Sermon Series

God's Peculiar Treasure (2023)

Series Outline PDF

The 2 sermons in this series

Series Outline: God's Peculiar Treasure (2023)

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

Introduction:

The gospel, meaning good news and glad tidings, includes the fabulous love of God for His people.
A similar sermon in some ways was preached 12 years ago but with emphasis on limited atonement.
God’s love of His people can be told many ways, but let us see His personal delight and value in us.
Please check out the links at the bottom of this outline for more sermons related to the love of God.
Since this presentation of God’s love is to be short and sweet, further proof of all points is in the links.
The lie of God’s indiscriminate and unconditional love for all destroys the glory and value of His love.
Are you one lonely soul of 8 billion on a speck of dust floating in an infinite universe? But you are …

God’s Treasure!

Jesus taught a rule of stockpiling treasure in heaven to prove our love (Matt 6:19-21).
We can understand the lesson for us, but what does it teach as an axiom (Matthew 6:21)?
Axiom: A person’s treasure, which is what he values the most and where he makes his greatest and most frequent investments, proves it is truly the object of his heart’s love.
We know Jesus used the axiom for our practical instruction and warning about loving God or things (Matt 6:24), but He also left a general axiom about investments and love.
We are God’s treasure by declaration and investment! His heart love is all ours forever!
This sermon will prove that such an angle on God’s treasure and heart is absolutely true.

What Is a Treasure?

Treasure = anything valued and preserved as precious.
We prove our treasure by the degree and frequency of our investments (Matt 6:19-21).
God proves His treasure the same way, by the degree and frequency of His investments.
He invested His Son and made Him our perpetual Guarantor for all things (Rom 8:32).
Let us discover from God’s written revelation that He indeed considers us His treasure.

We Are God’s Peculiar Treasure!

But not just His treasure … the noun does not please Him … we are His peculiar treasure!
Do not be confused by peculiar – it has a much better meaning than odd, strange, weird.
Peculiar. That is one’s own private property as distinct from others. Distinguished in nature, character, or attributes from others; particular, special.
As kings visited Solomon, they brought peculiar treasure for him – personal, special, and unique gifts of rarities that would have been dear to them to impress him (Eccl 2:8).

Moses Used Peculiar Treasure!

Israel left Egypt; they arrived at Mt. Sinai a couple of months later (Exodus 19:1-2).
He wanted them to know they were very different to Him than Egypt (Exodus 19:3-4).
He made a conditional covenant with them to be His peculiar treasure (Exodus 19:5-6).
God is the absolute sovereign (all the earth is mine) of all men, but He chose only Israel.
He made clear several times He greatly discriminated for them (Ps 147:19-20; Am 3:2).
Note promises also of kingdom of priests and holy nation to peculiar people (I Pet 2:9).
Though the nation at large forfeited the conditional covenant, the elect portion got it all.

David Used Peculiar Treasure!

Praising the LORD and His name is appropriate because He is good (Psalm 135:1-3).
Praising the LORD is also right for He chose Israel as His peculiar treasure (Ps 135:4).
Similar to Moses, David quickly declared His sovereign right over all (Psalm 135:5-7).
Similar to Moses, David showed He chose them over Egypt and others (Ps 135:5-12).

Peculiar Treasure = Precious!

God told the Jews they were precious to Him, so He sacrificed others (Isaiah 43:1-4).
God told the Jews they were honorable in His sight and He loved them (Isaiah 43:1-4).
Precious = of great price; having a high value; costly; held in high esteem = treasure.
God inspired the use of precious for more angles (Ps 72:14; 116:15; 139:17; I Pet 1:19).
For much more detail about this fabulous passage, I Gave Egypt for Thy Ransom.

Peculiar Treasure = Special!

God told Israel by Moses they were His special people above all other people (De 7:6).
Special = of such a kind as to exceed or excel what is usual or common; exceptional in character, quality, or degree; marked off from others of the kind = peculiar.
Who cares if others think you are special or not, if the God of heaven thinks you special.

God’s Treasure Proves His Love!

Remember the axiom? Your valued treasure proves what you truly love in your heart.
He wants to be our treasure by our investments in heaven, as He told Abram (Gen 15:1).
We are God’s treasure, for He invested everything in us as His precious, special people.
We are in His heart; His heart is toward us, as the Bible says and implies about His love.
He has given the greatest gift ever to display, prove, and commend His love toward us.

His Heart and Bowels Move for You!

Though His people sinned terribly, yet His heart turned within Him for them (Hos 11:8).
Though God had to chasten them, He could not forget them by His bowels (Jer 31:20).
Though God had to chasten them, His soul was grieved for their misery (Judges 10:16).
When you need Him, remember to reason with Him about His bowels (Isaiah 63:15).

We Are His Peculiar People!

Peculiar does not mean we are odd, strange, or weird; it means we are specially His.
In this further use of peculiar, Moses did not attach treasure to it again (Deut 14:1-2).
Paul told Jesus died to buy us back from sin for Himself and holy living (Tit 2:13-14).
Peter told the difference in appointment to judgment or peculiar people (I Peter 2:7-10).

We Are Mutually Avouched!

Avouch = to declare or claim solemnly as one’s own, to avow.
A voucher is official evidence that confirms or proves something to be true; a guarantee.
Jehovah avouched His people Israel to Himself as His peculiar people (Deut 26:16-19).
He has sworn to believers, and we back to Him in baptism (Heb 6:13-20; I Peter 3:21).
Seven uses of peculiar (Ex 19:5; Deut 14:2; 26:18; Ps 135:4; Ec 2:8; Tit 2:14; I Pet 2:9).

What Is Love?

Love = the choice to invest your attention, your affection, and your devotion in another.
Love = choosing to shower another with your affection for their perfection and pleasure.
Love = willingness to sacrifice anything needed to win another’s affection back to you.
Love = obsessive desire of another for the closest personal friendship (or fiery jealousy).
Love = compromise and sacrifice of self to adapt one to another for ultimate enjoyment.
Love = eager willingness to share with another what had previously been his very own.
Love is not truly a feeling first (that is lust); love has feelings, but they follow the choice.
Jacob’s love for Rachel meant working seven years for her was nothing (Genesis 29:20).
The heart is the metaphorical seat of affection – the place where love occurs (Song 4:9).

Who Is the Lover?

The LORD God Jehovah, Creator of heaven and earth, Owner and Ruler of all things.
He is infinitely independent of all creatures, so you cannot add value (Job 22:2-3; 35:7).
He is holy, so absolutely impossible to love a sinner, without holy and just intervention.
Yet, this infinite God is thrilled to love you, rejoice over you, and save you (Zeph 3:17).
The only need He has for us now is a need He chose in His eternal decrees for His elect.

Who Is the Loved?

Base and depraved sinners of the human sort, well below the angels in ability or glory.
He is holy, so absolutely impossible to love a sinner, without holy and just intervention.
You have nothing and can achieve nothing to ever benefit/profit Him (Job 22:2-3; 35:7).
But He intentionally and specifically chose to love you when a sinner (Romans 5:6-10).
He is now incomplete without us (Eph 1:22-23), but this is only by His eternal choice.

He Set His Love By Choice!

Israel, a small nation of slaves in Egypt, had nothing to offer, so He chose (Deut 7:7-8).
The picture that He Himself drew of His choice to love Israel is marvelous (Ezek 16:8).
He chose us in His Son before the foundation of the world to love us (Ephesians 1:3-6).

He Made the Peculiar Difference!

When He divided nations, He allocated men by His portion (Deut 32:7-12; Lev 20:26).
Without the help of any other god (there is no other), the LORD did it all for the weak.
He had special interest in them as His precious people like a mother eagle with young.

We Are the Apple of His Eye!

Does that sound like a treasure, a thing precious and special? He chose it (Deut 32:10).
This description of Israel is recorded in the Bible more than once (Ps 17:8; Zech 2:8).
Apple of the eye = the pupil or round black hole in your eye = the window of the soul.

We Are His Favored Vineyard!

This loving God could not have done more than He did for Israel before (Isaiah 5:1-4).
God loves His vineyard, so He keeps it and waters it every moment (Isaiah 27:2-4).
He keeps it day and night, and He will destroy any enemy opposition (Isaiah 27:4-5).

We Are of His Flesh and Bones!

Our union with Jesus is as intimate as His flesh and bones like marriage (Eph 5:28-32).
Adam rightly assessed Eve as being bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh (Gen 2:23).
For more about our eternal covenant union with Jesus Christ in intimate ways … Eternal Union with Christ.

He Is Incomplete Without Us!

We are the body of Jesus; we are the fulness of him that filleth all in all (Eph 1:22-23).
He will never lose a single one of us, as He promised (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; 17:2).
We part of a family – among God’s children – that cannot be lost (Eph 3:15; Heb 2:13).
Of course, God is infinitely and independently complete, but He made us part of Him!

He Made Us for His Honor!

The LORD God Jehovah, Almighty God, Creator of all, is Potter with clay (Rom 9:21).
From lump of human clay, He chose to make us for honor, riches, glory (Rom 9:22-24).
He is not ashamed of us as His family or inner circle in heaven (Heb 2:11-13; Rev 3:21).

He Greatly Desires Your Beauty!

The Song of loves, Psalm 45, declares it in a perfectly Messianic prophecy (Ps 45:11).
Be honest – we are not beautiful in sin, but as holy without blame (Eph 1:4; 5:25-27).
He told Israel their reputation in the world was by His comeliness on them (Ezek 16:14).

His Love Has Perfected Us!

Men are to love wives like Jesus loved His church – with a specific goal (Eph 5:25-27).
Jesus loved the church on behalf of God and did all necessary to perfect her in beauty.
Even practically, pastors must work vigilantly for His chaste virgins (II Cor 11:1-2).

How Great Is His Love?

God defined it by its cost – enough love to kill His only Son (I John 4:9-10; John 3:16).
God defined it by connections – all other things free (Rom 8:32; I Cor 2:9-12; 3:21-23).
God defined it by result – not only justifying but adopting sons (I Jn 3:1; Rom 8:14-17).
God defined it by benefit – purged sins to king/priests (Rom 5:6-11; Rev 1:5-6; 5:9-10).
God defined it by relationship – the love with His Son and Himself (John 17:1-3,23,26).
God defined it by duration – it is forever without ending, even by death (Rom 8:38-39).
Measure it by His greatness, the cost of the investment, and our own great unworthiness.

His Love Is Particularly Special!

The history of the O.T. included God saving Israel but not Egypt (Is 43:3-4; Hos 11:1).
He told His church to check the border to contrast love and hate (Mal 1:1-5; Rom 9:13).
Jesus mocked Jews worshipping in synagogues by His love for Gentiles (Rev 2:9; 3:9).
If God loves everyone equally, including those in hell, His love means nothing like this.
He chose us out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation to be His (Rev 5:9-10).
For much more detail about the discriminating love of God for His elect only … Does God Love Everybody? (2 sermons).

His Love Makes an Incredible Difference!

David contrasted his future against worldly men with vain treasure here (Ps 17:14-15).
Their portion is here, and the treasure He gives them is earthly pleasure to their ruin.
David knew his future was gloriously superior to be with God in heaven (Psalm 49:15).
But the investment to redeem a soul from the power of the grave is precious (Ps 49:8).

His Love Is Intentional!

Think! There is a great difference between a surprise conception and careful adoption.
Most children are conceived without intention; they surprise parents by a missed period.
There was nothing in us that we might fail to maintain, for He loved by what is in Him.
He severed His church from other people to be His own for His goodness (Lev 20:26).
When you cannot explain why God loved us … because He thought it good (Eph 1:5).

It Is Better than Unconditional!

Men have created a fantasy they call unconditional love, but there can be no such thing.
God’s love is most conditional – holy God loves vile sinners – all conditioned on Jesus.
God sees us, views us, and has committed Himself to us in Christ Jesus from eternity.
For more Bible and logical reasons against the vain heresy of unconditional love … Lie Of Unconditional Love.

A Mother’s Love Is Not Good Enough!

God knew we might think a mother’s love is the highest standard of love (Isaiah 49:15).
To help you fully appreciate His love, see His engraving and perpetuity (Isaiah 49:16).
For much more detail of God’s love compared to a mother’s love, in three parts … The Love of God – (#1).

We Are His Seed, His Generation!

God has an elect seed chosen out of all mankind as His own people (Isaiah 53:10; 6:13).
We are the generation or family of God Jesus did not have (Is 53:8; Ps 22:30; Eph 3:15).
For much more about God’s elect being the seed and generation of Jesus Christ … Who Shall Declare His Generation?.

Not One Can Be Lost!

He will, without shame, declare us His brethren and present us to God (Heb 2:11-13).
He will never lose a single one of us, as He promised (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; 17:2).
Though our faith might be overthrown by error, His foundation is sure (II Tim 2:19).

He Is Perpetually Committed to You!

Jesus did not only die for us in God’s love, but He lives to guarantee (Rom 5:10; 8:34).
Jesus is high priest after the order of Melchisedec to perpetually save us (Heb 7:23-28).
He is Surety of His people, the Yea and Amen of every promise (Heb 7:22; II Cor 1:20).

Even Your Body Is His Treasure!

Jesus died to purchase our body back from the promised sin corruption of it (Eph 1:14).
Coming Judgment Day for others will be our reunion with glorified bodies (Rom 8:23).
He will certainly give you a body like unto His glorious body (Phil 3:20-21; I John 3:2).

Death Only Makes It Better and Truer!

Death cannot separate us from the love of God or from love of Christ (Rom 8:35-39).
In fact, death will bring us to God and His Son to realize love much more (Phil 1:23).
For much more of this fact, a funeral sermon, Till Death Do Us Part (or Start) … Till Death Do Us Part (funeral).

God’s Treasure Is Revealed at Death!

When poor beggar Lazarus died, God sent angels to carry him to heaven (Luke 16:22).
When the rich man died, his spirit dropped into the lake of fire for unbelievable torment.
Remember, the death of God’s beloved children is precious in His sight (Psalm 116:15).
He has things for you that exceed all human experience or imagination (I Cor 2:9-11).

How Can I Know It Is True?

Believe the Bible. His benevolence to men and beasts is nothing like His peculiar love.
You know God loves you by proving your election by faith and works (II Peter 1:5-11).
If you believe on Jesus, it is because God drew you to it (Jer 31:3; Hos 11:4; John 6:44).
God is love, so loving your brethren proves that God is in you (I Jn 4:7-8,12-13,16-19).
You should be fully persuaded of His love so nothing at all moves you (Rom 8:35-39).

How Can I Benefit By Knowing This?

Be filled with all God’s fullness by knowledge-surpassing dimensions (Eph 3:14-19).
Walk with God in a continual feast – if you do not, then you must deny this great love.
He offers fellowship with God and His Son (John 14:21-23; II Cor 6:16-18; Rev 3:20).
How can you be discontented or discouraged with life? He will never leave (Heb 13:5).
How can you possibly get distracted by vain soap bubbles of anything here (Ps 63:3-6).
Talk about this with others to be recorded and be one of His jewels (Malachi 1:16-17).
Jesus promised His Father and He would love you more for your love (John 14:21-23).

What Should I Do?

God and His Son’s love for you should restrict and redirect your life (II Cor 5:14-15).
Jealousy is a measure of love, so love Him and hate His enemies (Song 8:6-7; Jas 4:4).
You should seek out a preacher of His to thank Him for loving you by water baptism.
You should seek out a local church and celebrate His love in communion (Rom 5:6-11).
You should then love the other children of God as God has loved you (John 15:12-13).

For Further Study:

He Is Altogether Lovely … He Is Altogether Lovely (1998).

World’s Greatest Lover.

Till Death Do Us Part … Till Death Do Us Part (funeral).

I Gave Egypt for Thy Ransom.

Psalm 45 – A Song of Loves … Psalm 45.

Love of God (compare mothers) … The Love of God – (#1).

Distinguishing Love of God.

God Commendeth His Love.

Sin Swallowed Up By Love … Sin Swallowed Up, O Love, By Thee.

Does God Love Everybody? … Does God Love Everybody? (2 sermons).

Particular and Peculiar People … God’s Peculiar Treasure: Particular Redemption.