But sanctify the Lord God in your heart, 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; (16) having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. (17) For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (18) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit
The Apostle Peter wrote this letter to the Christians in the far flung Roman empire and his main concern is Christian conduct under persecution. The foundation of the gospel Peter preached is Christ is Messiah and Lord and he is urging Christians to make Jesus the center of their lives. Belief in the sovereignty of God enables Christians to respond properly to the troubles of life – and also the joys of life.
The “hope” and life style of early Christians was so markedly different from the culture of that ancient world that Peter is assuming here that they will be asked about it – either by official interrogation or by informal questioning. Peter is assuming a great deal of slander and lies about Christian belief and living – here he tells his readers that the truth of Christian living may shame unbelievers into silence.
Christians should be always ready – we should know what we believe and why we believe it and we should be ready to explain these beliefs. Defending one’s belief was (and is) a Jewish tradition. Peter is encouraging his audience to continue in this tradition and to know and believe in Christ Jesus, the Messiah who was foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament – perfect man and perfect God – the righteous one who suffered for unrighteous man
. We behave as we believe. Martin Luther, a biblical scholar, nailed his theses to the church door at Wittenberg and stood ready to defend his position – “Here I stand. I can do no other – God help me. ” Christians should be ready to live as holy people and defend their position – Here we stand. We can do no other. Amen