The First Lesson; Acts 17:22-31
Gospel Lesson; John 14:15-21
Sermon Text; 1 Peter 3:15

Remember that we are going through a sermon series on the book of 1 Peter. Also, remember that Peter wrote this little letter to Christians who were suffering. This letter of 1 Peter continues to be read by Christians who suffer today. So far up to this point we have seen:

• Peter reminds us that we have a living hope of eternal life in Heaven, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
• Peter reminds us that we are to fear and love our God and Lord.
• Peter reminds us of the Good Shepherd's way. Through Jesus, our Good Shepherd, we have eternal life in Heaven.
• Last week, in Pastor Bartels sermon Peter reminded us that Christ is the cornerstone, on which our faith is built.

As Peter speaks to us today, (and remember, he is speaking to Christians who are suffering), he says it becomes a privilege for us to share our faith, even with our enemies. That is the ultimate in loving our neighbor. The ultimate in loving our neighbor is to share our faith with them.

If someone were to ask you a spiritual question, what would you say? Let's say they ask, "How do you get to Heaven?" "Who is Jesus?" "How can I be sure if I am going to Heaven?"

How would you answer those questions?

There once was a pastor who had gone sailing with his wife. They became friends with some other people who were sailing. They were invited to come to a party. It was while they were at the party that they got to meet a whole bunch of new people. The pastor and his wife were getting ready to go and somebody asked him, "What is it that you do for a living?"

He said, "I am a pastor."

The man said, "I could tell you were a Christian by the way that you lived your life. I have always wanted to ask someone a spiritual question."

Well, the way that pastor lived his life became an open door for a spiritual question to be asked.

Today, it becomes a privilege for all of us to live our lives in such a way, so that when those doors open, we are prepared to share our faith with them.

1 Peter 3:15 ‘But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.’

Peter reminds us that before we share our faith, we need to set apart Christ, as Lord, ourselves.

"But in your hearts

set apart Christ as Lord."

1 Peter 3:15

That sounds pretty obvious, doesn't it? Before we share our faith with others we need to believe in Jesus, as our Savior ourselves. Therefore, it is important for us, on a weekly basis, to be strengthened in our faith in Jesus, as our Savior. And also, it is important for us, on a daily basis, to be strengthened in our faith in Jesus, as our Savior, because it is then that we will be prepared to speak. It is then that we will be ready to share our faith with others.

All of us have connections with many different kinds of people. They may be our friends, our relatives, our associates, and our neighbors. Peter encourages us, as we have our connections with many different types of people, to then be prepared. There are many ways in which we are able to do that, but this morning I am going to share with you one such way.

One of the former pastors, here at Holy Cross, was Pastor Steve Petersen. He put together a little brochure, in which, in a very simple way, he gives us four words that begin with the letter ‘P’ to remember, so that we can be prepared to share our faith with others.

The four words are: perfect, punished, proof and possess.

First of all, it is important for us to remember the word, PERFECT. We know that we are not perfect. The Bible says,

"All have sinned

and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 3: 23

But, there is one exception to that rule. And that is Jesus. Jesus has been perfect in my place and Jesus has been perfect in your place. The Bible also says,

"Through the obedience of one man

(that is Jesus)

the many will be made righteous."

Romans 5:19

And so, even though we are not perfect, Jesus has been perfect in our place.

The second word to remember is PUNISHED.

Because of our sin, we deserve to be punished. The Bible says,

"The wages of sin

is death."

Romans 6:23

We do deserve to receive the eternal torments of Hell, because of our sin. But the Bible also reminds us that Jesus has been punished for me. And the Bible also reminds you that Jesus has been punished for you. The scriptures say,

"He, Himself, bore our sins

in His body

on the tree,

so that we might die to sins

and live for righteousness."

1 Peter 2:24

Not only has Jesus been perfect for us in our place, but Jesus has also been punished for us in our place.

The third word to remember is PROOF.

How then do we know that God accepted the payment that Jesus made for our sins? Jesus' resurrection is the proof. The Bible says,

"He (Jesus)

was delivered over to death

for our sins

and raised to life for our justification."

Romans 4:25

This is the proof that God accepted the payment that Jesus made for our sin. And now, what is it that we possess, what is it that we possess, because Jesus was perfect in our place, because Jesus was punished in our place?

The fourth word to remember is POSSESS.

We possess eternal life in Heaven, by faith. Through faith in Jesus as our Savior, we possess, we receive everything that Jesus has won for us. The Bible says,

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 5:1

Jesus was perfect for us. Jesus was punished for us. Jesus' resurrection is proof. And because of that, we possess eternal life in Heaven.

Knowing those four words that begin with the letter ‘P’ we are now equipped to give the reason for the hope that we have.

As doors open to those spiritual questions that people may ask, it is important to know that an argument has never won anybody over to Christianity. And so, as we are visiting with people, we don't need to argue. It is important for us to know, too, that we don't need the perfect 'sales pitch' to share our faith. We don't need to be cleaver. We simply need to tell the truth. The reason for the hope that we have of eternal life in Heaven is timeless and powerful. It is elegantly simple, and it comes straight from God's Word.

As those open doors come, be gentle with those you are visiting with. Have a good ear and listen to the things that they tell you. Ask questions and then in return you will be able to visit with them and share your faith in Jesus, as your Savior, with them.

And finally, Peter today reminds us to show respect to those that we are visiting with. As we share our faith, people may not even come to our church on account of it. But, if it prepares them for Heaven, then God's Word has been affective.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, there will be many people in your life that you touch. Maybe they are your friends, your relatives, your associates, or your neighbors. May we always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that you have, so that salvation in Heaven is not something that just belongs to us, but so that salvation in Heaven is something that belongs to all.

Let us close by reading 1 Peter, chapter 3, verse 15 together.

"Always be prepared

to give an answer

to everyone

who asks you to give the reason

for the hope that you have."

We ask this in Jesus, our Savior's name.

Amen.