“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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1Peter 3:15, 16).
The New Testament anchors the practical aspects of life on solid theological truth – knowledge of God.
If the NT says, “Go that way…” the believer can go that way knowing that:
-it is safe to go that way; the way has been cleared and marked; other believers have gone “that way”; it is beneficial to go “that way”.
A godly life – a holy life is possible only if the believer has a solid/proper theological foundation. That means, that a believer can live a godly life if he/she knows God and comes under His authority.
In the Word of God for us today, Peter put it this way, “In your hearts, revere Christ as Lord…” (v.15). You have to know Christ as Saviour and Lord; You have to come under His authority: revere Him.
Note that Peter wrote, “In your hearts…” Why?
Because it is so easy to pay lip service. God doesn’t need “lip service”…He never did.
“The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men” (Isaiah 29:13).
Lip service – a widespread practice and habit…
Peter calls for a “heart-deep” reverence of Christ as Lord. We revere Christ as Lord because He suffered once for sins (vv.17, 18). He suffered for sins: whose’ sins? Not His! He did this to bring us to God.
He suffered for the sake of righteousness because it was our sins that He suffered for – it was an un-just suffering. In your hearts, revere Christ as Lord!