The love of God has been proclaimed all over the world, and the reason why this love has been so powerfully announced is because the world is in need of it. With each passing day, brotherly love, compassion, and charity cease to exist in some cold, insensible heart that is uprooted from God. The Lord has to transform those hearts. And instead of a hard, stubborn heart, Jesus must renew it, creating pure and living hearts, tender to the pain of others, empathetic and ready to receive the transformation that comes from the Holy Spirit.

John says in his epistle: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:1–3).

The apostle is practical in his approach to his readers. As much as we read, as much we understand his point of view, he has just said: “If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him” (1 John 2:29). It means that Jesus is righteous, and in order for us to be truly born of Him we must show it by our fruits—”wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20).

John also has a special way in his wording. His purpose in writing these epistles is to strengthen the churches where he worked—to encourage his loving children in Christ to better live the Christian life. That is why we see many times John addressing each verse, as if he would be writing to one special, beloved child. Then, let us analyze the first part of verse 1: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1).

John does not even try to measure the extent of God’s love toward us. He says: what manner of love, meaning, with what can we compare this? What can we exchange it for? And he gives us a much stronger proof when saying: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). John does not say that the Father’s love is equal to this or that, but uses this unique method of embracing Jesus' love in fervent intensity, passion and emotion for humanity.

And he questions: What manner of love is this? What kind of love has God bestowed upon us? Such a resilient love that would endure death, “even death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6–8) to give us the right to be called children of God, as he explains in his gospel: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12, 13).

In other words, all who receive Jesus as their personal and only Savior, all who accept Him to work a miracle in their hearts will receive power to become children of God. To Rahab, Jacob, and even the demon-possessed man in Gadara, Jesus gave power to change their lives. And now, for all those who wish to be transformed, He will clothe them today in clean, pure garments to walk in righteousness and newness of life.

And now John once again connects his gospel and his epistle saying: “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” So, being born from God, and having received forgiveness, the new birth, as well as the mitre of holiness in the forehead, we are to bear fruit unto righteousness.

Here on this point, John makes a clear statement about fame. With strong words, he leads us to re-think our work as Christians in society. He says: “therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” Two connected ideas stand out, which will be discussed separately. The first: sometimes we are very well known by the people of the world. They know our names, they know our houses, they come to our places, they also know we are Christians. What, then, is the problem with all of this? They know us too well; we became familiar; we became like them. Our lives are their lives; our music is their music; our food is their food; our words are their words; even our religion is their religion. We are no longer a peculiar people.

The second idea: If they really do not know us, what role as a Christian have we played? If they really do not know us, it is because they know not the Father, and the world has not been illuminated with the great glory and love of Jesus. In other words, what have we done that has kept the world from knowing Jesus? And then comes another question: If He is known, what is holding them back from making the decision to accept and follow Him? Or is it due to our role as Christians, our efficiency—or in this case, inefficiency?

But first, let us understand the previous idea. Let us take a couple of paragraphs to answer some questions: What is a peculiar people? Why are we called to be a peculiar people? How long does it take to become a peculiar people? Three long and complex questions need to be answered, but they cannot be skipped or forgotten—they are the right tools to measure the health of a living, faithful and active church.

1. The meaning of “peculiar”

What is a peculiar people? According to the Oxford English Dictionary (2002), the word “peculiar” means “Distinguished in nature, character; special; distinctive.” However, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary reveals an interesting synonym for it, saying that “peculiar” can also be something odd, strange, atypical or even weird.

Using these terminologies, we extract different views on what being a peculiar people could be. Yet, this is not what God meant when He first called us to be a peculiar people, His peculiar treasure. His words are found in Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 14:2:

“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5). “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2).

God chooses us to be different. God is giving us, His people, a condition to continue being His people; actually, He says that if we obey His voice, and keep His commandments, then we will be a peculiar treasure above all nations. Note that He does not say we will be His only people, but His peculiar people—using the same meaning as in the Oxford Dictionary—a special people to take forward His love, mercy and goodness. Why? He finishes: “for all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5).

The second question is now easier to be answered: Why are we called to be a peculiar people? Knowing these questions would come up, God inspired men to give the answer to His servants, and now we can find them in Titus 2:13, 14, and 1 Peter 1:18, 19; 2:9: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13, 14, emphasis added).

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18, 19; emphasis added).

"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." (1 Peter 2:9).

The answer is clear: Jesus has redeemed us, saved us, and also has made us a peculiar people unto Himself, so that, being justified by the faith in Christ, we can shine forth His light unto them that are still in darkness. That is, being saved by His blood, being rescued from the mud we were in, or being chosen as His peculiar people, we are to call all the people around us “out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

2. Precious and peculiar

All the three previous references speak for themselves, that is obvious—actually, Titus and Peter are here in a deep conversation about the work of Jesus in cleansing us, purifying us and transforming us by His precious blood shed on the cross, and also His second coming to the earth. What is common between them is the wording chosen to give meaning, intonation, and a personal feeling—in short, their emotions.

The Greek word περιούσιος (periousios) is often translated as “special,” “chosen,” or “peculiar” in the sense of being God's treasured possession. It is derived from the root peri (“around” or “surrounding”) and ousia (“being” or “substance”). Thus, it implies something or someone set apart, precious, or of unique value, particularly in a covenantal relationship.

“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5). “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6).

There is another word: περιποίησις (peripoiesis) in Greek means “possession,” “preservation,” or “acquisition,” and was used by Peter, where it conveys the idea of something or someone obtained for a specific purpose, cherished, or kept safe by God.

The church is described as a “people for God's own possession” (λαὸ?ς εἰ?ς περιποίησιν). This echoes the covenantal language found with περιούσιος, where the redeemed people of God are viewed as His treasured possession.

So, when we read 1 Peter 1:18, 19, we see a point of connection for Titus, Peter and Moses in their writings, which gives us, altogether, the key for an active and living church, operating and being a lighthouse for the world in darkness. Thus, this can be understood in going back to the Old Testament and the election of Israel as a peculiar people. In Exodus 19:5, 6 is found the purpose of the nation of Israel:

“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Exodus 19:5, 6, emphasis added).

What does it mean to be kingdom of priests in the midst of all the nations? We read:

“The Lord chose a people and made them the depositories of His truth. It was His purpose that by the revelation of His character through Israel, men should be drawn to Him. To all the world the gospel invitation was to be given. Through the teaching of the sacrificial service, Christ was to be uplifted before the nations, and all who would look unto Him should live.”1

“All who, like Rahab the Canaanite and Ruth the Moabitess, turned from idolatry to the worship of the true God were to unite themselves with His chosen people. As the numbers of Israel increased, they were to enlarge their borders until their kingdom should embrace the world.”2

Therefore, being a peculiar people had to do with the spreading of the “good news of salvation,” the gospel—thus sharing by their lives a living God; showing by their actions an awaited Messiah to deliver all from sin. Nevertheless, God first had to do a work of purification within Israel. God had to separate them, to set them apart, to sanctify them, so that they could be a “light of the Gentiles,” God’s “salvation unto the end of the earth” (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6).

Now, it is possible to understand the connection in the first epistle of Peter and Titus chapter 2. God also had to work within us—it was no different. In order for us to be His people, awaiting His coming, He needed to “redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people” (Titus 2:14). But how did He do this? Was it with gold or silver, or even with the blood of lambs? No, “but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18, 19). Then, and only then, we can go forward and be considered “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9).

Then, it is time to answer the third question: How long does it take to become a peculiar people? And again the answer is simple.

“The grace of Christ is freely to justify the sinner without merit or claim on his part. Justification is a full, complete pardon of sin. The moment a sinner accepts Christ by faith, that moment he is pardoned. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to him, and he is no more to doubt God's forgiving grace.”3

The moment a sinner recognizes his condition, his unworthiness, and accepts Christ and His righteousness, the work of redemption is completed in him. The price was paid, the forgiveness was offered, and now accepted; and the work of sanctification begins—that is, God Himself, through the Holy Spirit is making of us a peculiar people in the likeness of Christ, a perfect people “not having spot or wrinkle,” but “holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).

3. A living church

With all this said, we can go back to the second problem found in 1 John 3:1. Are God’s people unknown by the world because of their inefficiency or loss in showing the truth once given to the saints? Well, when the lighthouse fails to shine or actually hides its light in the darkness of the night, boats, ships and thousands upon thousands of people are brought to total ruin and collapse.

Ever since sin first entered the world, people have been led into unbelief, despair and misery. There is no peace for the wicked at all (Isaiah 57:20, 21). However, God has placed truehearted people on earth to “make known . . . the riches of the glory” (Colossians 1:27). For what purpose? So that by a living church, operating according to His will and being filled with His Almighty power, the peace so greatly needed may come to every soul who cries for help.

“But he who spoke peace to the billows of Galilee has spoken the word of peace for every soul. However fierce the tempest, those who turn to Jesus with the cry, “Lord, save us,” will find deliverance. His grace, that reconciles the soul to God, quiets the strife of human passion, and in his love the heart is at rest.”4

But not only peace with God (Romans 5:1), but also to give to everyone a chance to experience a new birth, “not of blood . . . nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13); and then to be called “sons of God” (1 John 3:1)—no longer sinners, but men and women in Christ, “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

In conclusion, 1 John 3 powerfully reminds us that our love for others must flow through our actions, not just our words: “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

This beckons us to rise in love and service, urging us to express our faith in tangible ways—especially to those who are still lost in darkness, desperately seeking to know Jesus as their personal Savior. The church is called to be messengers of hope, illuminating the path to salvation through selfless acts of love and compassion.

As we embody Christ's love, we fulfill our divine mission to reach out to the broken and the hurting, offering them the grace and mercy that has transformed our own lives. Our actions must reflect the life-changing power of the Gospel, shining brightly to draw others into the arms of Christ.

As we move forward towards heaven, let us carry this mission in our hearts: to love deeply, to serve wholeheartedly, and to be a guiding light for those seeking salvation. As a church, united, let us shine forth His light into the darkness and bring hope to a world longing for peace.