Go! And Be Ready To Defend Your Faith Series

Go! And Be Ready to Defend Your Faith

Introduction: A Call to Stand Firm

The world is full of questions. Some ask with curiosity, others with skepticism, and still others with outright hostility. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be ready to respond. 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT) instructs us:

"Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it."

This verse reminds us that our faith should not only be lived out but also defended with wisdom and grace. Today, we will explore how we can be prepared to give an answer for our faith, how we can do so with gentleness and respect, and how ultimately, our defence of the gospel points to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

1. Go! And Set Apart Christ as Lord

1 Peter 3:15a (NLT): "Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life."

The phrase "worship Christ as Lord" in Greek is hagiasate de ton Christon kyrion en tais kardiais humon (????sate d? t?? ???st?? ?????? ?? ta?? ?a?d?a?? ?µ??). The Greek word hagiasate (????sate) means to sanctify, set apart, or consecrate. Peter is telling us to revere Christ above all else, making Him the supreme authority in our hearts.

To be an effective witness for Christ, He must be the centre of our lives. Our thoughts, actions, and priorities must reflect that Jesus is Lord.

This is not a passive belief but an active surrender. It is a daily commitment to honour Christ in all that we do.

If Christ is truly Lord in our hearts, it will be evident in our speech, conduct, and how we answer those who ask about our faith.

Colossians 3:17 (NLT): "And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father."

Romans 10:9 (NLT): "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

John MacArthur writes, "True worship involves a submission to Christ’s authority in every aspect of life." If we do not first submit to Christ as Lord, we cannot properly explain our faith to others.

Imagine a soldier who has pledged allegiance to a king but fails to obey his commands. His words mean little if his actions do not align with his commitment. Likewise, if we claim Jesus as Lord but do not set Him apart in our hearts, our witness will lack credibility.

Have we truly set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts? Does our life reflect our commitment to Him?

2. Go! And Be Ready to Explain Your Hope

1 Peter 3:15b (NLT): "And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it."

The Greek word for "ready" is hetoimos (?t??µ??), meaning prepared, equipped, or in a state of readiness. Peter instructs us to be prepared at all times to give a reason (apologia - ?p?????a) for the hope we have.

We must know what we believe and why we believe it. This requires studying Scripture and understanding the core truths of the gospel.

Our defence of the faith (apologetics) should be built on biblical truth, not personal opinion.

Being ready does not mean we need to have all the answers, but it does mean we should be growing in our understanding of God’s Word.

2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT): "Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth."

Jude 1:3 (NLT): "I am writing to encourage you to contend for the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people."

Tim Keller states, "A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it." Doubt should drive us to seek answers, not walk away from faith.

Imagine a lawyer defending an innocent client. He must study the evidence, understand the law, and confidently present his case. Likewise, we must be prepared to defend the truth of the gospel.

Are we actively preparing ourselves to answer questions about our faith? Do we seek to understand God’s Word more deeply?

3. Go! And Share with Gentleness and Respect

1 Peter 3:16 (NLT): "But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ."

The Greek word for "gentleness" is prautes (p?a?t??), which conveys meekness, humility, and a controlled strength. The word for "respect" is phobos (f?ß??), meaning reverence or honour. Our attitude matters when we share our faith.