The Thoughts of Wesley son of Cornelius

The Greek word ekklesia has been shown to be best translated assembly. We have seen how the assembly was rebuilt with the inclusion of Gentiles. Furthermore, just as a man and woman become one on their wedding day, Christ becomes one with the assembly on the Day of the Lord. Likewise, the members of the assembly are to become unified as the human body is unified. But is the assembly the family of God or the People of God? In this dialogue I hope to develop the idea of God’s People in comparison with God’s people. The capitalization of the word people will become more evident later. To investigate this idea, let us examine the first letter of Peter.

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.” (1 Peter 1:1-2 NASB)

“… To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia …” (1 Peter 1:1 NIV)

“… To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia …” (1 Peter 1:1 ESV)

Peter says to these elect,

“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 call you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NASB)

Peter prescribes his recipients with four titles: chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, and an owned people. The last three titles would remind the Jews of what Moses wrote.

“Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6 NASB)

One might be quick then to assume Peter is only writing to the Jews. However, one needs to be careful not to come to that conclusion too quickly. The idea of a royal priesthood is found in Revelation and is applied to the assembly.

“John, to the seven [assemblies] in the province of Asia … To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 1:4, 5b-6 NIV)

Jesus then tells John to write to the assembly in Thyatira:

“And to the angel of the [assembly] in Thyatira … The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.” (Revelation 2:18, 26 ESV)

If the assembly at Thyatira perseveres, they will be given authority over the nations. The four living creatures and the 24 elders will later sing:

“… and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10 ESV)

Near the end of Revelation, John writes:

“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6 ESV)

The assembly seems to correspond to the priesthood. If that is so, it appears that Peter is calling the recipients of his letter God’s People. Who are the recipients? The recipients are the assemblies throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.