Who Is A Christian? 1 Peter 4:12-19

Introduction Many claim to be Christians –Make it so? –Lincoln to his cabinet: “If you call a dog’s tail a leg, how many legs does a dog have?

“Christian” Three times in the Bible –Saints in Antioch (Acts 11:26) –Agrippa’s statement (26:28) –Our text (1 Peter 4:16)

Definition “A person who believes in the doctrine of Christ and acknowledges His divinity, a person having the qualities expected of one who professes Christianity” (Webster)

High Moral Standard (v. 15) Should be evident –Scandals make some wonder (2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 Peter 4:8-11) –Should be seen by others (Galatians 2:20)

High Moral Standard (v. 15) Gentle, kind, not murders –Too many evil, violent people –Not Christians (2 Timothy 2:24-26)

High Moral Standard (v. 15) Honest people –No worry about a Christian stealing (Matthew 5:33-48) –Live by the rule: “Thou shall not steal” (Romans 13:9)

High Moral Standard (v. 15) Not evildoers –Live peaceably with all (Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:13, 19) –Returning good for evil (Romans 12:20, 21)

High Moral Standard (v. 15) Not busybodies –Not lending an ear to gossip and character assassination –“Gossip is worse than an assassin’s bullet; it murders the character of many good people.”

Willing To Suffer (v. 16) Faithful have always paid a price –True in the Old Testament (Hebrews 11) –True today (2 Timothy 3:12)

Willing To Suffer (v. 16) Struggle between saints and sinners –Christian’s lifestyle condemns those in sin (Hebrews 11:7) –Should be unafraid to expose, reprove, and preach against evil (John 3:19-21; Ephesians 5:11)

Willing To Suffer (v. 16) Suffering in many forms –Verbal abuse –Former associates’ mocking (1 Peter 4:4) –Remember the saying, “Sticks and bones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me?”

Willing To Suffer (v. 16) Verbal abuse toward Jesus –Accused of being a deceiver –Breaking the Law of the Sabbath –Being a blasphemer and wine bibber –Assailed as casting out demons by the power of Satan –Ridiculed at His trial and on the cross –Spat upon, beaten (Luke 19:41; 23:34)

Willing To Suffer (v. 16) Who is a Christian? –One who will pay the price –Must bear our cross (Luke 14:27) –Sacrifice, hardship and abuse make up our cross

Trusts His Creator (v. 19) Hardships come on all –Only Christians have God’s help (v. 18) –Peter concludes with this thought

Trusts His Creator (v. 19) Notice the promise –Promise due to the severity of the hardship –Applies to all of God’s people

Trusts His Creator (v. 19) Must commit our souls to Him –“Deliver one’s soul as a deposit” –Most valuable possession in His hands (Genesis 1:26, 27; Hebrews 12:9)

Trusts His Creator (v. 19) How and why do this? –By yielding too His will (1 Peter 2:21-23) –God will keep it (2 Timothy 1:12) –Helps those who rely on Him (Hebrews 13:20, 21)

Conclusion How do you measure up as a Christian? Do you have a high standard of morality? Are you willing to suffer?