The people of God

Being the people of God does not mean that we are the physical seed of Abraham.

If we are born again, we are the spiritual offspring of God and His heirs according to the promise.

The people of God was first Israel; but through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God also made all those who would believe in His Son a people acquired : full children of God with a sonship, privileges, rights and duties, relationship and intimacy with the Father and finally, a family composed of other believers.

The apostle Paul used the expression « our fathers » when he spoke of the patriarchs of Israel to the Christians of Corinth, who were of pagan origin (1 Corinthians 10:1); for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ become children of Abraham (Galatians 3:26-29) and are immediately grafted on the «olive tree» (Romans 11:11-24).

1 Corinthians 10:1 « 1Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea » KJV

Galatians 3 : 26-29 « 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. » KJV

God is not the God of a single people, but the God who created humanity as a whole; the God who invites every man in Christ to join a community that comes from « every nation, tribe, people and language » (Revelation 7:9).

Revelation 7: 9 « 9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands » KJV

Through His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus has removed all barriers that men have erected between them, giving birth to a chosen lineage, a holy nation, a people without borders, geographical or ethnic.

And at Pentecost the Holy Spirit clearly demonstrated that the Good News was for all men.

Disciples of Jesus Christ

Being a Christian is much more than adhering to certain values or a “lifestyle”.

To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ; it is to renounce oneself, to carry one’s cross every day and to come after Him.

To become a Christian is also to adopt new values, those of the Kingdom of God; a profound transformation expressed in two words by the apostle Paul: « Were… now are »

Ephesians 5:8 « 8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light » KJV

Obedience, key to friendship with God

Between Egypt and the promised land, there were only eleven days of walking. Yet Israel walked for forty years only because of their disobedience.

Disobedience is a departure from the protection and blessing of God.

Where disobedience opens the door to Satan, obedience is a sign of respect and submission to God. And as there are natural laws, so there are also spiritual laws with penalties when we transgress them.

How do we become friends of God? By doing what Jesus Christ asked us to do. Obedience to Christ is the key to friendship with God. To love is to obey and to walk according to the commandments of God.

2 John 1: 6 « 6And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. » KJV

Obedience is a learning. Christ Himself learned obedience by the things He suffered. For in heaven, from whence He came, He had neither opposition nor temptation.

Hebrews 5:8 « 8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered » KJV

By obeying the Lord, the fruit of the Spirit will grow within us and our character will change.

The Christian character

Let us look at three traits of the Christian character, which are: honour, fidelity and integrity.

Honour

Honour is a subject that directly affects the state of our hearts. It is above all an attitude, a choice we make and a position of heart.

Malachi 1: 6 « 6A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? » KJV

Notice that in the Kingdom of God, it is he who bows down who will be lifted up. This goes against the principles of the kingdoms of this world.

Matthew 23:11-12 « 11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. » KJV

Honour is:

– Consideration for recognized merit;

– Respect, deference treatment;

– The esteem, appreciation and value given to someone or something;

– Recognition and respect for individuals, for what they have done or are in our lives.

If one wants to honor God, it is necessary, first, to have a good revelation of who He is because we only honor what we know well.

To whom do we owe the honour?

– First, to God. And how do we honor God? Through service and our personal witness, the one of our daily lives : does the message that our life transmits around us honor God?

– To our parents (Ephesians 6:2-3; Matthew 15:4-6);

– To our spouse (1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:33);

– To spiritual leaders (1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:17);

– To the authorities (1 Timothy 2:1-2; Romans 13:1-2);

– To our employers (Ephesians 6:5-8);

– Each other (Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 2:17).

Faithfulness

Responsibility should not always be given to those who have the most capacity (physical, intellectual…) but to those who are faithful.

2 Timothy 2: 2 « 2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. » KJV

The apostle Paul had told his spiritual son Timothy to give responsibilities within the church to faithful and capable men, fidelity preceding ability in its formulation.

Integrity

The Christian must keep the purity of the message of the Gospel, to watch over his motives (not serve God for a squalid gain or to obtain the glory that comes from men); not, by flattery, seek to please men but always seek to please God.

Reflect the character of Christ

To reflect the character of Christ is much more than having given up our old ways and our vain way of life.

Our new nature will lead us to progress in: love, justice, kindness, mercy, benevolence, fidelity, truth, patience and wisdom.

Thus, we will one day find ourselves thinking, speaking and acting like Christ !