Today's scripture is a go to text for Christian Apologists who find in it Peter's encouragement to give an answer to anyone who asks us regarding our hope and faith in the Lord. However, Peter's primary motivation according to context is to strongly encourage his readers to be above reproach by living blameless lives in honor to Christ to have God's approval and blessing and to put to shame the slanderers who may seek to discredit them because of their hatred of Christ and the gospel.
How can we live blameless lives? By doing good and committing to what is good at all time. The key to this Character transformation is to always honor in our hearts Christ the Lord as Holy, that is to constantly give Him preeminence in our thinking, planning, affections, desires, pursuit and daily living.
When we live this way, we will not struggle to give an answer to whosoever ask. According to the context, Peter does not have in mind curious individuals simply wanting to know more about our faith. The accurate picture is that of Paul before King Agrippa in Acts 26. Giving an answer to critics or an angry mob (or hostile crowd). This is very relevant to us today considering the woke movement and cancel culture phenomenon that swipes across the globe. Because for many faith in Christ is a problem they would love to do away with because it doesn't satisfy their view of a perfect world. So to this hostile crowd we should be able to provide a defense of the hope within us and do it with gentleness and respect even when that is not how they confront us.
Be blameless!
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