Sharing the Hope

1 Peter 3:13-16

1 Peter 3:13–16 NIV

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Within this context, Peter encourages us to share the blessings of God with others. The “good life” is never to be kept for ourselves; it is to be shared with others. Peter suggests three steps we should follow in sharing the good life or the “hope that you have.”

“in your hearts revere Christ as Lord”

Websters Dictionary for revere:

to fear, respect, show devoted deferential honor to

The Christian faith makes no sense nor does Christian lifestyle ever work until and unless we “revere Christ as Lord.”

Lordship is the key to godly living. When Jesus asked the question “why do you call Me Lord, Lord and not do the things which I say” in he is talking about that so many of us want to have the Him as Savior but not as Lord.

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 34: James / 1 & 2 Peter / Jude Sharing the Hope

Samuel Wilberforce once said that lordship could be defined in four words: admit, submit, commit, transmit. Indeed, we must admit our sin and need of a savior; we must forsake sin and submit our lives to Christ as Lord; we must commit our way to the Lord day by day; and we must transmit or share His love and goodness with others.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

In writing to a suffering church and its hurting people, Peter speaks about the life of hope. Outwardly, those people had little reason to rejoice or to have hope. But because of Christ living in them, they were displaying hope in their lives even when outward circumstances seemed very hopeless. No wonder people would ask them about there hope.

Peter was telling them and is telling us that when such questions are posed to us, we should not be surprised. We should always be ready to give them the answer. Hope is not the only expression others should see in our life. We must show all of the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

Not only let this fruit shine through us but to inform all that it is not us but the Spirit of the Lord in us!

“Do this with gentleness and respect”

To be gentle is to be meek, kind and gracious.

To respond with respect we must not “talk down” to others. Effective sharing and witnessing always takes place on eye level with others. We are not better than others. We have been forgiven by Jesus Christ and are enjoying the benefits of the good life which comes from living under His Lordship.

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