Of Christ, Paul says, "Who have himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14).

A tremendously expensive price has been paid by our Lord that we might become His very own; He gave Himself for us, the verse says! This He did freely. .His death on Calvary's cross was like that of a criminal. Yet, He did not sin, neither was guile found in His mouth (1 Pet. 2:22). No man could ever convince Him of sin (John 8:46). Yet, one of His own disciples placed a filthy kiss from his putrescent lips upon Him for those who waited to take Him like a hunted desperado. He was removed from the garden that night and shuffled back and forth before different men for trial-all of them illegal trials (Isa. 53:8). It was here that He experienced loneliness and untold agonies of inhuman brutalities, and was heard in that He feared (Heb. 5:7). With great drops of sweat falling freely from His torture-racked body, He cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

His Purpose in such a gift was "that he might redeem us." All have sinned and the wages of sin is death (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). It is from this death that He redeems. His people are a redeemed people) redeemed from all iniquity-lawlessness.

This possession of His is a purified people. He gave Himself that He might purify-free from the guilt of sin. Every Christian should know his obligation to live a clean, Christ-honoring life (2 Cor. 7:1). "But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:9).

His own possession is a peculiar people. They are not peculiar because of their dress, but because they are zealous of good works. His possession is created in Christ for good works, and must work out his salvation (Eph. 2:10; Phil, 2:12). Inasmuch as we are not our own, because we have been bought with blood, we must live so as to glorify Him (1Cor. 6:20).

Truth Magazine XXIII: 11, p. 183
March 15, 1979