BEAUTIFUL WIVES AND CONSIDERATE HUSBANDS, Ron Ward
ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER
Passage: 1Peter 3:13~22  
Key verse: 15
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?(A) 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.(B) “Do not fear their threats[a]; do not be frightened.”[b](C) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer(D) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope(E) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience,(F) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.(G) 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will,(H) to suffer for doing good(I) than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once(J) for sins,(K) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.(L) He was put to death in the body(M) but made alive in the Spirit.(N) 19 After being made alive,[c] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits(O)— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently(P) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.(Q) In it only a few people, eight in all,(R) were saved(S) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you(T) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience(U) toward God.[d] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(V) 22 who has gone into heaven(W) and is at God’s right hand(X)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(Y)
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 3:14 Or fear what they fear
- 1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12
- 1 Peter 3:19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also
- 1 Peter 3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience
Cross references
- 1 Peter 3:13 : S Tit 2:14
- 1 Peter 3:14 : ver 17; 1Pe 2:19, 20; 4:15, 16
- 1 Peter 3:14 : Isa 8:12, 13
- 1 Peter 3:15 : Col 4:6
- 1 Peter 3:15 : S Heb 3:6
- 1 Peter 3:16 : ver 21; S Ac 23:1
- 1 Peter 3:16 : 1Pe 2:12, 15
- 1 Peter 3:17 : 1Pe 2:15; 4:19
- 1 Peter 3:17 : 1Pe 2:20; 4:15, 16
- 1 Peter 3:18 : S Heb 7:27
- 1 Peter 3:18 : 1Pe 2:21; 4:1, 13
- 1 Peter 3:18 : S Ro 5:2
- 1 Peter 3:18 : Col 1:22; 1Pe 4:1
- 1 Peter 3:18 : 1Pe 4:6
- 1 Peter 3:19 : 1Pe 4:6
- 1 Peter 3:20 : S Ro 2:4
- 1 Peter 3:20 : Ge 6:3, 5, 13, 14
- 1 Peter 3:20 : Ge 8:18
- 1 Peter 3:20 : Heb 11:7
- 1 Peter 3:21 : S Ac 22:16
- 1 Peter 3:21 : ver 16; S Ac 23:1
- 1 Peter 3:21 : 1Pe 1:3
- 1 Peter 3:22 : S Heb 4:14
- 1 Peter 3:22 : S Mk 16:19
- 1 Peter 3:22 : S Mt 28:18; S Ro 8:38
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord
When our faith is challenged, it is easy to freeze up. If in our hearts we set apart Christ as Lord, fear goes away. He shows us what to do, and what to say, and he gives us courage to do it and say it. If we are eager to do good, most likely, no one will harm us; but if we do suffer for doing what is right, then God will bless us.
2. A reason for our hope
We must know what we believe and why we believe it, but we should not become self-righteous or argumentative. We must have a clear conscience and practice good behavior.
3. Christ died for sins once for all
Christ died for the sins of all people of all time. Even the people who lived in ancient times and, like Noah, believed God's promises, are saved because Jesus died for sin and was raised to life. He died to bring us to God.
Prayer: Lord, help me to testify to Jesus in any and every circumstance.
One Word: Christ is Lord of my life.