Untitled Sermon (14)

Well, good morning, South Peoria Baptist Church.

It's a real pleasure to be here with you. It's been some time since I last had the opportunity to preach to you on a Sunday morning,

but I am most blessed and honored to go over the portion of Scripture we have here as we continue our exposition of 1 Peter.

There's constant discussion about people having certain verses that they keep with them as a kind of mantra throughout their lives,

some sort of thing that they live by.

There's always an argument as to whether or not you should have a life verse or whether the whole Bible should be your life verse.

I can tell you without the slightest doubt that if I did have a specific life verse, it would be one of today's verse

—that is, first Peter 3:15. If you have any knowledge of evangelism and apologetics, then you'll understand why.

Some of you may know this but prior to returning to Phoenix, I was in charge of the state chapter of a large men's ministry;

it was a nationwide organization with a few chapters even abroad.

Shortly after joining the men's ministry, I was appointed captain for the state of Nebraska.

I remained a part of the organization for about one and a half years, and before I left, I was put forward as a candidate to join the national teaching team.

I had already been teaching as part of my team, and some members of the national team came across it, though it was excellent,

and asked if I would like to help them, which seemed very, nice of them. It was a real privilege to agree.

My first job was to produce the weekly teaching that would be posted online as a 20-minute video on a subject relating to men's ministry.

The topic had to concern the spiritual development of men, and since that is something I am already naturally inclined to do, I figured that no better subject

could be chosen than apologetics, that is, a defense of the faith.

After all, if men are to be the leaders of their households and are to train their families, surely they should know how to defend the faith

so they can teach their families more effectively.

There were a few topics that the national teaching team, decided it was better to leave to the local church level, and there is certainly a great deal of wisdom in that;

apologetics was not one of them. Hence, I saw this as wonderful—what a great opportunity.

 I thought this should be a fairly easy 20-minute video for me to put together.

Well, the video, never went on air because, having made it and handed three days before the airing

the night before it was due to go on air, I was informed that I could not teach on apologetics;

the leader mentioned that the national teaching team had decided apologetics was not in the Bible.

When I spoke to this brother, I replied, "Yes sir, it absolutely is,"

and his instant reply was, "Oh yeah, where?"

This showed me that he hadn't seen the video.

Do you think I would make a 20-minute video on apologetics without saying where apologetics can be found?

The verse that I paid the most attention to in the video was 1 Peter 3:15, and we'll get there today,

but once again it was obvious that he hadn't watched the video.

I certainly think that this man is a true brother in Christ, but the sins which remain in our lives may lead us to act in a way that we wouldn't normally

and because of his pride he would not admit that he was wrong;

and no matter how hard I asked him to please read the verse, to look at what I had taught in the video,

and then to give me a reason for why he still does not believe it is in the Bible if he is to continue holding that belief.

And I encouraged if he does put up a defense, then he'll be offering an apologetic even though he doesn't think that apologetics are found in the Bible,

and in the field of apologetics this is known as showing the other person their own sin by proving that they are in fact doing what they're accusing you of.

Jesus carries out this practice many times in the Bible, and so does Paul; Peter does too.

Notice that we are instructed not to answer a fool according to his folly but we are to answer a fool according to his fooly.

This does sound like a contradiction, but what Proverbs 26 is getting across is that we should not act like the person who is accusing us of something,

but instead should take their own words, their logic, their lack of reasoning or false reasoning and present it to them so that their own sin may shame them.

Well, what this man was doing is something that many Christians do.

They enter an argument or a debate with certain presuppositions—things that they already regard as true—

and at times our pride interferes with us when our presuppositions are shown to be false.

If I were to draw one lesson from all this today, it would be that your presuppositions might be true,

but the way in which you deal with the situation may not be right;

or your presuppositions might be false, and in that case you could find yourself in a position where pride is getting in the way,

 something that the true Christian ought to acknowledge.

We must realize that even in our good works we are still affected by sin and can very easily be mistaken.

Now, when we are accused we do ask for evidence.

Look, one thing that this man did was to make an accusation against me, and an accusation is not a real argument unless it is supported by facts and by proof.

Throughout the Bible we are continually told that a charge should be based on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

What God is saying to us is that credible testimony is required and that credible evidence is needed not only to show that someone is wrong

but also to prove that someone else is right or that someone is innocent of the charge.

My period in that ministry came to an end that night, and I miss the guys from my team in Nebraska.

They were excellent men, and a number of them felt that they ought to consider leaving.

I urged them to remain since there were many other good brothers available in Nebraska.

I was aware that not long after that I would most likely have to leave Nebraska, and if I wasn't going to be permitted to teach in accordance with my convictions, then that place probably wasn't the right one for me.

That sort of thing does happen; it occurs with pastors and deacons, and it can happen to church members too.

You see, the true Christian life is about fellowship. Because of that fellowship, pastors are called upon to teach the brothers.

We are to teach our family here. We should not be trying to lure the unbeliever into coming in.

Nowadays, so many churches are only concerned with getting the unbeliever to walk through the door while the Christians present remain unattended.

Their sheep are not receiving the nourishment they need.

As a result, those Christians end up leaving the church, and the church then finds itself in a cycle where all its members are leaving,

so it has to recruit new ones, and thus it continues to preach to the unbelievers.

At South Peoria Baptist Church we don't want to be that kind of church; we want to be the one that supports the believer who is among us

so that he or she can go out and carry on the work of evangelism and the defense of the faith.

I'm going to state this right from the beginning, so by the time we reach verse 15 you'll already know the Greek word in verse 15, which is used for the word 'defense ', is the word 'apologia',

and that is where our modern term 'apologetics' comes from.

It is not the only verse in the Bible that refers to this, but it is the one that apologists most often focus on because it states the point so directly.

Apologetics is the theological discipline that defends the truth of the Christian message.

-John Frame

Peter is speaking to churches here, to fellow Christians, and therefore it is our duty as pastors to help you understand the reason for the hope that we have—

our hope is not merely blind faith. I just said that, yes, I believe now; throw me into the water and I'll be done with it.

If God created all things and you believe that too, and I hope you do, then he also created reason,

then he must have created tangible evidence; he must have created logic and rhetoric,

and he has given us his word to stand on in order that we might defend that faith.

Often, as a pastor, I have said this to other pastors: our responsibility is to strengthen that defense,

to strengthen that reason. The only genuine church growth model mentioned in the Bible is that believers, coming together in community,

go to church; the Word strengthens them, they are strengthened by one another, and then they leave the building to carry out the work.

And if an unbeliever does come in, then we welcome them with enthusiasm and pray that they may find a true family here, worshipping as one, the true and living God. Amen.

Are you ready?

So lets get down to it

Recapping the first 12 verses in this chapter, Peter shows us what honorable Christian conduct looks like in difficult relationships.

Christian wives are called to display a quiet and godly character, even when married to unbelieving husbands.

Christian husbands are commanded to live with their wives in an understanding and honorable way.

Peter then broadens the command to the whole church: believers must pursue unity,

 sympathy, brotherly love, tenderness, and humility.

They must not repay evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless those who mistreat them.

Quoting Psalm 34, Peter reminds us that the Lord sees the righteous, hears their prayers, and opposes those who practice evil.

Therefore, Christians are not to be controlled by revenge or fear. They are to turn away from evil, do good, and seek peace.

That brings us naturally into verse 13. Peter now asks: if the Christian is devoted to doing good, who can truly harm him?

And even if suffering does come, how should the believer respond?

 Verses 13–17 teach us how Christians face opposition—with courage, with Christ honored as Lord,

with a reasoned defense of their hope, and with conduct that puts false accusations to shame.

Write this down for your notes

Honoring Christ in our relationships leads to honoring Christ under persecution.

Vs 13 “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?”

At first, the expected answer seems obvious: No one.

If you devote yourself to doing good, why would anyone want to hurt you?

Ordinarily, those who pursue what is good should receive favor rather than hostility. Proverbs 11:27 says:

“Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.”

Generally speaking, we tend to think in our Western minds that a person who does good is less likely to face the consequences that come from sinful behavior.

Doing good ordinarily protects us from many unnecessary troubles.

But Peter is not promising that Christians will never experience physical, emotional, social, or financial harm.

I've had the privilege of traveling the world and many Christians around the globe would never consider

That doing good or righteous living would make you less likely to suffer persecution.

To this point, in America we have had it much easier than our brothers and sisters in China, Iran, and Nigeria

Peter has already told us that Christ suffered unjustly and that believers have been called to follow in His steps.

Later, in chapter 4, Peter will say:

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you.”

Peter is not denying that Christians can be beaten, imprisoned, slandered, rejected, or even killed.

Church history would make such an interpretation impossible. Peter himself would eventually suffer martyrdom.

So what does he mean when he asks, “Who is there to harm you?”

The question concerns ultimate harm.

People can wound the body, damage a reputation, steal things, fire you from your job, and even end your life.

But no external power can touch a true Christian’s union with Christ,

Nobody can cancel God’s justification of you, or unadopt you from God’s family, or steal the inheritance in the kingdom.

Psalm 56:4 says:

“In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”

The psalmist is not pretending that people cannot cause pain.

There are many of in this room that have seen the worst of what humanity can do to itself

The Psalmist is declaring that human power has limits.

Flesh can only do what God permits, and it cannot reach beyond the boundaries God has established.

Jesus makes this even clearer in Luke 12:4–5:

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.”

This is why Peter began this letter back in chapter 1 vs 3 by praising God for causing us to be born again:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

The Christian’s inheritance is beyond the persecutor’s reach.

It is imperishable, so it cannot be destroyed.

It is undefiled, so it cannot be corrupted.

The body may be weakened or killed, but Christ will raise it in glory.

As Peter later says, after we have suffered for a little while, God Himself will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.

Therefore, the rhetorical answer to Peter’s question is:

No one can ultimately harm the one whom God has determined to save and raise, to glory with Him

This does not assure us that we will escape suffering,

Peter then describes the believer as being “zealous for what is good.”

The word “zealous” carries the idea of intense devotion and passionate commitment.

God’s jealousy is not sinful insecurity. It is His holy demand for the worship, honor, and devotion that rightfully belong to Him alone.

To be zealous for good, then, is to refuse to allow comfort or the approval of others to take control

That is true zeal. We do often fin the new believer is so zealous that there desire to tell others the truth comes in the form of screaming

And being borderline unrighteous. And other believers have to kind of reel that guy back in

Saying hey I love the passion, but lets talk about what zeal actually looks like

It looks like

Mathew 12:3- Jesus says

30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

The understanding that there is no middle ground and I love you enough to have this conversation with you

I don't know how many times I've talked to an unbeliever and they've tried to get me not to argue from the Bible because they don't believe in the Bible.

My answer back to them is often because you don't believe the Bible is the reason we're having this conversation so why wouldn't I argue from the Bible.

But what's really amazing is I've had so many conversations with an unbeliever in which I've said something like this

listen I'm a Christian I'm gonna stand on the Bible and I'm going to stand on this side of this line

you are whatever an atheist or whatever I'm talking to you're going to argue from that position you're going to stand on that side of the line

we're going to have a wonderful conversation if you would like and we're going to hold each other accountable to our beliefs

and then we're gonna see who comes out more consistent on the other end.

And you would be amazed how many unbelievers actually understand that and we'll then go OK, I get that.

I have actually caught more flak for that stance from fellow professing Christians then I have from the unbeliever

Christians who think that loving the unbeliever means to let them continue in their deception

they say something to me like well you've got to be more loving with them and I say I am loving them that's why I'm telling them the truth

you are not loving them by continuing to let them go on their way a path of destruction

“It is not kindness to tell patients that need strong medicine that nothing serious is wrong with them.”

-Cornelius Van Til

because we want to be zealous for God we argue for the faith we will defend the turth it his way

So many Christians have compromised and put down their zeal for God's truth

telling an unbeliever things like it's OK to be gay just be celibate

as if the mere act of lusting after the same sex isn't already a sin

and believe it or not that is going around many churches in our country today

they have put down their zeal because they do not want to suffer for righteousness

they would rather find comfort in lies

The Christian pursues what pleases God even when doing so becomes costly.

Peter is not describing someone who occasionally does something good.

He is describing someone whose life is marked by an eager, persistent commitment to what God calls good.

The question is not whether Christians will suffer. The question is whether that suffering can remove them from the blessing of God.

Peter’s answer is no.

The persecutor may call the Christian cursed, but God calls him blessed.

The world may regard him as stupid and closed minded, but heaven regards him as favored.

The enemy may take something temporary, but God has secured something eternal.

Peter is echoing the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Spurgeon put it well: “Jesus does not suffer so as to exclude your suffering. He bears a cross, not that you may escape it, but that you may endure it. Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow.”

I ask you today, “Who is there to harm you?”

The Christian may suffer for doing good, but he can never ultimately lose by doing good.

Number 2 for your notes: Sanctifying Christ as holy acknowledges His Lordship and authority over every fear.

Peter has just commanded believers not to fear those who threaten them and not to become inwardly troubled.

But he does not merely tell us to remove fear from our hearts. He tells us what must replace it:

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy.”

The word translated “honor as holy” can also be translated sanctify.

Peter is not saying that we make Christ holy. Christ is eternally and perfectly holy whether anyone acknowledges Him or not.

To sanctify Christ means to recognize Him, honor Him, and set Him apart in our hearts as Lord.

Jesus taught us to pray:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

We are not asking God to become holy. We are asking that His holiness would be displayed among us.

Isaiah 29:23 speaks similarly:

“They will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.”

To sanctify Christ in the heart, then, is to treat Him as the One who possesses supreme authority over us.

That directly answers the harm and the fear spoken in verse 13-14.

When Christ occupies the highest place in the heart, every other fear must be put lower

The Christian must settle inwardly that Christ is Lord before he is called to answer outwardly for his faith.

Peter continues:

“Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

Being prepared is part of sanctifying Christ.

If Christ truly is Lord, then His people should care enough about His truth to understand it, articulate it, and defend it.

Preparation does not mean that every Christian must become a professional philosopher or answer every difficult objection immediately.

It means that Christians should know what they believe, why they believe it, and where their hope is found.

Notice that Peter does not say merely to defend an argument. He says to give a reason for “the hope that is in you.”

Christian apologetics begins with the reality of Christ’s lordship and the hope produced by His resurrection.

I want us for bit to go back into the book of matthew into chapter 22 starting in verse 16

16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.[b] 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.[c] 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

Now right off the bat I must tell you that this is a trap.

Do you know how I know it is a trap? Because I went to seminary and I payed money to make sure I am smarter that all of you.

Kidding it actually says it is in verse 15

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.

That joke has been told by about 1000 pastors, and I have been waiting for a time to unleash it.

So thank you Ill be here all week. Starting tomorrow, though.

Only about 10 of you got that joke, so now we know who the sanitarians are in the room.

What is Jesus doing in this verse? It seems like a question you can’t answer.

See, it says the Herodians are with them. These are officials who work directly for King Herod.

So if Christ says yes, he will be an enemy of Herod, and if he says no, he will be an enemy of Caesar

Christ is an enemy of all who refuse truth, so he’s already an enemy of both these parties.

But see, their question is really just a superficial one. Jesus answers the heart of the matter, quite literally

By answering the question the way he does, he condemns the Pharisees.

This is beautiful apologetics straight from the mouth of Jesus the King

This verse really has nothing to do with whether we as Christians pay taxes or not; it has to do with the condition of your heart.

What Christ is really asking here is whose image is printed on you?

And that is a trap question for the Pharisees.

They are the religious leaders, so they will have to say God or expose themselves for the unrighteous men that they are.

And if they truly are of God, then they should have no problem giving to God what is God’s.

They should have no problem allowing their lives, their speech, their actions, everything they are, reflect the good of God

Instead, they are here with superficial silliness.

1 John 2:16

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[c]—is not from the Father but is from the world

These men exemplify that well, and that is what Jesus exposes.

That is what we are called to expose. We are called to shine a light in the darkness.

And notice his speech to them. He was not harsh with them. He did not slander them.

He simply exposed that they lack God’s righteousness. That they are hypocrites.

Number three for you notes:

Suffering isn’t the enemy’s victory; it exposes the enemy and becomes their shame.

Peter has commanded believers to defend their hope with gentleness and respect. Now he explains why the Christian’s manner of life matters:

“Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”

The Christian is not only called to possess a good argument. He is called to possess a good conscience.

A good conscience does not mean that we believe ourselves to be sinless.

It means that we are sincerely walking before God, confessing our sins, seeking obedience, and refusing to give our accusers legitimate grounds for their charges.

Peter assumes that Christians will be slandered.

But Peter says that honorable conduct causes the accusation eventually to collapse upon the accuser.

Those who revile the Christian’s good behavior will be put to shame.

This does not mean that every accuser will immediately apologize.

Some may continue lying until death. The shame may become evident only when God publicly vindicates His people at the final judgment.

But Peter’s point is that false accusation cannot survive forever in the presence of truth.

When you say Christ is Lord, does your conscience also say that you belong to him, and does your conduct display the fruit of a changed life

If so, then any argument of the devil will be defeated.

This is exactly how Christ overcame Satan.

The devil is called the accuser of God’s people.

His strategy has always involved accusation. Telling eve did go really say that.

Yet when Satan moved wicked men to condemn and crucify Christ, he believed the cross would become Christ’s humiliation and defeat.

Instead, Christ turned the cross against him.

Jesus suffered, but He suffered as the righteous One.

Colossians 2:15 says that through the cross Christ:

“Disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them.”

Notice the reversal.

At the cross, Christ appeared to be the One exposed before the world.

But in God’s purpose, Christ was stripping the powers of their weapons and exposing their rebellion.

Satan attempted to shame Christ, but Christ turned that shame back upon the accuser.

Hebrews 2 says that through death Christ destroyed the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and delivered those who were held in lifelong slavery by the fear of death.

So we do not defeat false accusation by returning evil for evil.

We do not answer slander with slander. We do not overcome sinful reasoning by behaving sinfully ourselves.

Verse 17 says:

“For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”

There are two kinds of suffering.

A person may suffer because he has done evil. That suffering exposes his guilt.

Or a person may suffer despite doing good. That suffering exposes the injustice of his persecutor.

When Christians suffer for sin, the world points to their sin and says, look at this so-called Christian

But when Christians suffer while maintaining a good conscience and honorable behavior, the accusation loses its grip.

This does not mean that Christians enjoy suffering or seek persecution. Peter says,

“If that should be God’s will.” Our suffering remains under God’s sovereign authority

And if God permits suffering for doing good, it is still better than suffering for evil

Christ is the ultimate proof.

The devil accused Him, wicked men condemned Him, and the world crucified Him.

Yet through that very cross Christ conquered sin, and death

Therefore, when Christians suffer faithfully, they are not following the path of defeat. They are following the path their victorious Lord has already walked.

Number 1 In your tools for today

1. Apologetics Must Start in the Heartand Be Strengthened in the Church

Peter says:

“Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

Notice who receives this command.

Peter is not writing exclusively to apostles, pastors, theologians, or professional apologists.

He is writing to ordinary Christians.

Therefore, defending the faith is not merely the responsibility of a few believers.

What Voddie Baucham used to say is that apologetics isn’t just for the Navy SEAL special ops Christians

It is part of the ordinary Christian life.

Not every Christian will possess the same knowledge, ability, or opportunity.

Some believers may be especially gifted in apologetics.

They may study philosophy, science, history, other religions, or difficult objections.

But every believer should be able to explain the basic reason for his hope.

Every Christian should be able to answer questions such as:

“Who is Jesus?”

“Why do you trust Him?”

“What is the gospel?”

“Why do you believe the Bible?”

“How can you still possess hope while suffering?”

You do not need to know the answer to every possible objection. There is nothing wrong with saying:

“I do not know the answer to that question, but I will study it and speak with you again.”

Peter does not begin by saying, “Memorize every argument.”

He begins by saying:

“In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy.”

Before apologetics reaches the mouth, it must begin in the heart.

The first question is not, “Do I know enough facts?” The first question is:

“Is Christ truly Lord in my heart?”

A person can give correct answers for the wrong reasons.

He may defend Christianity because he enjoys arguing, wants to appear intelligent, or hates being contradicted.

He may be more concerned with defending his reputation than honoring Christ.

But Peter tells us that the Christian defense begins with worship.

We defend Christ because He is holy.

We speak because He is Lord.

We prepare because His truth deserves to be understood and proclaimed.

When Christ is sanctified in the heart, apologetics stops being an exercise in personal pride.

We are no longer trying to prove that we are the smartest person in the room. We are seeking to honor the King who saved us.

This heart preparation includes prayer, repentance, trust, and submission.

Before asking God to help us defeat another person’s argument, we should ask Him to expose the sin within our own hearts.

Am I afraid of people?

Am I ashamed of Christ?

Am I motivated by anger?

Do I secretly want to embarrass my opponent?

Do I love the person I am speaking with?

However

Christians were never intended to prepare entirely alone.

God has given the church pastors, teachers, elders, mature believers, and fellow members who help one another understand and communicate the truth.

The church should be a place where believers can ask difficult questions without being mocked.

Young Christians should be able to admit what they do not understand.

Parents should be equipped to answer their children.

Members should discuss objections they encounter at work, school, or in their families.

We gather not only to receive information, but to prepare one another for faithfulness in the world.

The preached Word gives us truth.

Corporate worship strengthens our hope.

The ordinances visibly remind us of the gospel.

Fellowship allows us to learn from one another.

Church discipline protects the credibility of our testimony.

A Christian isolated from the church may still possess arguments, but he will be weakened in the very hope he is supposed to defend.

It’s amazing how many people believe you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.

That obviously exposes a heart problem within that person.

The word church in the New Testament is the word ekklesia, which means the gathering or the assembly

Now say I don’t have to assemble to be a part of the assembly

Or say I don’t have to gather to be a part of the gathering

Doesn’t make as much sense when you say it that way does it

Every Christian who has the ability to gather must gather for the sake of their of their sole and the church.

So apologetics begins privately, when Christ is enthroned within the heart. But it grows corporately, as the church teaches, corrects, encourages, and prepares its members.

We should therefore ask two questions:

“Am I personally honoring Christ as Lord?”

And:

“Am I allowing Christ’s church to prepare me to speak?”

A strong defense ordinarily grows from a heart submitted to Christ and a life rooted in His church.

2. Speaking with Gentleness Does Not Mean We Cannot Be Bold

Peter commands us to make our defense:

“With gentleness and respect.”

Some Christians hear the word “gentleness” and assume that we must speak timidly, avoid clear conclusions, or apologize for biblical truth.

But gentleness is not weakness.

Gentleness is strength under control.

Jesus described Himself as gentle and lowly in heart, yet He spoke with unmatched authority.

He confronted hypocrisy, corrected false teachers, rebuked sin, and declared that no one comes to the Father except through Him.

The apostles were also gentle, but they were not uncertain. Peter told the rulers who had crucified Christ:

Paul reasoned and even publicly confronted serious error.

Yet he also taught that the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind and able to correct opponents with gentleness.

Therefore, boldness and gentleness are not opposites.

Boldness concerns our confidence in the truth.

Gentleness concerns how we treat the person before us.

We can say firmly:

“Jesus Christ is the only Savior.”

We can say clearly:

“Sin deserves God’s judgment.”

We can say without compromise:

“The Bible is the authoritative Word of God.”

But we do not need to mock, insult, belittle, or humiliate the person hearing us.

A harsh tone does not make an argument stronger.

We have all known that person. The one who think because they yell they are more likely to be taken seriously

Sometimes Christians confuse anger with courage. They believe they are being bold when they are merely being rude.

At other times, Christians confuse cowardice with gentleness.

They remain silent, soften the truth, or refuse to name sin because they are afraid of disapproval.

Peter permits neither error.

We must not be harsh, and we must not be silent.

We must speak the truth with a controlled spirit, a sincere concern for the hearer, and a reverence for God.

The cross will offend.

The exclusivity of Christ will offend.

The doctrine of judgment may offend.

But our pride, sarcasm, cruelty, and contempt should not be added to that offense.

Bold Christian apologetics says:

“I will not be ashamed of Christ.”

Gentle Christian apologetics says:

“I will not treat this person as my enemy.”

We are not trying merely to defeat a person.

We are praying that God might grant him repentance and bring him to the knowledge of the truth.

We speak boldly because Christ is Lord, and we speak gently because Christ is Lord.

Are You Ready?

Peter says that Christians must always be prepared to give a defense to anyone who asks for the reason for the hope within them.

So as we close, the question is simple:

Are you ready?

Are you ready when someone asks why you believe in Jesus?

Are you ready when a coworker challenges the Bible?

Are you ready when your child asks a difficult question?

Are you ready when someone mocks your faith, misrepresents your beliefs, or calls what is good evil?

Being ready does not mean that you know the answer to every question.

It does not mean that you never feel nervous

It means that you know where your hope is found.

Can you explain who Jesus is?

Can you explain what He accomplished through His death and resurrection?

Can you explain why a guilty sinner can be forgiven and reconciled to God?

Can you explain why suffering cannot destroy the Christian’s hope?

But readiness begins even deeper than that.

Is Christ sanctified as Lord in your heart?

When fear rises, does Christ occupy the highest place?

When people threaten, criticize, or reject you, whose authority matters most?

Before you prepare an answer for the world, you must settle the lordship of Christ within your own heart.

Then ask yourself another question:

Does your life support the answer that your mouth gives?

You may possess the right words, but do you have a good conscience?

Do your neighbors, coworkers, children, and church family see honorable conduct?

When you are insulted, do you return an insult? When you are slandered, are you hateful?

When someone challenges you, do you respond with pride, or with gentleness and confidence?

The strength of Christian apologetics is not found merely in clever arguments.

It is found in truth spoken by someone whose hope is real, whose conscience is clear, and whose conduct reflects Christ.

Christ took the punishment sinners deserve, rose from the grave, defeated death, and put the accuser to shame.

Everyone who turns from sin and trusts in Him receives forgiveness, righteousness, and a living hope.

So, Christian, are you ready to speak? Are you prepared for suffering if it should come?

Are you ready to answer with gentleness?

To those who have not yet professed Christ as Lord, are you ready for truth?

Is today the day you profess Christ as Lord