1 Peter 3:15
Be able to defend your faith!
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”
1 Peter 3:15
In today’s verse, Peter encourages believers to defend their faith. We will take a closer look at this verse to find out what it means for us!
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts;”
This means to give God all glory and honor for what He has done, and to only trust in Him. Elihu and Abraham are examples of giving God glory for what He has done (Job 33:4; Romans 4:20).
The Greek text says “Christon”, meaning Christ instead of God. We can also read: “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts;”
Job 33:4: “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Romans 4:20: “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God;”
“And always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you;”
We must be ready to defend and explain the hope that is in us. We need to be ready to speak about Christ. We do this when people want to learn about it, and when it is asked of us in difficult times. Defend the faith when they ask you for a reason, or an account concerning the hope that is in you. In Matthew 7:6, Jesus tells us to not give what is holy to the dogs, because they will trample it under their feet and tear you to pieces. It is important to use God’s Word to spread the Gospel and draw people closer to God, not for personal gain.
Matthew 7:6: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”
“With meekness and fear;”
Give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, but do so with meekness (or gentleness), and fear (or reverence). This means being cautious in what you say, so that it will not harm God’s church or the Gospel. Jesus also used wisdom in what He said when He stood before the high priest.
John 18:19-20: “The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, ‘I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.’”
Today’s lesson: Be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you. Be ready to do so with gentleness and reverence, so that God may be praised in the words you speak. Use wisdom when you talk about faith and the reason for your hope, Jesus Christ.