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Truth Under Fire
“Ready to Answer”
Pastor Carl Nichols

Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

You believe in Jesus. You love Jesus. But can you explain why you believe what you believe?

Sometimes the questions we struggle to answer reveal the things we haven’t taken time to understand.

The next conversation about your faith may happen across the street or down the hall.

1 Peter 3:15–16
15 But in your hearts revere 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. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Peter brings three things together:

  • Our allegiance: Honor Christ as Lord.

  • Our preparation: Be ready to explain our hope.

  • Our approach: Answer with gentleness and respect.

We need conviction about what we believe, understanding of why we believe it, and love for the person asking.

1. KNOW THE STORY.

Luke 24:17-27 (Road to Emmaus)
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Luke 24:44-48 (Jesus with his disciples)
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

Jesus helped people understand Jesus by helping them understand the Bible.

The Bible tells the unfolding story of God’s work to redeem a broken world.

Five words:
CREATION → FALL → PROMISE → JESUS → RESTORATION

CREATION — God made us for relationship with him - Genesis 1–2

FALL — Humanity rebelled against God - Genesis 3

PROMISE — God promised redemption - Genesis 12:1–3

JESUS — God’s saving promise comes to fulfillment in Christ - John 3:16

RESTORATION — God will complete his work - Revelation 21:1–5

Understanding the story helps us understand the truths the story teaches.

2. UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH.

Let’s take one question: “Why did Jesus have to die?”

Romans 3:21–26
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemptionthat came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

  • We have sinned.

  • God is righteous.

  • God has acted in grace through Jesus.

  • The cross reveals God’s justice and mercy together.

The cross shows how seriously God takes sin and how deeply God loves sinners.

Our children need more than our conclusions. They need to understand how Scripture leads us there.

What we learn needs to become something we share.

3. PASS ON THE FAITH.

Deuteronomy 6:5–95 
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

The faith you want to pass on must first take root in you.

PASS IT ACROSS THE TABLE — SHARE YOUR FAITH.

PASS IT AROUND THE TABLE — TEACH YOUR FAMILY.

Let your children see you read it, wrestle with it, trust it, and obey it.

Your home should be a place where questions about faith can be spoken honestly and explored patiently.