In the first segment of this series we focused on the incredible price Jesus of Nazareth paid for each of those whom He labeled a “pearl of great price.” Now we will trace His costly pearls’ history back to their beginning. In so doing I will upset many in professing Christendom who refuse to acknowledge true Christianity’s direct ties to the ancient Israelites and the modern-day Israelites known as “Jews.” What we will find is that the costly “pearls” of antiquity and the costly modern day “pearls” are of the same biological and spiritual lineage, a fact that few are willing to acknowledge. Why? Because it means that todays pearls must obey the same Law as did their Israelite ancestors in order to become pearls of great price. Why is this a problem for the billions of religious pearls in the world’s churches?

Actually it involves two problems. One, modern churchites will have nothing to do with anything Israelite or Jewish because of problem #2. The second problem involves God supposedly nailing His Law to the cross of Jesus Christ, thereby freeing salvation seekers from the “works” associated with obedience to it which, in their minds, constitutes “legalism.” Being forced to perform the “works” associated with strict obedience to God’s Ten Commandment Law conflicts with the “freedom” of personal choice associated with modern day “Christianity.” See the home page of this website for a list of some of those “freedoms.” In the eyes of the church masses (pearls), their path to heaven involves only faith and grace — no Law or works. This in spite of Christ’s Words in John 8:31; 14:15; 15:10; 22-24/ Matthew 19:17/ First John 2:3-5 and 3:1-10 and James 2:10,14,17,18, 20,24,26. We will now look back at the original Pearls of Great Price to learn who they were and how to identify their modern-day descendants–IF, that is, you can find one, which will be the focus of the next series.

In order to show that ancient Israel and God’s true modern saints are one and the same in the heart of God we will notice that He identifies both groups as HIS “PECULIAR TREASURES.” Recall in the previous posting that Jesus called those who would make the cut His “pearls of great price,” in other words, His “treasures.” In Exodus 19:5,6 we find Him saying to Israel that if they would “… obey My voice indeed and keep My covenant you will be a PECULIAR TREASURE TO ME above all other people.” In Psalm 135:4 we find David saying that God has chosen the Israelites to be “HIS PECULIAR TREASURE.”

Yes, Law-haters say, but that was Old Testament language. With that in mind let us turn to the New Testament. Before doing so, let us be reminded that the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament–the Word who came to earth as Jesus of Nazareth (Jn. 1:1-4,14). Read First Corinthians 10:4 and Acts 7:38. The “Rock” and the “Angel” was the God (Jesus) who followed Israel out of Egypt, was on Mt. Sinai where He spoke to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments (vs 32). He was the God who spoke face-to-face with Adam and Eve and others. Read The God of the Old Testament and Jesus of Nazareth: God, Man or God-man? Key words–Old and God-man respectively.

In First Peter 2:9 we find the apostle using many of the same kinds of words to describe the New Testament saints that were used in the Old Testament to describe God’s special TREASURES of that time: “For you are CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PECULIAR PEOPLE … whom God has called out of darkness and into His marvelous light.” I will finish with perhaps the ultimate passage relative to qualifying to be one of God’s pearls of great price–First Peter 1:15,16: “AS HE WHO CALLED YOU IS HOLY, SO MUST YOU BE HOLY IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE” (WORDS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS).

These Scriptures are from the heart of God which He spoke through His Holy Spirit to His holy prophets and apostles who spoke them and recorded them to be used as instructions for us who are serving Him now at the end of the age (1 Cor. 10:11). Peter, writing to the New Testament Church, makes this clear, saying: “Holy men of old spoke as they were moved by the Spirit of God” (2 Pet. 1:21). If we expect to join them in the Kingdom of God we must live as did those holy men by learning, believing and obeying what they spoke and wrote. Their lives can be summarized in this: THEY OBEYED GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENT LAW, INCLUDING COMMANDMENT #4.

In the next posting we will learn what will happen in the social arena of life if we obey their writings. L.J.