“An Account of the Hope that is in You”

The Appomattox Court House Presbyterian Church Pulpit
Rev. Cameron S. Smith
The Lord's Day, September 18, 2005
1 Peter 3:13-15

"…Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence…." (1 Peter 3:15)

When I read these words in 1 Peter, I can't help thinking of that Capital One commercial; you know the one that ends by asking the rhetorical question: "What's in your wallet?" Here in 1 Peter, the question's not "What's in your wallet?" but, "What's in your hope?" More specifically, what's this hope that you have that makes you want to follow Jesus? What does it mean and what difference does it make? As a Christian, you'll face these kinds of questions, if you haven't already. And be assured that even if some people don't ask you directly, believe me, they're thinking it!

The world is watching and for the most part, it's skeptical. And because of this, God tells you, "always being ready to make a defense to everyone…for the hope that is in you." The word translated "defense" is the Greek word, apologia; and from it we get the term apologetics. In Christian theology, apologetics is the study of how to defend biblical truth and persuade others of the claims of the Gospel. But here's what I want you to really grasp: Our verse under consideration this morning says that apologetics isn't restricted to the "religious professionals." No! It's the responsibility and privilege for all Christians to practice. Do you understand what that means? God's telling you that you are to do the work of an evangelist.

Does that sound radical? Does that shock you? Now some of you think I'm trying to put one over on you - grossly overstating the case. Billy Graham is an evangelist. Doesn't it say in Ephesians that "it was [God] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists…so that the body of Christ may be built up…" (Eph. 4:11-12). It says that only "some" are called to be evangelists; not everybody!

To be sure, there are some special people that God calls specifically to travel from place to place preaching the Gospel. That is their singular calling in life. In Acts 21, "Philip the evangelist" is mentioned. Billy Graham has been used of God in an extraordinary way all over the world. But, 2 Corinthians 5:20 says that "we [that's you, me and Billy] are…Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us [that's you, me and Billy]."

In 2 Timothy 4:5, the apostle Paul tells his young protégé Timothy to "do the work of an evangelist." But I want you to know, Timothy wasn't known as an evangelist in the early Church, and yet, Paul tells him to work like one!

To put it simply, to be an evangelist means to be one who brings good news. The words of Isaiah are ringing here! "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" (Isaiah 52:7).

This is your charge in the benediction when I use the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you" (Matt. 28:19-20). You are an evangelist and you are to do the work of an evangelist.

In the time remaining this morning, I want to share with you three "B"s that every evangelist needs to know: Be confident; Be Ready and Be Gracious.

I. Be Confident
1 Peter 3:13-15a "Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts…"

The first people who heard this letter, as you might've already guessed from the harshness of the language, were experiencing severe persecution because of their Christian convictions. Peter's words seem to be a reminder of Jesus' words to his disciples, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28). Peter says that you belong to Christ. You serve him alone. You represent the King of kings! That's what it means when it says to "sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts." In the work of evangelism, you can be confident because of who Jesus is and your relationship to him.

Confidence is a wonderful thing. But I must tell you what this confidence does not mean. It doesn't mean that you're to be wise in your own eyes: It's not about cleverness, or eloquence or methods!

Most of you are probably familiar with the "altar call". It's that time of decision after the sermon when an invitation is given for "seekers" to give their life to Christ. Sometimes it's an opportunity for the faithful to re-dedicate their lives.

What you may not know is the story behind the origin of the "altar call". The concept was introduced to the church by Charles Finney. Finney lived back in the 1800's; he was a popular evangelist back when revivalism was in its heyday. Finney believed that Christians could be confident in winning souls for Jesus. But confidence for him was grounded in having the right methods. If you just did the right things at the right time in the right way, you could produce a harvest of souls. It's your technique that turns the key.

But, before you stock up on how to books in evangelism, please recognize that not one person has ever been or ever will be argued into heaven. My advice to you? Be yourself where God has you. Share what's on your heart - it doesn't have to eloquent, academic or emotional; just honest.

You may be asking yourself, how can I be so simplistic? It's because I understand the truth writ over and over in the Psalms: "Salvation belongs to the Lord" (Psalm 3:8); and "Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death" (Psalm 68:20). In the New Testament, we find these powerful words: "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). It's not about you. It's not about your presentation. It's about the message. It's about the Good News. Believe me, that's sufficient! Above all, be confident!

II. Be Ready
Confidence in the Lord set you up for what comes next: "Always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…" (1 Peter 3:15b). You need to be ready! This is straightforward. Be prepared to share the gospel in season and out of season. But, this exhortation often gets put on the back burner or ignored altogether. Here are some of the "excuses" that I think that we Presbyterians are especially prone to:

1. One's faith is a private matter between them and God, who am I to impose my view?
     If faith is a private matter, then the man who confronted me with the truth of the Gospel and then meticulously discipled me was the chief of all reprobates! Praise God that Bob Poland didn't think faith a private, personal matter! Thank you Jesus that he was prepared to answer the cynical questions of a smart aleck, know-it-all 18 year old.

2. Aren't there good people from all major religions who are just traveling a different road to the one true God?
     I don't know how many times I'll have to say this from the pulpit, but I'll do it until the cows come home or until the Lord comes back, whichever happens to come first.... NO! Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6). No matter how many "experts" within our own beloved denomination waste ink to proclaim that this verse doesn't say what you think it says, please kindly ignore them! It really does mean what you think it means! The apostle Paul puts this matter in proper focus: "It is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near" (Romans 13:11-12). We need to be about the work of evangelism, time is not a given! I will grant you that this question sounds very open and high minded, but, the Bible takes a very different approach to the matter.

3. Who am I to be judgmental?
     Who said anything about being judgmental? If I someone came up to me and said, "Cameron, here's a check to pay off your mortgage in full. Your debt has just been canceled." I'm sure my response would be, "Thanks, but no thanks." And then I'd turn to Shannon and say, "Boy, that guy sure was judgmental to assume that I couldn't pay off my mortgage." Why then is it considered judgmental to offer the "free gift" of salvation through Christ, which is surely more valuable than a home mortgage?

4. If I speak up, I may lose some friends or they may think I'm weird or something.
     Well, that may actually be a true statement. But didn't Jesus have something to say about the "world" hating his followers? (Matthew 10:22; Mark 13:13). From another perspective, didn't Jesus also say something about not being ashamed of him? (Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; cf. Romans 1:16) On the positive side, Jesus' younger brother, James, had something to say about risking rejection: "Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins" (James 5:20).

6. Evangelism is the job of the pastor. I'm not qualified.
     Oh, this is a popular one. But I hope that our text this morning dispels that myth. Peter didn't tell his readers: "Now when someone asks you about the hope you have; take his name down and I'll look him up the next time I'm in town."

The long and short of it is that you are to be prepared! As I think about this point, I need to tell you about a guy I once knew. Doug was his name. He would get emotional whenever he talked about his conversion. He complained that none of his Christian friends ever shared the Gospel with him. Doug did eventually come to Christ. His first action as a new Christian was to share the Gospel with his supervisor at work! That supervisor, John, responded on the spot and became a Christian. John went on to seminary and is now in the ministry as a pastor! Now listen, even Presbyterians can do this. As an evangelist, be prepared!

III. Be Gracious
If I left things at "be confident" and "be prepared", then I would be leaving out the most important part of this text: Be prepared to share your faith in confidence, "YET" says the last part of v.15, "yet with gentleness and reverence".

The Order of the Mustard Seed founded by Count Zinzendorf had three guiding principles, namely:
     1. Be kind to all people.
     2. Seek their welfare.
     3. Win them to Christ.

Jesus said that when we share the Gospel, we're to "be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). 2 Corinthians 2:15 says that we're to be the sweet fragrance of Christ to those whom we share the good news with.

Sometimes, you don't even have to say a word. Our lives speak louder than words. I read a story, that I presume is true, about a woman in London who was crossing the street one day when an old man stopped her. He said, "Excuse me, ma'am, but I wanted to thank you." She was startled. "Thank me?" "Yes ma'am. I used to be a ticket collector and whenever you went by you always gave me a cheerful smile and a 'good morning!' I knew that smile must come from somewhere inside somewhere. Then one morning I saw a little Bible in your hand. So I bought one, too, and I found Jesus."

You are evangelists. Be confident, be prepared, but don't forget to be gracious. What's in your hope? Can you answer that question? God says you are his ambassadors. He says that you are his evangelists. You can do it. You must do it.