Three Reasons
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (I Peter 3:15)
In this brief admonition, the apostle Peter exhorts the Lord’s disciples to a readiness to share gospel truth with sincere inquirers based on “reason,” by which I believe he intends “a logical argument from scripture.” What reason would you give for the hope that you have in Christ? Some Christians regard this as an intimidating question. “I’m no theologian. I have no formal education in religious matters. How can I set forth a defense of the faith?” Perhaps the trouble is that we make the matter of providing a reason from the scriptures more difficult that it needs to be in such circumstances. Simply put, I believe Peter is encouraging us to share biblical reasons with those who ask about our hope. The following three reasons might be a good place to start:
1. ALL HAVE SINNED – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) As a result of the fall, all are deserving of condemnation when judged strictly by their nature and behavior. This biblical observation places all men in the same boat.
2. CHRIST DIED AND ROSE FOR SINNERS – “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) The bible teaches that Christ gave his life “for the sheep” (John 10:11) to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). ALL of those for whom he died are sinners by nature and practice. His one offering “perfected forever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14) What’s more, he rose from the grave in a declaration of victory and affirmation of the justification of his people (I Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 4:25). That is a joyful declaration to those who have a hunger and thirst for righteousness.
3. THOSE WHO COME FIND REST – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Spiritual rest is the result of one with the ears to hear coming to Christ, which in this sense means hearing, understanding, and believing the truth regarding what Christ has accomplished for his people coupled with the assurance that those who believe this testimony are the beneficiaries of that work (John 6:47).
It occurs to me that we may be too quick to wade further into the matter of gospel mechanics when we provide a reason for the hope that is in us. In my explanation I took care to avoid the errors promoted under the banner of “Christ died for sinners” in Christendom today. That is often a needful contrast in a world full of popular and errant religious notions. While I believe it is essential that we uphold the truth that immediate Holy Spirit regeneration (IHSR) is a non-negotiable, prerequisite for the gospel to reveal the righteousness of Christ “to faith” (Romans 1:17), I also believe that we need not encumber every reason we give for the hope that is in us with an unnecessarily heavy burden of gospel information, lest we be found converting people to belief in IHSR rather than to belief that “Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (I Corinthians 15:3-4). Properly speaking, the latter is the core of the gospel message whereas the former an important attribute of gospel mechanics.
Consider this: If someone is hungry, will they not eat if food is set before them? Is their hunger beholden to a proper understanding of how they were made hungry in the first place? Or is it simply a reality of their present condition regardless of such an understanding? Must we explain the mechanics of physical hunger to them - that it is a manifestation of the life they already possess - before giving them food? Must we ensure that they have a proper understanding of such before we offer something to eat? In a natural example, I suspect we would all regard requiring a hungry man to pass a biology test prior to giving him something to eat as an act of cruelty. Likewise, addressing sincere, spiritual hunger is better accomplished by providing a simple meal. No one obtains the whole of the faith once delivered to the saints in a single meal. Christian truth is often absorbed slowly, through a steady diet of truth consumed over many meals that provide spiritual strength and vitality as we travel the path of discipleship.
“All have sinned. Christ died and rose for sinners. Those who come find rest.”
That’s one, simple way to give a reason for the hope that is within us. Those who find spiritual sustenance on that morsel are apt to regard the things they learn in discipleship thereafter as a hearty feast for a weary soul.
- Elder Daniel Samons