Apologize like Paul
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
"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."
(1 PETER 3:15)
When Peter writes that we are to be prepared to "give an answer," the Greek word he uses is apologia, from which we get our English word "apology." While we commonly know "apology" to mean "I'm sorry," here it has a different meaning: a defense of what we believe. There is an entire department of study in theology called apologetics, or the science of defending the faith.
What an amazing defense of the faith Paul gives us in 1 Corinthians 15. In the first few verses, he tells his readers that the gospel is that in which they stand and by which they are saved. What is this good news? It's that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again. You will notice a phrase repeats a couple of times: "according to the Scriptures". If anyone asks us why we believe what we believe, our answer, or apology, must, like Paul's, be according to the Scriptures. It need not be at the level of a theology class. But when it comes from your heart, your defense of the God of grace who redeemed your life will speak volumes.
INSIGHT
WHEN WE ARE GIVING A DEFENSE OF OUR FAITH, IT MUST BE ROOTED IN THE SCRIPTURES AND NOT IN OUR EXPERIENCES OR FEELINGS.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Leviticus 21-22
Psalm 57
Luke 21
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
New International Version (NIV)
The Resurrection of Christ
15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 15:3 Or you at the first
b. 1 Corinthians 15:5 That is, Peter
GIVE THEM GRACE [PART 2]
with Elyse Fitzpatrick & Jessica Thompson
Children's behavior is not always a window into their heart. Too often parents stress outward obedience when obedience of the heart is the real issue. The solution is grace.
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