1 Peter 3:15 “always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear…”
SCRIPTURE | We continue our study of commands given as we live out what is biblical and righteous and suffer for it. Remember that these commands are given following the rhetorical statement “even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness…”(1 Pt 3:13) So, let’s now study the concept being ready to make a defense in the context of suffering for righteousness.
This command begins with a high demand from God, that “always” we are “ready.” This is the duty of our preparation. And how do we prepare to defend our hope? With a continuous devotion and study of the Word of God. It has been the focus among so called Christians of our day, that we are to share our testimony as something that cannot be denied. As if our testimony was going to convict people of sin and move them to faith in the Savior and Lord. This is both unbiblical and illogical. It is the Word of God that is the source, the foundation and the power of God, not our stories.
So, it is our duty to “always” be ready to “defend” our hope to “everyone.” In other words, if we are unprepared to give an answer at any point, to anyone, we are in disobedience. We have failed the duty which our Lord and Master has given us. We all fail in this way, which is not a reason to give up and surrender. Instead, we go to the training grounds of studying the Word and growing our understanding of it. We write down the question’s that others present us with, and our own questions, and then answer these questions with the Word of God. We learn to wield the sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17) through intentional and daily practice. In this way, daily devotions is godly and holy obedience to the command here. Devotions is a word that has come to describe taking time in secret prayer and study of the Bible. (Matt 6:18)
The lawless liberals of our day falsely will say daily devotions are legalistic. And thus they urge people to disobey many verses like the one in our study. They do this and turn people away from a deep knowledge of the Word of God that would help them defend themselves from false teachers, like the liberals. They argue this because they are eternally confused, and think that obedience to the Word of our Lord and Master is always the heresy of works righteousness. Thus, they actually deny our Lord and Master, His commands, the obedience of them, and bring damnation upon themselves and their followers. (See Jude and 2 Peter 2)
Yet, we who love our Lord, long to obey Him and zealously reach for that goal. This is sanctification, and it flows out of a justification that is ours by grace alone. (Eph 2:8-10) For us who are confident of our salvation through Christ alone, we are to pursue the ability to defend our hope and give an account.
Some will ask us to “give an account,” which is another way of saying they want us to explain why and how we do not fear and are not troubled while we are wronged for doing righteousness. That is to say, there is an opportunity created to speak the truth, when we live out the truth without fear. An opportunity that is lost if we follow the path of lawlessness and worldliness. An opportunity that is lost if we give in to fear and being troubled.
Now, when we do give our explanation, it is our duty to give it with “gentleness and fear.” Why? Because we are not to show a desire for vindication. We are not to express ourselves in way that is “returning evil for evil.” (1 Pt 3:9) So, that even the manner of our accounting the truth of the Word of God is a testimony itself because we are being gentle and showing respect.
APPLICATION | How are my daily devotions coming? Am I intentional about my study of the Word of God so that I understand and know all of the teachings of my Savior and Master? Do I know the Bible well enough that I could defend it and explain why I have hope even in the face of persecution and suffering for righteousness? Do not let this pushing of the Spirit of God pass you by. The Word makes it clear you are responsible to obey this duty. Plan out and commit to a daily reading plan. One of my favorites is the bible in a year (you can find it here). Think through what a life of biblical study looks like. Do you attend a bible believing congregation? Then attend to its bible studies. Ask your pastor what resources he would recommend to help you grow regarding some of the issues you feel unprepared to answer if someone asks you to give an account. Being a doer of the Word and study the word, do not just be a hearer of the Word who become deluded. (James 1:23-25)
PRAYER | Father, I want to grow in my bold commitment to obey your Word in my thoughts, words and deeds. So that even when I suffer in any way for doing what is right according to your Word, I can explain my unwavering hope to those who ask. Give me an insatiable thirst for the study, knowledge and obedience of Your Word that is satisfied nowhere else. (1 Pt 2:2) Create the practice in me starting today of daily meditation, study and devotion to the Bible. That I might not only know the things You speak, but be able to give an answer with them to others who ask. For Your glory alone. Amen.