Probably no word is more loosely used than the word Christian. Peter in 1 Peter 1:13-25 also uses the word believer. Today we consider what this person is in regards to salvation.
1) OBEDIENT CHILDREN 13-14
A. Loins of your mind - sober(in mind) figure from the clothing of that day
B. Children of obedience - 14 - their nature, character as childen of light John 12:36, Eph 5:8 as opposed to children of disobedience Eph 2: 2-3
C. Former lusts - 14 1 Pet 4:1-4; Eph 4:18 , now the standard is immutable
2) GOD IS THEIR STANDARD 15-16
A. Holy as God is Holy-Examine God's Holiness Lev 19:2 the ChristiAn imitates that Heb 12:14;2
2 Cor 7:1
B. Pure as God is pure - 1 John 3: 1-3 God is perfect, we strive for that Matt 5:48
3) GOD IS THEIR FATHER 17
A. Call upon Him; imitate Him Serve Him in reverence Heb 5:7; 12:28
B. Time of your sojourning - 1 Pet 1:1; 2:11
4) REDEEMED THROUGH CHRIST'S BLOOD 18-19
A. Redeemed not by material purchases, but by the precious blood - Matt 20:28; 26:28;
[Blood] propitiation for our sins Rom 3: 23-25 for the individual Heb 2:9
5) NOW A BELIEVER IN GOD 20-21
A. Foreknown before the foundation of the world; hence Redeemer before Creator Eph 1:4 John 17:24 We believe in Him - faith and hope in God who did all this Rom 10:17
6) BY OBEDIENCE PURIFYING THE SOUL 22
A. To obey the truth one must first haved learned the truth John 6: 44-45; 8: 31-36; Rom 6: 15-18
B. One cannot learn error and obey the truth
7) BEGOTTEN - BORN OF GOD 23-25
A. The incorrutible seed is the Word of God Isa 40: 6-8
B. The seed of the kingdom [is the word of God] Luke 8:11; Matt 13:19; the Gospel, 1 Cor 4:15
Here we have Peter's definition of a Christian, or a believer. He is one who has been born again, purified his soul, redeemed by blood, recognizes God as his Father, makes God his standard, and lives as a child of obedience. Are you a Christian, measuring up to this standard?