Be Ready To Answer

by Micky Galloway

I Peter 3:14-15, “But even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed (are ye:) and fear not their fear, neither be troubled; but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: (being) ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear.”

This passage commands that we be “ready always to give answer” for our hope. To “give answer,” apologia, means to give a defense. “Be ready” demands that preparation be made. Therefore, we must study the word of God that we might be prepared to explain and defend what we believe and practice (II Timothy 2:15; I Peter 2:1-2; II Peter 3:18; Hebrews 5:11-14). How sad when a person has the opportunity to use the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), but is unprepared through lack of knowledge.

All I can do is offer the evidence for what I believe. I cannot force anyone. However, let us never underestimate the power of the evidence to persuade. My hope is not without deep foundation and my faith is not a blind leap. It is dependent upon me to present the weight of the evidence with clarity. It is dependent upon the hearer to honestly examine it without prejudice. God, through the prophet, called upon His people, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah … If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it” (Isaiah 1:18-20). Later he declared, “Produce your cause, (Present your case NASB) saith Jehovah; bring forth your strong reasons” (Isaiah 41:21). Someone has said, “Human reason cannot prove the Christian religion to be true. It can only show it to be more reasonable than unbelief” (L.S. Keyser, A System of Christian Evidence). In other words, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God” (Psalms 14:1). The apostle Paul said, “For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, (even) his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.” Look at the evidence! “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Psalms 19:1). Paul continues, “because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:20-22). The fool rejects overwhelming evidence!

Christ showed the importance of presenting evidence. When John the Baptist heard of the works of Jesus he sent his disciples to ask, “Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?” Jesus answered, “Go and tell John the things which ye hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good tidings preached to them” (Matthew 11:2-5). When Jesus was accused of having cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub he appealed to reason (Matthew 12:24-37). Specifically, He said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:25-26). When Jesus was accused of breaking the Sabbath, He called upon His accusers to consider the evidence that He is the Son of God. He cited the testimony of John the Baptist and the evidence from the Father presented through the His miracles. He then called upon them to search the Old Testament Scriptures. “Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me; and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life” (John 5:39-40; cf. Luke 13:10-17). He welcomed the multitudes to examine the evidence.

Paul’s method of teaching was to “reason” and “persuade.” At Thessalonica, as Paul’s custom was, he “went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, opening and alleging (explaining and giving evidence NASU) that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, (said he,) I proclaim unto you, is the Christ. And some of them were persuaded …” (Acts 17:2-4). In Athens, “he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him” (Acts 17:17). In Corinth, “he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks” (Acts 18:4). In Ephesus he, “entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews” (Acts 18:19). Again in Ephesus, “he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading (as to) the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus” (Acts 19:8-9). In his defense before Felix, “as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me” (Acts 24:25). Paul had been presenting reasonable evidence to King Agrippa and asked him, “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.” Agrippa responded, “With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian” (Acts 26:27-28). Paul’s desire was that all might be persuaded as he was. Writing from a Roman prison Paul continued to be “set for the defense (apologia) of the gospel” (Philippians 1:16).

Christians need to be prepared to defend with reasonable evidence what they believe, teach, and practice. God’s word is powerful (Romans 1:16). It is “living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). It will accomplish the desired intent. “… So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). Let us be prepared to present the evidence with clarity. The good and honest heart will be persuaded.