4 commitments for telling our Story

Read 1 Peter 3.

One of causes of personal suffering may come when a Christian shares their faith with an unbeliever.  Sometimes the result is experiencing the pain of rejection and/or the loss of a relationship.  Again, Peter wrote to those who were being persecuted and suffering because of they were genuine followers of Jesus.  It was not their fault.  It was not their message.  They simply placed their eternal faith in Christ and sought to live accordingly.

If one attempts to speak the good news of Jesus in an unkind or untactful manner, the rejection will probably be due to their behavior, not the gospel.  Dr. Bill Bright used to say that people are not gospel hardened as they are gospel ignorant. 

So, how can we tell others of what we have discovered in Jesus in the best possible way?  Here are four phrases that set the standard.
1. "Honor Christ in your hearts as holy." (v.15a)
Do not fear "them".  Fear God.  He is bigger than they are.  Peter is actually paraphrasing Isaiah 8:13.  Honor the Lord as the One who is sovereignly in control, even when (especially when), it does not appear to you that He is in control.  God is holy.  His truth is pure.  He makes no mistakes.  We are to be His obedient servants.

2. "Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." (v.15b)
Why do you believe in Jesus?  Why do you choose to believe the Bible is true?  Can you take your Bible and show someone?  Are you ready?  That does not mean every Christian must be a Biblical scholar.  It does mean that a follower of Jesus should be prepared to tell their story.  A believer's personal experience of life-change is undeniable by anyone!  You are the expert on "the reason for the hope that is in you."

3. "...yet do it with gentleness and respect..." (v.15c)
That is still is not a guarantee of another person receiving Christ or that they will not reject you.  Building relationships, being prepared, and honoring God in our behavior will put us in the strongest position for the Lord to use us.

4. "...having a good conscience..."
In this context that means, even years later, we may look back upon the conversation and have no regrets about the way we presented the gospel.  We cared about the other person and their eternity.  We were gentle and respectful.  We said and did the right thing.  This was the Apostle Paul's commitment also.  "So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man." (Acts 24:16)