1 Peter 3:15–22 (NKJV)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
In today’s lesson, Peter highlights one of the best ways for Christians to love our neighbors: By explaining to them, when they ask, the reason for our hope. And if they’re asking, that implies that we’re giving them a reason to ask.
We do our neighbor a great service when we simply “wear our hope on our sleeve,” when we make it evident by our attitude, words, and behavior that we Christians are different, that we have a sure hope that triumphs over every adversity, a joy that remains even in the midst of hardship and sorrow. If we live like this in the world, people are bound to ask why. When they do, let us be prepared to give a “defense” or an explanation.
Peter gives his own explanation in today’s lesson. Why do we remain faithful to Christ, even when it causes us suffering? Why do we hope, even when we suffer? Because Christ suffered, “the Just for the unjust,” to bring us to God. He willingly suffered and died. But He was also raised from the dead. He even descended into hell to proclaim His victory to the souls of the disobedient, some of whom had been suffering there for over 3,000 years, since the days of Noah. Nothing that we suffer here on earth can compare with what those unbelievers suffer in hell.
But Christ has saved us from sin, death, and hell. Not only did He suffer for our sins, but He washed us in Holy Baptism, which connects us with His death and resurrection. In fact, Peter says that “Baptism saves you,” not as a one-time event, but as a continual reality. Just as the waters of the flood kept lifting up Noah and his family in the ark for the whole duration of the flood, keeping them safe from drowning with the unbelieving world, so Baptism keeps lifting us up from eternal condemnation as we constantly appeal to God for a good conscience for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord. This is the reason for our hope!
Let us pray: Father in heaven, we thank you for the blessed hope we have in Christ. Give us opportunities to explain it to others and grant us wisdom and a mouth to speak. Amen.
