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May. 26, 2006
1 Peter 3:13-16 NIV
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1 Peter 3:13-16 NIV
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do
good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.
"Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts
set apart 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, keeping a clear conscience, so
that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ
may be ashamed of their slander.
I really want
to discuss verse 15b, beginning with, "Always be prepared...." However,
let's first examine the context from verses 13-15a.
"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?"
The NIV Study Bible notes that people are not
generally harmed for acts of kindness, especially if they are
characterized by doing good. This is a comfort. We are often afraid of
what people might think, say, or do in response to our words or
actions. But we rarely face any actual harmful persecution for kindly
sharing assistance or ideas, or in any other way doing good.
"BUT..."
The word but is used three times in this passage. But,
as used in all three, is a conjuction. It conjoins two ideas. Think in
terms of conjoined twins; the two babies are inseparable short of major
surgery. The two ideas conjoined by the word but are inseparable.
"...even if you should suffer for what is right..."
The Greek, according to the NIV Study Bible, uses a
conditional clause that is the furthest removed from stating a reality,
which means this can happen but doesn't most of the time.
"...you are blessed."
When that suffering does happen, the sufferer receives special blessing for having suffered.
"Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."
Peter is quoting Isaiah here; the passage is found in Isaiah 8:12 and is clarified in verse 13-14a.
Do not call conspiracy
everything that these people call conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.
The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread,
and he will be a sanctuary....
Peter is writing to believers ("To God's elect, strangers in the
world, scattered...." 1 Peter 1:1) who are familiar with Isaiah's
writings. By mentioning the quotation, Peter draws their minds to the
context of the quote, even as our minds are drawn today by the mention
of a familiar line from a song or movie, or better, a familiar
scripture. For example, when I write, "They that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength," your mind may automatically supply the
next part: "They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run
and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." The mention of the
first line brings to mind the content and promise of the larger passage.
"But..."
There is that word again. But what? What more could
Peter link than the reminder inherent in the larger passage--to fear
the Lord Almighty?
"...in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord."
Christ as Lord. Not just the distant Lord Almighty
of the Old Testament, who spoke with an elect few while the general
populace cowered at a distance, but the living, personal Christ, the
One who bore our sorrow and was pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah
53:4-5), the one who became man and walked among us (John 1:14,
Philippians 2:6-8). We are to replace fear in our hearts with the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Fear is a difficult thing to overcome. It must be replaced
with something. It is like the demon that was cast out, only to return
with 7 others more vile than itself (Matthew 12:43-45, Luke 11:24-26),
because the heart was empty. So fear returns if it is not banished and
replaced. What are we to replace it with? The confidence that Christ is
Lord! Lord of my life, Lord of my circumstances, Lord of ALL.
*******
Prayer break:
Wow, Lord! I really just wanted to write about the passage still ahead. However, that little word but
was at the beginning, so I felt obligated to examine the context first.
I never dreamed you had so much there for me! Thank you!
*******
"Always be prepared to give an answer..."
Yes, the Holy Spirit will speak through us, will
guide us through a difficult encounter, but we must do the spiritual
and mental work of preparation. Mentally, this means understanding what
we believe and why we believe it.
"...to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
There are times when we are called to go out and
preach/teach the Gospel. But many of our best opportunities are when
people see the deposit of Christ in us and ask:
Why do you waste your Sunday mornings going to church?
Isn't Christianity outdated?
What do you believe about death?
What's your opinion of...(insert current event or issue)?
Don't all paths lead to the same place?
Don't all religions really worship the same God?
Why do/don't you...(insert behavior or attitude)?
What would you do in my circumstances?
Let's go back to that "Always be prepared..." part
again. I recently attended a Josh McDowell "Beyond Belief" conference
and was challenged to examine my reasons. Josh shared the 8 most common
answers to questions about why we believe. From my notes, they are:
1. It's what I was taught.
2. My parents say so.
3. The church says so.
4. I learned it in seminary.
5. I feel it.
6. I believe it.
7. I have faith.
8. It changed my life.
Yet, these answers are not any different than those an adherent to
another religion might give. What makes Christianity different?
McDowell set out as a college student to prove
Christianity was false. His historical research led him to the
surprising realization that it must be true, and eventually to a
relationship with Jesus.
Briefly
put, our reason must be the evidences of fulfilled prophecy and the
historical accuracy of scripture.
Evidence of Fulfilled Prophecy
In his writings and in his live presentations, Josh
McDowell refers to a particular study. The mathematical probability of
even 8 prophecies coming true in one person was caculated by Peter
Stoner and Robert Newman and published in their book, Science Speaks.
The answer is one in 10 to the 17th power. That is one chance out of
100,000,000,000,000,000, or 1 in 100 quadrillion. Stoner illustrates:
it would look like the state of Texas covered in 10 to the 17th power
silver dollars; they would be piled two feet deep. Mark one coin, toss
it in, and mix it all up. Then blindfold someone and send him out. He
may travel anywhere in the state and pick up one coin. Choosing the
marked coin is as likely as 8 prophecies being fulfilled in one person.
(This paragraph is paraphrased from my seminar notes and
McDowell's More than a Carpenter, p. 104).
Evidence of Historical Accuracy
Compared to other ancient writings, there are
thousands more early manuscripts of portions of the Bible available
than any other text. Despite the variety of ages, languages, or
sources, they are amazingly accurate in comparison to one another.
Variations generally are in inconsequential details such as spellings.
Many were originally written as first person accounts, which means they
would have been refuted if the history in them were not accurate.
However, no such refutation has been found.
Josh compiled the findings of his research in his book, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, a later publication called More Evidence that Demands a Verdict, and finally a compilation of the two: The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict. A much shorter, more conversational book gives a condensed version of Josh's quest and findings: More than a Carpenter.
"But..."
There it is again: but.
What more could there be beyond being prepared and watching for moments
when those around me ask. I'm ready, Lord! Send me out to pound the
truth into their heads!
"... do this with gentleness and respect...."
Oh...there is that.
Jesus always honored honest questions. He loved the
inquirer and knew that the questions were opening doors, leading that
person closer to understanding and accepting what Jesus was teaching.
He was not threatened by honest doubt. We, too, are to be gentle and
respectful. We may not win the inquirer the first time they ask
something, but if we answer with gentleness and respect they will be
more likely to come back again and again. Each time they come, pray in
your heart that your answer would be given as the Spirit desires and
accepted as the Spirit intends. Then pray again afterward, in your
heart, that the words would be received and pondered. Eventually, that
time taken in relationship will lead to understanding. Free will still
has to choose, but that decision comes easier when the person
understands the choice.
"...keeping a clear conscience..."
How many times have I spoken without thinking and my
words came out harsh or disrespectful? Ouch! Once the moment has past,
how I long to pull those words back again. But once delivered, you can
only work to clean up the mess you've made; the stain of those words
can never be fully erased. How much better to think first, deliver
anything that needs be with gentleness and respect, and live with no
regrets!
"...so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
"...[A]shamed of their slander." What would prompt
that? Respect for the message and the message bearer. If we are careful
to be prepared before answering, watch for the questions when
unbelievers raise them, and give those answers with gentleness and
respect, our listeners will be more likely to respect us, and
consequently the message we share.
*******
Oh dear
Jesus, help me to keep a clear conscience before You, always setting
You apart in my heart as Lord. Help me to learn what I need to learn,
to see the opportunities You open for me to share, and to share what
You desire accurately, with gentleness and respect, and in a fashion
that evokes a hunger in the inquirer to know You.
Amen
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Posted by 
May. 27, 2006 - Thanks!
I'm going to have to add the books you mentioned to my reading list.
Actually, what you talked about dovetails perfectly with something I learned at the homeschool convention last week and was planning on writing about in the next few days. So, if you don't mind, I'll add a link to this post.
It's great to meet you and I look forward to getting to know you better!
Stacy