Unmistakable Answer
(Morning Service)
Text: 1 Peter 3:13-22
Peter encourages Christians to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks. This verse seems to imply that Christians must reach a high level of knowledge in order to be fruitful witnesses. Because we don’t have all the answers, we often leave the proclamation of our faith to professionals—pastors, preachers and philosophers. In our study of this text, however, we will find an exciting way of evangelism—a way to which every Christian is empowered!
“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 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, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
(1 Peter 3:13–22 ESV)”