1. 1 Peter 3:15–16 (ESV)
  2. Application

How we give the reason for our hope

1 Peter 3:15–16 (ESV)

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

There are two things worth mentioning in relation to our readiness to defend our hope in Christ:

  1. We must have a good conscience before the Lord. For we cannot speak about this hope boldly while we live the opposite way.

  2. The witness about the faith or the defence we give must be conducted, not with arrogance, pride, or disregard of the listener, but in humility and respect.1

There should never be a time in the Christian’s life where is a gap between what he says and how he lives. For non-believers will see that one is not what he claims to be, and this will do more harm than good.

But if we walk blamelessly, even though non-believers will slander us, we shall not be discouraged, because our conduct and attitude will expose them for what they are.2