Ours is to be an active faith. And in 1 Peter 3, the writer shows us two vital aspects of this. We are to give the Lord His rightful place in our hearts; and we are to be ready always to give a reason for the hope which is in us.
What I have to share will help all of us in such a way that we are aware more than ever of what God is doing in your life and who He is.
The background to Peter’s thinking in the bit of His letter we will look at this morning comes partly from Psalms 34:
Psalms 34:1-21
Peter’s letter is to do with how to live right in the face of difficulty, how to address circumstances which are contrary and which seemingly don’t make sense. Chapters 1 and 2 looked at the persecution which was coming. Peter was very conscious that he wanted the recipients of the letter to get it right as to how they should live their lives. There are two specific things we can do to prevent fear dominating our hearts and how to avoid terror generating fear.
1 Peter 3:8-9
No cliques – I have brothers and sisters in the Lord. If someone new comes into the church, you’re welcome – you won’t have to fight to get into my group. You need to be courteous and open.
1 Peter 3:10-12
“You don’t need to worry, recipients of this letter” – God hears your prayers, and when pressure comes, the eyes of the Lord are over the righteousness and His ears open to their prayers.
1 Peter 3:13
They needed to be sure of their foundation, to know for sure that God heard their prayers. And now we come to specifics.
1 Peter 3:14-16
There are two things here we need to do.
First, there is the aspect of not being afraid of anything. Often in Peter’s letters you hear echoes of his experiences with the Lord.
Matthew 14:26-30
“It is I; be not afraid.” There are probably five or six occasions in Peter’s life where the words of Christ became indelibly written in his heart. They were afraid, and Jesus’ words came across the water – “It is I, be not afraid.” And now in his letter, he tells them not to be afraid of their terror, nor to be troubled. He knew that when Jesus Christ is involved, there is no fear.
“Yes, but what if I face things I didn’t expect?” “It is I – be not afraid.” And Peter is writing to these people telling them not to be afraid or troubled. At the time it was people saying things to put them in fear, but you can widen it. If you’re a Christian and are afraid, Jesus Christ knows what He is doing in your life. He gave His life for you. Next weekend (Easter) we’ll particularly remember that.
The enemy of our souls thrives on fear, that little comment which comes to your mind – “You see ... do you think He loves you? Why has that happened?” “Be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.”
I’m sure Peter recalled when Jesus talked to them intimately.
Now in v15, Peter comes to two active things we need to do.
1 Peter 3:15
What does it mean to sanctify God in our hearts? In one translation, it says, “Sanctify God as lord in your hearts.” This is an active thing we need to do. It’s a similar word to “hallowed” in the Lord’s prayer. When I’m involved, when I’m a Christian, a son of God as a result of what He has done for me, I need to maintain His position in my heart, right in the core. I keep Him in that position, and reverence Him and bow down to Him. He is Lord of my life. And right in the kernel of me is Jesus Christ, recognised as Lord, and I believe everything He says.
“Jesus Christ the habitual thought, the central emotion, the all-dominant impulse.” That’s not just words – it’s us, keeping, actively keeping Jesus Christ in the position of who He is. He is Lord. So when I’m trying to sort things out, looking to the future ... “In my life, I want You to be number one.”
In your life, sanctify the Lord God in your heart. So it does matter each day how much I talk to God, how much I open up my heart to God. That’s not being religious or spiritual. Sanctify the Lord in your hearts. When you get up in the morning, it’s not immediate Radio 4, Radio 2, or whatever. That’s not the way to start a day. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. It’s an active things which we can do.
The second things is part two of the verse :-
1 Peter 3:15
Be ready always – not just when you feel like it. It could be anyone at any time. I have to be able to give a reason for the hope that is in me, and I have to do it with meekness and reverence. So what is the reason for the hope which is in me? I need to know what I’m going to share. What are you hoping for? What does it mean?
I’m going to broaden this out. The picture will be a solid ground of our faith which can actively share with another person who asks us. “My personality is not such as to speak,” you may say. But this is for all of us. I’m talking here about the core of you. You’ve sanctified the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart, and now you are ready to give an answer always. You can do this ... and you must do it. It’s part of what we’re about. It’s not an option.
What is our hope? Because when you are facing certain situations, you have to be sure. What is our hope?
Romans 5:1-2
We’re justified by faith through what Jesus Christ has done for us. We have that peace within. We have peace with God, access by faith into this grace. There’s a forward-looking sense of this hope.
Philippians 1:6
The work that God has started, He will complete. That’s my hope. And it’s not something vague – it’s the assurance that that is what is going on. I’m justified by faith and confident in Him.
1 John 3:2
Each month that goes by, God is working on me. I’m justified by faith, and He is working on me, perfecting me, shaping me so that at some point in time, He will call me to Himself, and when I see Him I shall be like Him. That’s the surety, the confidence inside.
1 Corinthians 15:53
At some point will come a time when our time here is up and God has perfected His work in us.
Romans 8:23
We aren’t made into robots, but we’re made free not to sin. Before we’re a Christian we automatically sin, but now He gives us the power to live right. At some point we will leave this body and get a new one.
1 Thessalonians 4:17
2 Corinthians 5:6-8
Hebrews 12:22
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
What is this life? What is the hope inside me? I’ve sanctified the Lord in my heart. Now I’m ready to give a reason for the hope in me.
What does it mean to be a Christian? I’ve been set free from the power of sin, the penalty sin (the penalty has been paid). I used to please myself, and I tried to fill up the vacuum inside me, but there was always an emptiness before I became a Christian. I was lonely. But the hope in me is a faith that God has given me, and I now live a life or a timespan allocated by God, and at some point I will step out of this body and be with the Lord. Death presents no fear. I enjoy life. But I know the progression of my life and the way God is sorting things out serves merely to prove His love for me. Those circumstances are there to prove His love for me, not to do me in.
Philippians 3:20-21
“This world is not my home – I’m just passing through.” That’s the truth. Our home is in heaven. I’m sanctifying the Lord God in my heart, keeping Him in that place with Him as Lord and God. And now I’m ready to share what God has done inside me. I’ll give a person a reason why I’m a Christian. The foundation is as secure as anything you care to mention. I’m totally confident because of what God has done inside me. He’s set me free from my past life and I’m walking each day pleasing Him, knowing that the circumstances of life which I will face ... no matter what they are ... I know my God, I know what He has done inside me and I love Him.
And a time will come when I’ll step out of this body and into His presence.
Titus 2:12-14
We’re looking for that blessed hope.
What is it like in the week if someone out of the blue asks you what it means to be a Christian? Or someone asks your opinion? Peter says there will come people who will ask you, because they will see the difference. When the persecution comes (in the context of this letter), people will see your reaction is different. Always be ready to give a reason for why you react the way you do. Be ready to speak up for the one you have sanctified in your heart. Be ready.
Those are two active things that God is pointing out to you and me this morning. Keeping sanctifying the Lord God in our heart. Keeping the right perspective. Keeping Him central. And secondly being always ready to give an answer.
Proverbs 4:23
There are some here this morning who didn’t know why they were here. Some have been brought here for a reason, and it’s time that reason became true for you. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer for the hope in you.
It’s not a passive life. I’m an open book. I’m open about what God has done in my life. And I can identify with anyone that God has us in the palm of His had. And the whole point of this life is to prepare us so that when we see Him we will be like Him. It’s great because you know that the Author and Finisher of your faith is God… There will come a point when we will step out of this body and be with Him.
Treasure the work of God in your life., If He’s been working in your life to point out to you your need of Him, that’s Him at work.
1 Peter 3:15-16
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