would be special – they would have praise, honour, and renown far above all other nations – they would be God's special treasure, a people consecrated or dedicated to יהוָה.