“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear”
to everyone who asks you a reason
“To” – Give a clear cut testimony “to” everyone who asks about why we believe what we believe.
“Asks you” – While under duress, some non-Christians will ask Christians about the reason they are Christians. They want to know about one thing – our “hope.” Hope in the Bible is more than a wish – it is confidence. Our “hope” is our confidence in God and eternity.
The word “reason” in Greek is a verbal formulation. To give a “reason” is to provide a rational or logical account for your claim to Christianity.
PRINCIPLE:
We need to know why we believe what we believe.
APPLICATION:
People take a greater interest in our life than in our theology. Personal experience makes a testimony effective.
Is your faith a first-hand discovery or a second-hand story? Do you know why you believe what you believe? God does not ask us to preach. He asks us to answer with our personal testimony. “This is what I was, and this is what the Lord did for me. This is what I am, and this is what I am going to be.”
Nothing is as potent as personal testimony. A person on the witness stand does not say, “I believe so and so.” He must give witness to the facts. The judge says, “I don’t care what you think. I want to know what you know. What did you see or hear?”
We must remember in God’s eyes, we are not on trial. We are on the side of the Prosecutor. We have the privilege of giving non-Christians an opportunity for clemency.
God is the Judge. As he conducts court, he gives those on trial a chance to respond to their Advocate Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 2:1,2). He is our “hope.” We have no hope apart from him.
