According to the Word of God, a Christian is one who, as a sinner in the presence of God, has learned and bowed to the truth of his lost condition by nature and by practice, but who has also learned and believed through grace that his sins are forever blotted out through the blood of Christ. They are never to be remembered. He is reconciled to God, justified from all things, cleared from every charge, and now made meet for glory.
Having met God in Christ, the Christian is at peace with God, and happy in His presence and is no longer looked upon as being in the flesh, but in the Spirit. He is sealed with the, Holy Spirit, a member of Christ's body, a child of God, an heir of God, and joint heir with Christ. And having died with Christ, he is brought into present association with Him, risen in glory, now in possession of a life (eternal life) secure and beyond the reach of every hostile power.
The Christian is a priest separated unto God to serve now as a worshiper in the heavenly sanctuary, which the Lord has pitched and not man. Delivered from the world, to be separated practically from it, he is a citizen of and belonging to heaven. He has a bright future—eternal glory with God's Son. The present object of his heart is Christ in glory, the purpose of his present life, Christ; his present hope is waiting for Him, soon to see Him and to be like Him.
Is it not a wonderful thing to be a Christian? And is it not a poor thing to be anything else, even in this world? But then, "what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" 2 Peter 3:1111Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (2 Peter 3:11).