1.  Christians must live a godly lifestyle in keeping with their heavenly citizenship.  Even as citizenship carries with it privileges and responsibilities so being a Christian (a citizen of Heaven) brings with it privileges and responsibilities.  Does our lifestyle reflect the standards of the world or of Heaven?

2.  We must be committed to the truth of the gospel, to defending essential doctrines, especially the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith.  We must defend it from those who would add works to grace. 

3.  We must understand that suffering and persecution are to be expected in the Christian life (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 1:11,12; 3:10-12; 1 Peter 4:12-16).

4.  God uses suffering to perfect us, to perfect our faith and bring us to maturity (1 Peter 1:6,7; James 1:2-4).