1 Peter 3:15-17

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:10-17

I. Background

A. In chapters 2 and the first part of 3 Peter urged his readers to life exemplary lives in the midst of the ungodly society that surrounded them.

B. Peter also told them that God is watching his children and will punish evil

C. However, before deliverance they would have to suffer at the hands of the ungodly but they should face it with courage, not fear.

D. Instead of fear, they should be committed to Christ and ready to defend their faith with a proper attitude and a holy life that backs it up.

II. Commitment

A. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts”

B. One must first be fully committed to God if he wants to be faithful in the face of persecution.

C. Commitment is a deeply felt, sometimes emotional, connection to something Acts 20:22-24 – Paul was committed to Christ despite persecution ahead Standing before the firing squad is not the time to decide whether you are if you are committed to God or not. Being in a place or situation where you feel a strong temptation to sin is not the time whether you are committed to God or not.

D. Do you have an inclination toward Christ or commitment to Him?

E. An inclination toward Christ generally favors Him unless opposition closes our mouth and we demonstrate a wishy-washy relationship with Him. Commitment persists despite obstacles or opposition.

III. Rationale

A. “and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,”

B. Paul constantly reasoned with people about the gospel

C. Paul did not tell his audiences to seek an experience to confirm the truth. Paul did not expect them to follow fables or just take his word on the truth.

D. He reasoned—used logic—to teach others and lead them to obedience.

E. Acts 17:2-3 – with Jews from the scriptures Acts 17:17 – reasoned with Jews and Gentiles Acts 19:8 – reasoned and persuaded Acts 17:11 – The Bereans checked the logic of Paul’s argument

F. We can reason with others from the word of God

G. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – Scripture is all sufficient2 Corinthians 10:3-6 – War against arguments and falsely called knowledge

H. We need to know the reasons—logical arguments—for the hope we have in God and the choices that we make in our personal lives and public worship that are motivated by that hope.

IV. Attitude

A. “with meekness and fear”

B. We can know what the Scripture teaches

C. The Bible is not some vague communication from God that means different things to different people. God communicated to us in a way that we can understand.

D. However, some teach things contrary to Scripture

E. Instead of reasoning from the Scripture to decide what to do in life and worship, some begin with what they want to do and try to find Scriptures that they feel supports it or reasons to ignore plain Scriptures that would contradict their view. Some teach false things through ignorance, deception, instability, or arrogance but Bible writers teach that the truth will reveal error.

F. We must be confident of what we know the Scripture teaches

G. We should not be ashamed to say that something supported with logical Scriptural arguments is true and must be followed. We must be bold to stand for the truth even if our view is unpopular with others who say they are Christians. We must defend our practices and doctrine without timidity or compromise.

H. But, we must defend our faith with meekness and fear.

I. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 The servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must defend. If they learn the truth they can come to their senses and escape Satan. We must defend the faith confidently but with a proper attitude

V. Godliness

A. “having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”

B. It is great to be confident in the truth and hold it dear to oneself ever ready to defend it; it is another thing to practice it in one’s life.

C. Godliness is holiness in action. I can profess faith in Christ but if I do not practice faith it is worthless.

D. The conscience is a great measure of whether we are practicing our faith

E. We can fool others, rarely ourselves, and God never. The conscience is not an absolute guide but, if trained by God’s word, can be an effective guide.

F. Our godliness should be such that it withstands the scrutiny of others

G. Our enemies should be ashamed to call us evildoers without any evidence to defend their accusations. Philippians 2:14-15—you live as lights so live holy

H. We can proclaim Christ as boldly as we want but if our life contradicts our message, it will mean nothing to the hearers

VI. Summary

A. 1 Peter 3:15 – repeat verse

B. We must have commitment to God, based on sound reasoning from God’s word, and defend our faith with a proper attitude, backing it up with a holy life

VII. 1 Peter 3:15-16