Believers are those who have been taught of God and know certain things. This knowledge, that only Christ gives, is a trusted knowledge. In other words, the believer not only knows these things, but he BELIEVES them to be the very essence of the Gospel. Here is what Peter tells us that the believer knows.
1. The believer knows that man's works, efforts, or worth have nothing to do with his redemption- v. 18.
2. The believer knows that redemption and salvation are of the Lord. The price of redemption is far greater than any mere man can offer up. The Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man, offered up His own precious blood to redeem those whom the Father chose from eternity past- v. 19.
3. The believer knows that each time a sinner is saved it is because God purposed it from before creation by the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world- v. 20.
4. The believer knows that Christ came to this earth specifically to die and redeem the elect of God. He was "manifest in these last times for you," v. 20. The "for you" are the believers to whom Peter was writing, which include all the elect of God.
5. The believer knows that he can't even believe except Christ give him faith. "Who by Him do believe in God, v. 21.
6. The believer knows that a sinner must be born-again, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, in order to be saved, v. 23.
7. The believer knows the true state of man as he stands on the brink of eternity. This life, as we know it, is at best only temporal. All the glory a man might have in this life will fade away, (v. 24). When all else is stripped away, the only thing that matters is whether we have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ.
8. The believer knows the necessity of preaching the Gospel. "And this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you," v. 25.
Do you know these things? Do you believe these things? You do if you are saved by the grace of God, for you believe CHRIST.