p. 12 | Our Faith and Hope

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 4, 1877

Our Faith and Hope.

“SANCTIFY the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear,” is the exhortation of the apostle. 1 Pet. 3:15. This text suggests a preparation of heart and life before attempting to teach others. Sanctify, is to set apart. In our hearts we should set apart the Lord God as the supreme object of our love, and the only object of our worship. We should be sanctified through the very truth we profess before taking up the responsible work of urging it upon others. We must be cleansed from sin and imbued with the Spirit before we can correctly and properly represent his truth.

These words of the apostle also suggest preparation of mind by study. This is necessary in order to be always ready to teach those of inquiring minds. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments should be studied closely. “Search the Scriptures,” says the Son of God. The student of prophecy must also be a student of history. In order to be able to grasp the great truths of the Word of God, the mind must be disciplined to think long and patiently upon the subject to be investigated. The mind should be strengthened, and elevated by reading good books.

The apostle calls for reasons, not mere assertions. The disciples of Christ should be ready always to give the reasons of the hope they cherish. Divine truth appeals to the understanding. The people ask for reasons. Those who teach should be intelligent. They should be “ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh.” The veriest novice in heavenly things may make assertions with all the confidence of an experienced Bible student, and yet, for want of disposition to search the Scriptures, and to study to show himself “approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,” he may not be able to give one forcible reason for his faith and hope.

This passage intimates that the people have a right to demand the reason of our faith. This is also evident from the prophetic inquiry and answer especially applicable to our time. “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?” The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night. If ye will inquire, inquire ye, return, come.”

The manner in which reasons of the hope of the gospel should be given is also stated by the apostle. The servants of Christ in dealing with minds in matters of Christian theology, have a nice work on their hands. They must do it “with meekness and fear.” In the absence of the spirit of humility, and fear to offend God, his truth is feeble in their hands. But when it is presented in the spirit of the Divine Master, with godly fear lest the oil and the wine be hurt, divine truth appears in its beauty and strength.

Christ in his life was a pattern of meekness. The first ministers of Jesus, who went forth to the world newly baptized with the spirit of their Master, were meek men. And with fear and trembling lest they should fail to fulfill their high and holy mission, they went out, leaning on the strength of Him who had said, “Lo, I am with you always.” Even the learned Paul states that his mission to preach the gospel is “not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” 1 Cor. 1:17. In view of the responsibilities of preaching the word of God, the apostle uses these words: “For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish. To the one we are the savor of death unto death, and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?” 2 Cor. 2:15, 16.

How beautiful and how efficient will be that church whose ministry and membership bear the happy burden of truth, intelligent in the Word of God, ready always with meekness and fear to give an answer to all who inquire for the hope they cherish.