So, after getting the word “apologetics”, I thought I was on my way! I thought I knew what the message was.
You’ve heard me say before that I thought God was taking me in on direction on a sermon, but He was actually taking me in a completely different direction.
I’ll explain a bit more about apologetics as we get into the message today.
Body
Today’s message is centered around 1 Peter 3:15-16, stand with me as we honor God while reading His word.
(repeat address)
Only 6 of my sermons, have a reference of 1st Peter in them. I find that curious since Peter is such a prolific figure in the gospels!
I admit I do tend to focus on Paul. Maybe because I relate to him.
But I’m coming around to Peter!
It’s amazing how there can be so much meat in just two verses.
1 Peter 3:15-16 (read from my bible)
Just so we can sort of fix that passage in our minds, I’d like to read it again, from different translations.
This is the RSV (Revised Standard Version)
15 but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
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YLT-15 and the Lord God sanctify in your hearts. And [be] ready always for defence to every one who is asking of you an account concerning the hope that [is] in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that in that in which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed who are traducing your good behaviour in Christ;
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BBE- v15 but give honor to Christ in your hearts as your Lord, and be ready at any time when you are questioned about the hope which is in you, to give an answer in the fear of the Lord and without pride
Let’s unbox this passage for a few minutes today.
Using this breakdown, I’m relying mostly on the NASB, which is not my “go-to” version, as most of you know.
NASB “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect.
-So in a matter of minutes, you have heard ME read 5 translations...Church over!-
To get a somewhat fully understanding of what Peter is telling us here, we need to read verses 13-14.
BTW- if I say Paul, instead of Peter, please give me grace. I’m so accustomed to preaching from Paul’s writings, that it is just habit!
1 Peter 3:13–14 “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.””
re-read that first question and comment:
You’d think no one would have a problem with someone doing good, wouldn’t you? But they do, don’t they!
But even if they do, know this:
you are blessed
don’t be afraid of their threats
nor be troubled
then in v15, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts!
Peter is quoting the OT from Isaiah 8:13 “The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread.”
That word “hallow” is translated in the Greek, to “sanctify” and vise-versa.
To sanctify Christ, we recognize, worship, and honor Him as the only Lord.
Ezekiel 36:23 “And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you, before their eyes.”
Peter is exhorting, that when we become completely in reverence to Jesus, all fear of man-that Peter speaks of in v13-14, will be removed.
This begs the question for me: Is Jesus really Lord of my life?
The Greek word for Lord is (Key-REE-os) Kyrios,
meaning “one who has complete/absolute ownership, with sovereign power and authority.”
I read this recently from a reliable source:
Jesus is referred to 10 times as Savior, and some 700 times as Lord.
when mentioned together Lord always precedes Savior.
For me, this might suggest that He can’t be our Savior, without first being our Lord.
Something to think about
In fact, Paul (yes Paul), tells us that every believer has been purchased and redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and thereby He, Jesus; has absolute ownership!
We are called to set Christ in our hearts, bow down in all reverence, submission and worship.
Our hearts are the sanctuary for worship.
and...if we are worshipping anything but the Lord, He isn’t hallowed, and fear creeps in, making it difficult, if not impossible to profess the hope that is in us. (repeat)
“always be ready to give a defense”.
Church, as “that day” that Paul speaks of, draws near, we need to be ready to give a defense, if we are to make heaven crowded.
We need to be ready to explain, or give testimony as to what we believe, and why we believe it.
Keeping it written on the tablets of our hearts.
As I was reading the different translations, the AMP struck me as curious:
15 But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.
That word “logical” at first, confounded me.
Here’s why:
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
How can I logically defend my assurance in things not seen?
Listen, I know I’m an old guy, but I’m a young preacher.
So, I admit that I’m not always ready to give a defense why I believe, what I believe.
Allow me to try to explain, how I resolved my confusion in the AMP version.
As a sales manager, I trained sales people to try to avoid a logical appeal when selling, but rather, use an emotional appeal.
Let me illustrate:
When a customer came back from a test drive,
don’t ask them what do you think- this solicits a “logical” response.
Listen, when you are paying $1000 a month on a vehicle, logical goes on the window.
Emotion has to rule!
So instead of asking “what do you think”? you ask,
“how did that feel”?
Side note: that insider tip was free
Back to the AMP translation:
Evidentially, we could blind them with science, facts and figures and hope to persuade them why we believe what we believe, or
...we could take a logical approach with a ready answer.
In other words, be prepared, not shoot from the hip.
A logical approach to giving evidence of believing things unseen.
And here is where our testimony becomes so crucial!
That word “defense” used in several translations of this verse translates in the Greek to (app-uh-LOW-gee-uh), which literally means “to talk oneself off from”
In the Greek law courts, it was a technical word used by attorneys who “talked his clients “off from” a charge levied against them.
App-uh-LOW-gee-uh, was a speech given in defense of his client.
In essence, it was the testimony of his clients innocence.
Peter is advising us to “always be ready” to give our testimony of the hope that is in us as a result of what Jesus has done for us.
You may have heard the phrase “mouth to mouth” is the best advertising.
That one on one personal testimony, is part of your story to bring glory, to God. Glory to the story! (I just came up with that this morning)
I read this quote last week. You know Wednesday, was last week right? Today we are in a new week.
Instead of saying Wednesday, it sounds so much more distant to say “last week”!
As though this has been abiding in me a long time!
Here’s the quote:
A vital testimony is invincible, and
the argument of a redeemed life is unassailable- meaning “unable to be attacked or questioned”
Y’all, that’s powerful, and I encourage you to take that to heart.
Only YOU have your story, and someone needs to hear it!
Be ready to give your testimony to:
“Everyone who asks you”, and “every time someone asks you”.
The NLT reads “If someone asks”
I’m convinced that “if” we are living a life sanctified in Christ, they will ask!
We have no idea when someone around us is watching us, and how we handle life, and the words that come out of our mouths, or watching our walk.
All this may present us with the opportunity to minister someone who is struggling in some manner.
Another quote:
“A man may be more than a match for you or me in a debate, but the sanctified life produced by the Lordship of Christ in our hearts, and the hope of His imminent return is unassailable.”
Hope, in scripture, is portrayed as a desire for some future good, with the expectation of obtaining it.
“with meekness and fear”
This verse is a perfect illustration of why reading more than one version is a good practice.
The NLT/NET/CSB all move “meekness and fear” to verse 16.
Peter is reminding of the conduct in which we are to give our defense is of paramount importance.
Other versions use:
Humility and fear
Gentleness and reverence
Gentleness and respect
I love the BBE (Bible in Basic English)
To give an answer in the fear of the Lord and without pride
We need to:
Conduct ourselves in our answers, with humility, gentleness, meekness, respect, reverence and fear of the Lord.
When we are talking with someone of different worldviews or beliefs, keep in mind this is a spiritual battle going on, within them, and how we conduct ourselves, could make all the difference!
By being always ready with the knowledge of God’s word, in our hearts and the Holy Spirit as our counselor, we are better prepared to correct any misconceptions they may have, about biblical Christianity.
Also, to make a defense, we must “major in the majors” not “major in the minors”
We do this by, staying focused on Jesus, and His finished work on the Cross.
Here’s my prayer over the last several months:
That God open my eyes and ears to the opportunities He gives me to share my faith,
have my testimony ready,
and be a good listener.
We must be patient when answering their questions.
Over the years, I’ve found that finding “common ground”, is a powerful door opener.
So, I re-wrote my version of v15, using several translations:
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life, and be prepared at any time, to give a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, in the fear of the Lord and without pride.
1 Peter 3:16 “having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”
The NASB uses “keep a good conscience”
That word “keep” translates to “to possess or maintain”
“possess or maintain a good conscience”
Speaking of good conscience:
Attorneys and car salespeople have earned the reputation for being untrustworthy.
Tell my 1993 story...
I determined very early in my sales career that @ the end of each day, I would lay down my head @ night and sleep well, with a good conscience of having dealt with people that day, and every day with integrity (right Ashley).
I spoke to a group recently and stated “we are responsible for our own accountability”.
We are the chief witness of a good conscience.
Quote: A saint is someone whose life, makes it easier to believe in God.
Is that you?
A good conscience helps a believer be bolstered with courage, because he know he is right with God and men. Our behavior substantiates our belief.
Quote: “when men speak of ill of you, live so that no one will believe them”. (repeat)
A few months back, on our way to Tres Dias Roman and I had a great time of fellowship.
Each of us spoke of our “old” selves.
Here’s the amazing thing:
Neither of us could see the “old” self, in the other!
He couldn’t see the “old” DelRay I described, and I couldn’t see the “old” Roman, he described!
“when men speak of ill of you, live so that no one will believe them”.
“and when they defame you as evildoers”
The NLT heading of this passage beginning in v13 is:
Suffering for doing good
It is interesting the Peter writes “when”, not “if”
He is not suggesting it might happen, he is assuring us it will happen.
We are going to suffer when doing good.
Brief story of (David M)
I believe this friend has a good conscience, his is not an evildoer.
He is being defamed by...other believers!
Check out James 4:11 AMP
Believers, do not speak against or slander one another. He who speaks [self-righteously] against a brother or [a]judges his brother [hypocritically], speaks against the Law and judges the Law. If you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge of it.
“those who revile your good conduct in Christ, may be put to shame”.
The YLT uses the word “traducing” (I had to look it up)
Telling lies or talking bad about someone, so as to damage their reputation.
1 Peter 3:16, AMP 16 And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words].
Peter is saying “Live your lives with such a good conscience, that those who tell lies about you will eat their own words!
Our series on Matthew 24 was about being prepared for the 2nd Coming.
Peter, this passage is instructing us to be prepared to tell people about Jesus, so they can be with Jesus in heaven.
-pray us out-
