Preschool
Let us do good unto all men (Galatians 6:10).
Christ and His Peculiar People
Memory Verses
Primary
Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).
Junior
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).
Background Scripture: 1 Peter 2
Lesson Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-12
Introduction
“Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion. . . . Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Ps. 48:2, 13-14).
Today we want to consider the beauty of God’s church. Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it (Eph. 5:25). He fortifies the church with his protecting care. The church is a visible, shining beacon to all the world, and at the consummation of time, Christ will present her unto Himself as a spotless bride.
The church is a safe haven, a place of rest and security. Unity is a blessing shared by those who embrace her doctrines and surrender their lives to Christ. The unity of God’s Spirit is expressed by loving and caring for each other. There is a mantle of responsibility that each member has to accept in loving the church. Placing our confidence in the church enables God’s blessings to be upon us.
Key Verse
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one (John 17:22).
Lesson Scripture
1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
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:
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.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Studying the Lesson
The gospel dispensation has opened the door for all men to be saved through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Those who believe and accept this invitation are saved and become citizens in the kingdom of God. The church of God, which is the visible aspect of his kingdom, is formed by those who have united in the true apostolic faith. The church’s arms are open to receive those who commit themselves to her pure doctrine.
This body of believers is distinguished by how it embraces all the truths of God’s Word. Some distinguishing doctrines of the true church are as follows:
a believer’s baptism that is upon a personal confession of faith and a genuine experience of new birth.
separation and nonconformity to the world. This means those things that lead to vanity, pride, and unholy living are wrong.
the scriptural discipline of offending members to keep the church pure (Eph. 5:27) and to lift a reproach from its witness to the world.
believing and practicing the doctrine of a devotional head covering for women (1 Cor. 11:3-15).
Jesus also taught two distinct kingdoms. God has ordained secular government for order and justice, but our calling is to a heavenly kingdom. Christ’s kingdom is a kingdom of love; therefore, her members are nonresistant (John 18:36).
The true doctrine of the church is based on God’s unchangeable Word. The true faith and practice have often run contrary to popular opinion and have been denied and slandered, but God’s Word stands sure. Jesus Christ gave himself for his people to “redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).
Practical Truths for Today
God has always had a peculiar people. Peculiar as used here defines a people who are set apart by their distinctive faith and practice. In the Old Testament, God chose the children of Israel to be his special people. Though they were not the greatest in number compared to other people, He gave to them his covenant, multiplied them, and by many wondrous works subdued the nations around them. As long as they followed God’s commands, his blessings rested upon them. We see in this that God will have a visible body that follows Him in their doctrine and practice. God is not the author of confusion, and He will have a people who are set apart from the world. A recognizing factor is quietly adhering to the truth even though it runs counter to the mainstream or prevailing influences and pressures of the day.
Jesus built the church upon his finished work at Calvary. “Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Ephesians 4:4-5 states, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” There is only one entrance into the church, and that is through Christ’s salvation, publicly confirmed by water baptism.
Unity among the people of God is also a witness to the true faith. Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us (John 17:21). The united belief of the church binds hearts together in a sweet bond of fellowship. “The Church rests assured that there is a way, and it will remain so, to live in all the teachings of the New Testament in this day, and that the ‘oneness’ taught in the Scriptures is possible.”1 The united practice of doctrine and belief in the church from differing places and the “sameness” in lifestyle and custom make us as members peculiar to other people. We need not be ashamed of being different from the world around us. The kingdom of the world promotes pride, materialism, and sensuality, but a humble walk of life cannot embrace the ways of the world. We can feel God’s blessing as we walk in his way, not desiring the things of the world or becoming uncomfortable by being peculiar. These blessings come through Christ’s grace abundantly given to the church; understanding this helps God’s children maintain a humble spirit.
It is imperative to place implicit faith in the church and its authority. Christ has vested his authority in the church as the highest spiritual government on earth (Matt. 16:19). God speaks to his people through the church, providing direction for the present day and guidance for current issues. Christ and the church are inseparable, and often our service to God is through avenues provided by the church, including serving each other. Serving God means living for Him, placing complete confidence in the counsel that comes through our leaders and bringing our lives in line with those instructions.
As we teach this faith to our children, the church will be propagated through the following generation and continue to be a shining example to the world around us. Young people of the world are surrendering themselves to pleasure seeking and selling out to the lusts of the flesh. The strength and vitality of the church’s young people is shown by their clear countenance, good behavior, and their courage to stand for godly principles. Many people in this world will be drawn to this witness by an inner longing of the heart, also desiring the fellowship, unity, and peace that God’s people experience. However, most choose to go on in the way that pleases their carnal desires, sometimes bringing slandering accusations against the church. May we take courage and boldly hold up the banner of Jesus’s love and goodwill. The church will withstand all the ravages the winds of time may hurl upon it until Christ ushers his Bride safely into heaven.
Questions
- How can we strengthen our vision of the absolute authority of Christ’s church and bring our lives in submission to her?
- Do we give ourselves room to question conference or ministers’ council decisions? How do we come to place confidence in these decisions?
- What is my responsibility when my brother’s practice differs from mine? Are we more receptive in our day to newer ideas and convictions?
- 1 Reuben Koehn, Sixty-Five Years a Holdeman, pp. 25-26
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).