“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
(A Study in I Peter)
Lesson 9- Sanctify The Lord God in You Hearts - Supplement:
A SERMON IN A VERSE
1 Peter 3:15
“ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts , and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you , with meekness and fear ;”
Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts .
The concept of sanctifying is in setting it apart from everything else; as valued above all else. This is the same principle behind the idea of being ‘holy' or ‘set apart' for God. Here we are told to set apart a special place in our hearts for God.
The heart being mentioned here is not the blood pump that sustains our physical life, but the mind that sustains all that motivates us. Here Peter states that we are to set God up in the most prominent place in our mind that everything we do is motivated by our love for God.
Always be ready .
If we live with God first in our lives, this is going to cause us to stand out among others. This standing out will prompt interest in what motivates us to be different from the rest. Are we ready to explain what motivates us to be different?
Give a defense .
Not only are we to be ready to answer, but we must be prepared to answer in a way that promotes God and His words of salvation in Christ. Many may be motivated to love God, but not according to knowledge, or as God instructs us to live and love. Defending the truth of the word has to be foremost.
To everyone who asks you .
This is a perception that we do not set the standard for who we deliver this defense to. We do not determine that some are worthy of our time and others are not. This message that God's word can deliver a man to righteousness is the power of the Gospel of salvation; and is for all ( Romans 1:16 -17 ).
The reason of the hope that is in you .
The defense of the Gospel should always include the hope that it gives to all men. This hope lies in the cleansing of sins through Christ Jesus and the reconciliation necessary to be with God eternally. The fact that you have learned of this hope and have chosen to obey it through faith is a powerful example to be explained to others.
In meekness and fear .
Meekness is a derivative of several things; gentle, compassionate, and humble. This kind of concern for others that cannot be counterfeit, and will help to touch the heart of the most proud to believe your testimony.
To fear is not to live in horror of God. It is the shame that comes from falling short of any of these indicators of God being first in your life. To fail to place God in a prominent place in our mind and to fail in being prepared to sanctify Him above all else, is to produce a fear for His wrath!