But in your hearts honor 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. 1 Peter 3.15
Get Colleen to read it, if she understands it, it’s simple enough for anyone to understand it! This statement amuses me now, some 30 years after I first heard my then-boss say it. Even though it stung a little, she meant no disrespect, and I knew it was true. I was a fish out of water at that insurance marketing firm. What I brought to the table were well-honed clerical skills and, frankly, an ability to walk the not-so-imaginary fence between the bosses and the rest of the staff. But not so much the understanding of insurance industry jargon. If I could read the prepared communication and deduce the intended two or three points, it was a go. Humbling, but true.
To be honest, I do not often choose to read insurance documents or communications anymore. Only what is necessary to understand the benefits and my responsibilities attached to my varied personal insurances.
When it comes to reading Scripture, approaching with humility and a teachable heart is my only hope in gaining understanding of deep, complex, life-changing words. Coming to it, not to find what supports what I already know but to allow what I think I know to be changed by God’s truth.
Sometimes, like in Romans chapter 11, I can feel weighted down as I read the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Roman believers. It feels like graduate school Christian theology and I’m a Kindergartener. I trust every word he wrote is true and for my growing understanding, yet I feel unsure of being able to explain it to someone else. And we are encouraged to always be ready to give a reason for our hope.
But in your hearts honor 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. 1 Peter 3.15
One of the pieces I struggled with was how do I explain the gospel to someone else. I believe the gospel message of salvation, but how do I put it into words to share?
In another of Paul’s letters, 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, I find this help …
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas (Peter), and then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time.1 Corinthians 15.3-6
These four truths are the essence of the gospel message:
- Christ died for our sins
- He was buried (He truly had died)
- He was raised on the third day (Resurrection!)
- Then He appeared to many people (He truly is alive after death!)
All in accordance with the Scriptures – each had been foretold and written in Scripture before it happened!
Truly profound, yet simple enough for anyone (even Colleen!) to understand.
Know, my friend, that you are so loved that God sent His Son to die for you and give you life after death!
With a humbled and grateful heart, Colleen