An Article of Faith

In Christ God established a new covenant: “And in the same way [Jesus] took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood’” (Luke 22:20).

This new relationship was based on faith and not the keeping of law. God chose and called out a new people (both Jews and Gentiles, i.e., non-Jews) who responded to His offer of salvation through faith in His Son:

“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” (1 Peter 2:9).

Thus, God’s purpose for the New Testament Church is a continuation of what He began with Old Testament Israel. God wants to redeem a lost world.

As “a chosen race” we are special because of our relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. We belong to Him. We are not our own. Because we belong to Him, He deserves and expects our obedience:

“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’ ” (1 Peter 1:14-16).

As “a royal priesthood” every single believer is a priest to God. “Royal” means each of us has direct access to the King of kings and is a part of the royal family by adoption. The role of the priest was primarily to bring a word from God to the people. The priest also represented the people before God. We have that assignment and privilege: to represent God to humanity and humanity to God.

As “a holy nation” we have been set apart for God’s exclusive use. We are to be separated from the common and separated from the ways of the world. We are different from the world. We are to reflect God, His nature, and His ways:

“Dear friends, I warn you as ‘temporary residents and foreigners’ to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world” (1 Peter 2:11-12, NLT).

God has a people, and He is at work through His people to accomplish His redemptive work. His goal is to exalt Jesus and draw a lost world to faith in Christ:

“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

Confess to the Lord any ways you are not holy as He is holy. Pray that you and your church will become the kind of people God can use mightily. Ask God to reveal Christ’s love to you so that you will be a faithful ambassador to implore others to be reconciled to God.

(Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.)