Different Shades of Christian
What is a Christian? The word is used three times in the Bible. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26). So by the time the Bible was finished being written, the term Christian was well established. It meant something in those days. It was a new religion applied to those who followed Christ and His teachings.
Let’s look at it a bit today in 1 Peter. One of the three times the word is used is 1 Peter 4:16. We won’t get there today, but the idea of being a Christian comes across in a few different shades before chapter 4.
The theme of 1 Peter is being holy, and especially in light of suffering persecution. We are Christians—little Christs—so we are to be holy like He was. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Pet 1:15-16) We know God the Father was holy, as this probably refers to. But Jesus was also. It’s a fact that even Satan acknowledged (Luke 4:33-35).
God and Jesus are holy. So are Christians to be holy—making it a part of what it means to be a Christian.
Another thing that Jesus referred to himself as was a temple. Remember, Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up…But he spake of the temple of his body. (John 2:19, 21)
And so, as Christians, our bodies are also temples. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Cor. 3:16)
But in 1 Peter, we go deeper into this idea of the temple. Not only was Jesus a temple, and we are a temple, together, we make up another big obvious temple of which Jesus is the cornerstone. Here’s the best summary of that idea: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Eph. 2:20-22)
If, in this case, we have a big temple and Jesus is the cornerstone, we are little stones that all together are built into a temple. That’s what we see in 1 Peter. Speaking of Jesus, Peter said To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (1 Pet. 2:4-7)
People stumbled at Christ then, and they still stumble today. They try to live smooth lives of their own, but when they are confronted with Christ as Savior, they trip. So we are the little stones that are part of that temple, and we remind them of the corner stone they stumble at. They don’t want to look at the temple. As long as we are around being little stones in the big temple, they are going to keep stumbling. It’s part of our roll as Christians. And here we thought it was all about us and our happiness. No. Being a Christian is about Christ.