From the Pen of LEROY SEDGWICK....
ANSWERING QUESTIONS
"...always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you" (I Peter 3:15).
The Christian will be asked "Why" he believes as he does, and according to Peter, he should always be ready to give an answer as to "Why" as well as being able to show "What" he believes.
While questions can be answered in a variety of ways - as Jesus illustrated in His dealings with those who would entrap him in his words - the answers must come from a knowledge of the subject at hand. Since the subject of one's belief has to do with God's will, it is necessary that we have a kowledge of the word of God.
Paul said, "Be diligent (study) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).
In the dispensation before the present one, God chastized His people Israel for their lack of knowledge. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of God, I also will forget your children" (Hosea 4:6).
From the foregoing passages we can see the importance of knowledge. It is certain that knowledge is important to our relationship with God, and to our being able to relate to others the way of salvation. For that reason, we are urged to grow in the knowledge of God's will. "...but grow in the grace and knowledge or our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter. 3:18).
Early in the Christian growth pattern, one is to develop this knowledge that will enable him/her to assure self a place in heaven. "But also for this very reason, giving all dililgence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge....for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:5,11).
It is only through the development of the knowledge of God's will that we shall be able to "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; having a good consciene, that when they speak evil of you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed" (I Peter 3:15,16).
Remember, the answer is not only "What" you believe, but "Why." What will your answer be?
--Leroy Sedgwick