Biblical Apologetics:...giving a defense of the gospel and the reason for the hope that is within you

"but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame" (1 Peter 3:15-16).The term apologetics comes from a Greek word, apologia, found in several places in the N.T. It means "to make a defense of." In Athens, every citizen was expected to be able to join in the discussion of state affairs. Peter's expectation to us is similar: every Christian ought to be able to join in the discussion about the faith - ready to give "a reason" (a defense) for the hope that is within them.The Bible does not present "apologetics" as simply an academic discipline or exercise - far from it; but it does speak clearly about defending the faith by having an intelligent grasp of the hope we posssess as revealed in God's Word and the skill in presenting its claims. That is the heart and soul of apologetics: a defense of the Christian faith, the gospel, and the hope we have in Christ that lies in us.Dr. John Frame gives us helpful and meaningful insight on this issue when saying,

"The term apologetics comes from the Greek apologia, apologeisthai, which in the NT usually refers to an individual's defense of his conduct, as 1 Cor. 9:3, sometimes against legal charges, as in Acts 19:33, 22:1, 24:10. In the Acts passages, however, Paul defends himself by defending his message. So in Phil. 1:7, 16 apologia refers explicitly to a defense of the Gospel, in 1 Pet. 3:15 to a defense of the Christian hope.Defending the faith, therefore, is a biblical practice. The discipline of apologetics seeks to instruct Christians in such defense. As analysis of a biblical practice, apologetics is a properly theological discipline. If theology is "the application of Scripture to all areas of life," then apologetics is "the application of Scripture to unbelief" (Frame, Knowledge of God, 81, 87), including the unbelief that remains in Christian hearts."

I appreciate his words greatly.A Loving Exhortation For Us AllHere is the burden that I share with my own ministry board and other pastors around the country when it comes to discusssions about apologetics. When this issue is reduced to nothing more than an intellectual bantering about of its various forms (i.e. evidential, presuppositional, classical, reformed epistemological, cumulative case, etc.) rather than used to equip other believers to explain and proclaim the gospel, then what usually results is an unnecessary fostering of acerbic attitudes, a prideful demeanor (one that puffs up), and in the end is unfortunate wasted energy. Discussions like this can quickly degenerate into just a fruitless regurgitating of philosophical terms that one once learned in university, possibly seminary, a theology class, or in private study. If we are painfully honest with ourselves, that kind of thing can be interpreted as arrogance to simply throw out in casual ways terms like "Weltanschauung" (a common German word meaning: world view) before the hoi palloi to try to assert unwittingly an attitude of "superior knowledge" that in the end really doesn't seek to communicate truth for someone else's good; nor does it ultimately promote Christlikeness, further the gospel, cause one to probe more deeply the Scriptures, be better equipped to defend the faith, and give reason for the hope within us (and I am just as guilty on certain issues that I need to bring before the Lord in my own sanctification as well). It can also make the average person unfamiliar with such terms, feel embarrassed enough to not engage in the "conversation" and cause them to retreat from what could have been profitable, helpful discussion with other believers in truly understanding what it means to "give a reason for the hope..." We all need to be careful of this sort of thing... amen? I would appeal to 2 Timothy 2:23-25, "But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth."So if others in the meta ask again and again about an aspect surrounding apologetics, we need to exercise patience and longsuffering in carefully answering those questions directing them always to God's Word so that they can be better equipped to defend the hope, the faith, and the gospel. This is the importance of local church accountability and involvement on things like this. To amputate or dismiss those who are inquiring of any of us, even if they have done so in a harsh, combative attitude sometimes, reveals an unloving heart toward them and one that is not demonstrating the demeanor of a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. When all is said and done, it is still the Spirit of God who regenerates and convicts; it is still that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ"; it is still the Father who elects and draws; it is still the Son who redeems; and it is still the gospel that must be preached for it alone "is the power of God unto salvation."The Lord Jesus Christ, God incarnate, never resorted to mere intellectual spawning about the gospel in His ministry... did He? He spoke with power and authority that the elitists of His day were void of. But He also spoke in a way that could be understood, comprehended and grasped by even the most common of folk. He spoke with uncompromising truth, boldness, but yet with love, patience and grace. And we (I) need to learn to do the same.A Most Effective ApologeticHere we have the concise encouragement from the pen of the Apostle Peter to every believer's duty to "give a reason for the hope that is in you." When Christ is honored as holy (1 Peter 1:13-19) in speech, deed and life, then testimony follows the truth: "make a defense to anyone who asks..." Whether we are on Larry King Live or with our friends, family, neighbors or co-workers, we should always be ready with the Lord's Word and by His grace to give reason for our eternal hope. Amen?To sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts means to: hallow; honor as holy, to enshrine Him in your hearts. As one writer says,

"In your hearts, or in the affections of the soul, regard the Lord God as holy, and act towards him with that confidence which a proper respect for one so great and so holy demands. In the midst of dangers, be not intimidated; dread not what man can do, but evince proper reliance on a holy God, and flee to him with the confidence which is due to One so glorious."

What flows out of such high regard for the holiness of Christ are the two Christ-like-attitudes of effective apologetics: gentleness and reverence. Gentleness - for our fellow man; reverence: for our holy God.Gentleness is:

An obedient submissiveness to God and His will; unwavering faith displayed in a gentle attitude in kind acts towards others who are hurting you. A humble steadfastness - able to submit to injustice, disgrace, and maltreatment free from hatred, malice and revenge. trusting in God's sovereignty in spite of whatever injustice is being committed against us. This is all of the attributes of personality brought into utter submission to Christ and for His glory.

This can be most readily displayed when others have hurt you and by God's grace you respond not in repaying evil for evil, but in humble forgiveness to others (cp, Eph. 4:31-32; Matt. 5:40-44).Whatever another believer may do against us, no matter how terrible or destructive or unjustified, Christ has paid the penalty for that sin. No matter how others may hurt, slander, persecute, or in any way harm us, Christ's sacrifice was sufficient to pay their penalty. When a Christian expresses, or even harbors, vengeance toward a brother, he not only sins by allowing selfish hatred to control him but he sins by profaning Christ's sacrifice-by seeking to mete out punishment for a sin whose penalty has already been paid by his Lord.Because Christ has paid the penalty for every sin, we have no right to hold any sin against any person, even a nonbeliever. Peter thought that forgiving someone "up to seven times" was generous. But Jesus said, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:22). In Christ all our "sins are forgiven for His name's sake" (1 John 2:12); He has "forgiven us all our transgressions" (Col. 2:13).There is no place for selfish pride or an attitude of arrogance when defending the faith and giving a reason for the hope in us. We need a bold orthodoxy proclaimed by humble servants of Christ. Gentleness is the needed ingredient in responding to others when they inquire of the hope within us. This is the penetrating attitude that should accompany all our apologetics in making a defense for the once for all delivered to the saints faith (Jude 3). Vance Havner used to say, "we should never speak of the gospel grace and the reality of eternal punishment to those without Christ with dry eyes." I agree. This is why I so appreciate the ministries of men like Dr. John Piper and C.J. Mahaney. They are bold, passionate, and uncompromising on the gospel and the truth of God's Word; yet they are also marked by brokenness, humility, and love for their listeners. I pray daily that the Lord would continue to build those qualities in my own life and ministry.Contending for the faith isn't just about proclaiming the great themes of sound doctrine and theology (though it is part of it); it is also about truth being lived and communicated from a heart that has experienced deeply God's saving and sanctifying grace and having that same attitude towards those who disagree or may be blind to those truths. Like Martin Luther once said, "we are beggars telling other beggars where they can find food."It is helpful for us to remember that Peter's words in 1 Peter 3 are said in the midst of tremendous persecution and suffering that scattered the believers throughout all of Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1). 1 Peter is a book about suffering and submissiveness. The apologia (defense) found in 1 Peter 3:15 is bookend by suffering for righteousness sake.A Fitting Praise ReportThree weeks ago I was ministering in Michigan. The pastor of the host church told me that a lesbian woman had walked into the church (just a few days prior to the Sunday i was ministering there) and wanted to ask questions about her life as a lesbian. The pastor took that opportunity to present to her the gospel of Jesus Christ from creation, the Fall, the doctrine of sin, Romans 1, the Law, the gospel of grace and the call to repentance. As that pastor gave her "a reason for the hope that was in him," that very hour he was a spectator of God's saving grace, and she received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior! Amen? Amen! Now that is apologetics in action beloved. Again, it's not about winning a debate; it is about His gospel going forth! (My friend James White does biblical apologetics so effectively, keeping the gospel preeminent, and I am so very thankful for him and his ministry.)