1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1 Peter 3:15
Peter exhorts believers to sanctify Christ as Lord in their hearts and to be ready to give a defense for the hope they possess, yet with meekness and reverence. In a pagan world and even within social media storms, the Christian message will invite questions. The call to sanctify the Lord God signifies setting apart Jesus as ultimate authority in the heart, shaping how one interprets reality, suffering, and conflict. The second clause—Be ready to give a reason for the hope—emphasizes apologetics as a spiritual discipline done with humility and awe toward God.
This verse integrates worship and intellectual honesty: belief rooted in Christ’s lordship shapes both inner devotion and outward disclosure. It calls for humility (meekness and fear), not triumphalism or coercion, as the posture in sharing trust in Christ. The idea of hope is eschatological and present-tense: believers live with a confident expectation of God’s redemptive work, which should be communicable in persuasive, relational ways.
Be ready to explain why you believe what you believe—without weaponizing arguments. In conversations, lead with your own experience of God’s grace, then present reasonable, grounded explanations from Scripture, history, and personal testimony. Practice listening to questions, avoid defensiveness, and invite people into a respectful dialogue. This approach builds trust and opens doors for genuine faith conversations.
Cross-References: 2 Corinthians 10:5; Colossians 4:6; Philippians 2:14-15; 1 Peter 3:16