Acts & apologetics: Do as Peter Says...

As we look at the study, "Acts and Apologetics", there are some words of direction from the apostle Peter. These are foundational to our study and understanding of apologetics. Let's spend some time unpacking them. 

The first foundational passage is 1 Peter 3:15 - 16 (we'll look at 2 Peter 3:14 - 18 in another post). It states, "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."

Peter has been through a lot in his life. You can be sure that this poor -  literally - fisherman from the region of Galilee in Judea, never would have dreamed he would be used by God in the way that he was. We can be pretty sure that he was a "good Jew". He feared God. He most likely did all the things that a good Jewish family man would do. He followed, as best as humanly possible, the Law. Attended synagogue. He even presented himself at the Temple in Jerusalem as often as possible. 

And then something miraculous happened. God entered His life and changed it forever. For a time, Peter would be one of the few fortunate people in the history of mankind to actually "touch" God. And God touched him and taught him. 

And now as an old man, Peter would pen words given to him by the Holy Spirit that would teach men and women for centuries to come. Peter would teach us and prepare us for Jesus' return.

"But..." Whenever you see the word "but", you really need to ask what it's there for. And so we look back and understand the context of the verse. In 1 Peter chapter 3, the apostle is teaching us about righteous living. Wives and husbands. Our duties and attitudes toward one another. We are to live harmoniously with each other. And, I believe, not only with respect to our brothers and sisters in Christ but also with the unbelieving world around us. As Jesus taught Peter and the disciples to be salt and light  (Matthew 5:13-14), he passed that same teaching to those listening in the first century and to us today. 

Looking back at Acts 2, we see these new people of "the Way" acting and living life in an extraordinary fashion. In fact, we can probably deduce that because they were willing to submit themselves to the apostles' teaching and to one another and to live somewhat communally (freely sharing), the populace around them was taking note. These Christians' lives became living testimonies of the changes God was doing in their lives. As time passed, the unbelievers most likely said to one another, "Hey, I want what they have."  Are we, today, living in a like manner?

"...in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." We could say that because these first believers had set apart Christ as  Lord in their hearts, changes were happening. Their individual, corporate, and communal lives were noticeably changing for good - to the glory of God.

The same is true today. Until we have given up the throne in our heart to Jesus, and allowed Him to reign as Lord of our lives, we can't be used as God wants us to be used. Could He still use us? Of course. Throughout history, God has used many unbelievers for His purposes. Nations have risen and fallen by God's Hand on countless, godless leaders. But God gains greater glory when we willingly submit our total being to Him; beginning in our hearts and minds.

As these new believers, armed "only" with the Old Testament and the apostles' teaching (which was still being developed), were becoming more Christ-like, they were attracting more and more "seekers" to the Truths of God. But we forget the "invisible" power of the Holy Spirit at work!  Nothing happens without the work of the Holy Spirit, whether recognized or not. But, that is part of a study unto its own.

"Always be prepared..." And so they were "prepared". How else could these people explain their change of life and lifestyle? We remember that many of these folks had not only seen Jesus teach while He lived, but they saw Him and learned from Him during those 40 days after His Resurrection. They were eyewitnesses to the Glorious Risen Christ. They could honestly say something to this effect: "Do you remember a few weeks ago at the Passover when..." And, "Do you remember that teacher Jesus from Galilee who did (or said)..." "He has Risen from the dead. I saw Him. I heard  Him. My life is changed.

That's powerful stuff! Not only was it a good story to tell, it was the TRUTH!  And that Truth could be corroborated among dozens if not literally hundreds of people. 

Today, there are literally hundreds of millions of people living all around this globe who have been regenerated by and with that same Resurrection power; and our lives are changed as well as those first believers. We have a similar story to tell. How else can we explain our new lives? We are set free from the sin that ruins us from the inside. We may struggle with certain aspects of sin day in and day out, but it shouldn't have a lasting power over us. We are able to nail that sin to the Cross of Christ and claim His righteousness. Sin is a toothless and defeated foe.  At the same time, we recognize that it is indeed His righteousness that saves us and not our own.

Let me be brutally honest with you. As I write this post, I am struggling with several personal issues. A couple of them are heart-rending. They are difficult. They are very painful. To a certain degree, I have nowhere else to turn except to Jesus and His Cross. I don't like these difficulties. They are draining in every way. Some of you who know me, know of what I refer to (and I covet your friendship and prayer). So, where else would I go? Believe me when I say that I literally have no one or nowhere else to turn to except to Christ. But, it is Christ Who gives me the strength to persevere. I can only trust in Him. I can only pray that God uses this time in my life to bring glory to Himself.

Perhaps you're going through a deep valley in your own life. Perhaps the hurt is so deep and so personal, you don't know where to turn or where to find relief. God knows your every need. He wants you to lean into Him. Proverbs 3:5 - 6 comes to mind, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your  ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." 

As you go through this time, and you will go through it, now or sometime in the future, acknowledge God. Give Him the glory of taking you through it. Present your "reason for the hope that you have." Someone who needs to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ needs to hear your powerful real-life testimony.

Jesus'  Resurrection provides clear, positive, and actual Hope for our lives.  And as we receive Him as the Savior of our souls and the Lord of our lives, the Holy Spirit then comes in and fills us with the power that we need to not only proclaim these Truths, but the power to live them out as well. And we boast not in ourselves, "but" (just a fabulous little word) we boast in Christ and His saving power and grace.

"...with gentleness and respect," Because the power of Christ, driven by the Holy Spirit, is able to do these things - words and deeds - we are able to deliver a message with a powerful gentleness and respect that is otherwise impossible. The writer of Proverbs 15:1 - 2 says it correctly: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends  knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly." 

God wants us to speak truthfully about what He is doing in our lives. He doesn't necessarily want us to air all of our dirty laundry, but He does want us to be truthful about our condition and about what He is doing about it and with it. This is not a snarky, "what's true for me isn't necessarily true for you," thing, it's what is true. Period. Here are the facts. Believe them as you see them. This is how God is working in my life. Our testimony is an individual testimony, a personal testimony.  No one can take that away from you.

"so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ..." So that in everything, Christ is magnified and glorified. He alone is worthy of Glory and Honor. The fact of the matter is, we will be slandered for the cause and sake of Jesus. Jesus Himself said that He would be a stumbling block to many. And so He is. Foolish men and women who choose to live a life apart from God will surely mock us. It's inevitable.

But all that God has asked us to do is be a witness for Him. We are to speak well of our Savior. We are to act as Jesus did and would act. We are to bring, by His power and Spirit, life into a dying world. He died so that we may live; and even more, to live abundantly! Maybe not necessarily in this life now, but when we step into eternity we will be welcomed as heirs of His Kingdom.

For those who choose not to turn to Christ: that is to their own peril and destruction. We can not drag people into the Kingdom against their will. They themselves have to bend the knee and the heart to God in repentance and submission. They have to seek forgiveness from God. We can only speak of the Truthful work He has done in our own lives. We are to give a "reason for the hope" that we have.

In the end, as redeemed and regenerated, and restored men and women, we should be reflecting the glory and grace of God. We have a story to tell of the Hope we have because of our rebirth; because of our new birth. He has remade us to be beautiful, and beauty is attractive. True - from the inside out - beauty is stunning and desirable. When we are beautiful, as in Christ, God shows us off as His workmanship and attracts others to Himself.

This is our mission: Share Christ and the good work He has done in our lives. That, my friends, is the undeniable answer we are to give, with gentleness and respect, to a world that is looking for not only answers but redemption.