Knowing Scripture Helps to Defend What We Believe
“But respect Christ as the holy Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have but answer in a gentle way and with respect. Keep a clear conscience so that those who speak evil of your good life in Christ will be made ashamed.” – 1 Peter 3:15-16
Knowing the Scriptures helps us to defend our faith when someone has doubts or wonders, “why we believe what we believe?” To help answer their questions, we need to be prepared to answer by knowing what the Bible states. To do so, it involves studying it on a daily basis, going to church and listening to the pastor’s sermons, and being part of a Bible study. These actions equip us to be ready to give a reason for what we believe. They can also be applied in times when we are being persecuted for our faith. We can understand with confidence why we are being treated so badly.
It is not surprising when people treat us so badly. Jesus tells us that if they treated Him a certain way, they would do the same to us. Look at Jesus’ response in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” If the Scriptures did not warn us that this could happen, then we could turn away from the faith. However, when unbelievers or even other Christians struggle to believe certain parts of the Bible, we can pray for them and point them to the biblical passage that shows them the reason why we believe the way we do.
We should not be discouraged or upset if someone struggles to believe since it is only God that grants them access to believe the truth like with Lydia in Acts 16:14, “she worshiped God, and He opened her mind to pay attention to what Paul was saying.” God’s people are the defenders of the truth, nevertheless, we do not have the power to allow someone to understand it. Therefore, we need God’s power in defending it.
Prayer for today:
Dear heavenly Father,
Please open the minds of people who struggle to believe the gospel since it is their only way to free them from sin and eternal punishment. It is their only hope because You are the way for them to understand what the Scriptures say about Jesus. Give us the wisdom to know what to tell others if they come to us with questions about You and Jesus. In His name we pray, Amen!
