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Northwest Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“A Unique People” |
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I. Introduction.
A. If someone says to us “you’re different”, or “you’re unique;
one-of-a-kind”, I suppose it could be taken as either a
compliment or an insult, depending on how it was said and
the context in which it was said or even the tone of voice in
which it was said.1. In I Peter 2:9, the writer says, to Christians, “You’re
different, you’re unique.”2. The words translated as “a peculiar people” (KJV),
or “a special people” (NKJV), literally means, “a
purchased people.” Christians are people who are
the possession of God – therefore, they are unique,
different from people who do not share this quality.a. Paul wrote to church at Corinth: “. . . Do
you not know that your body is the temple
of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you
have from God, and you are not your own?
For you were bought at a price; therefore,
glorify God in your body, and in your spirit,
which are God’s.” (I Corinthians 6:19-20).b. And: “You were bought at a price; do not
become slaves of men.” (I Cor. 7:23).c. To the Galatians, Paul said: “I have been
crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me. And the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by faith
in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
Himself for me.” (2:20).3. Why shouldn’t Christians be considered unique?
After all, they follow a teacher, and Master, who
was unlike any other. In His life, work, and death,
Jesus stood apart from other people. People were
attracted by what they saw, and heard, and were
amazed at both Jesus’ knowledge and power
(Mark 1:22: “. . . they were astonished at his
teaching, for he taught them as one having
authority, and not as the scribes.”).a. The kind of life Jesus directed people to
live – and that those who followed Him
taught – was to be different from, and
superior to, the lives of others around them.b. There were to be certain qualities and
characteristics, that would make His
disciples unique, and would identify them as
a people purchased, and possessed, by God.B. We’re going to look at some of Jesus’ teaching, in
Matthew 5, and see how those who desire to be His
disciples are unlike the world they live in, and the people
they live with.II. Unlike The World.
A. Begin, in Matthew 5, at verses 13-16. (READ verses).
B. In verse 13, the Christian’s unique nature is illustrated by
salt. (“You are the salt of the earth; . . .”).1. Salt is certainly different. It adds flavor to what we
eat. (People on “salt-free” diet; blandness of taste
of food). Salt can be used to purify and to preserve.2. As Jesus uses it here, salt symbolizes the spiritual
health, and vitality, needed to counteract the
corruption, the rotting influence, of world around
us. It represents the unique role Christians are to
have in the world.3. If salt is supposed to add flavor and preserve, what
happens if it has “lost its flavor?” What happens
when we, as Christians, lose our identity, lose our
uniqueness, among people? We, like the salt of
Jesus’ illustration, lose our power and, as far as our
influence on others is concerned, become “good for
nothing.”4. When Paul gave words of advice and
encouragement to young Timothy: “. . . be an
example to the believers in word, in conduct, in
love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (I Tim. 4:12),
he was describing the Christian who is “the salt
of the earth,” one who reflects a difference in his,
or her, whole manner and style of life.5. Salt is supposed to be a positive, not passive,
ingredient. It’s a purifying, not defiling, additive.
When it loses its potency and purpose, can only be
“. . . thrown out and trampled underfoot of men.”a. Here is the Christian who has left his first
love, and is in need of the very salvation he
or she should be offering others.b. Here is the Christian who has no positive
impact on the community in which they live.c. Here is the church whose reputation has
been tarnished and can never really be fully
restored.6. Christians are called to be a positive force for good,
not neutral, nor negative.C. Christians are called to be unique, like Jesus’ second
illustration, and comparison, light. (verses 14-16).1. Light is distinct – different certainly from darkness.
Is no compatibility between two. Cannot be in
same place at same time.2. Light guides the traveler, cheers the despondent,
makes growth possible.a. In God’s creation of the physical world,
light preceded everything else.b. Light came first because of the essential
role it plays in survival of all other things.3. In the New Testament, the gospel is compared to
light. (READ II Corinthians 4:3-4). Just as
physical light and darkness cannot coexist, so, too,
spiritual light and darkness cannot.4. Christians have been commissioned to “let [their]
light so shine before men that they may see . . .
good works . . .” (v. 16).5. As with salt, what can we take as lessons from the
unique nature of light?a. Our good influence, as Christians, is never
worthless, nor can it be “hidden.” (vs. 14).
It has the attractiveness of a “city set on a
hill,” to one who has been lost in darkness.b. Our good influence, as Christians, is not to
be a matter of personal pride. Jesus said to
simply “let your light shine,” not to go out
and “shine your light.” Remember the real
purpose for doing what we do: to “. . glorify
your Father in heaven.” (v. 16). Should
encourage one another by giving recognition
to the good things that are accomplished, but
to God goes the greater glory.c. We should not let negative responses to
our efforts discourage us. Light merely
enables forms and colors to be seen – an eye
is required to actually see them. If
Christians let their light shine, they’ve done
what is necessary, and right. We don’t have
to answer for those whose eyes are closed.D. Besides the uniqueness of the disciples themselves, Jesus
taught that the message they carry is also different, and
distinctive (READ Matthew 5:17-18).1. Again, must look to One who gave the message.
Christ came, not to destroy God’s law, but to make
it complete; to “fulfill” it. (v. 17).2. No other person kept all the points of the first
covenant of God with His people as Jesus did.3. No other person was qualified to establish a new
covenant, as He did.4. Jesus not only spoke with authority, but what He
said stands out, and is unique, in that it is the one,
and only, message that must be believed, and
obeyed, for the saving of our soul.5. The gospel is the message that produces Christians.
a. It is “one-of-a-kind” in its duration;
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My
words will by no means pass away.”
(Matthew 24:35).b. It is “one-of-a-kind” in its application:
even the “least commandment” cannot be
ignored. (READ Matthew 5:19).E. As Jesus continued the teaching found in Matthew 5, He
pointed out how the responsibilities of His disciples were
different, as compared with those under the former law, the
first covenant.1. He made a series of comparisons between what
was, and what was to be true now, using His
authority as the Son of God to make such
statements (“I say to you . . .”).2. Beginning at verse 20, and going through the end
of chapter, Jesus said:a. The righteousness of the disciples had to
exceed (go beyond) the mechanical,
legalistic actions of the scribes and
Pharisees. Obeying the “letter” of the law
lost its meaning when people had forgotten
the “spirit” of the law.b. Those who would follow Him must avoid
anger, and irresponsible accusations, not
just stop short of killing someone they felt
had offended them. Disciples must control
their emotions, lest their emotions control
themc. Jesus’ disciples had to take right attitude
toward worship, and have proper
relationships with brethren, not just
participate in meaningless ceremony.d. He spoke about the need to control
physical desires – not just avoid the
extreme of adultery.e. His disciples were to be people of
integrity, whose word could be relied
upon, people who would go beyond the
minimum of other’s expectations –
go that “second mile” for someone else.3. Jesus finishes this part of the “Sermon On The
Mount” with words about friends, and enemies.
(READ Matthew 5:43-48).F. All of these principles, applied to our lives as followers
of the only Son of God, should truly make us a unique
people. People unlike the world around us. People who
show who our Master really is and to whom we belong.III. Conclusion.
A. Christianity, as a way of life, is different – learned, not
natural. As Christians, must let others see this distinction
more clearly.B. To become one of God’s “special people,” we first must
respond to that unique call that makes us free – free from
burden of sin and the guilt it carries with it.C. God’s people share a great assurance, assurance of
eternal life. Jesus died to give us that assurance. Won’t
you accept gift today?