1 Peter 3:15-17 NIV
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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Are You Ready to Give an Answer for Your Faith?
I have found that God continuously works in me through different seasons of my life. While He refines both my physical and spiritual being, my answer to why I said "yes" to Jesus' love has never changed. However, each year, He reveals my purpose with increasing clarity.
This new year, God has made it abundantly clear to me what my faith and purpose in the Gospel of Jesus are grounded in. I do not believe that sharing the Gospel, according to Jesus, is meant merely to grow an earthly congregation. The Gospel’s impact is far greater because God’s kingdom is spiritual. I firmly believe that salvation is only possible through Jesus Christ. There is no single congregation or denomination that has perfected the path to salvation. If any group or person believes their way is the only way to God, they are placing God in a human-made box, limited by worldly understanding. Every congregation has flaws because Satan, our accuser, works tirelessly to sow confusion, deception, pride, and self-sufficiency in the hearts and minds of those who seek to make Jesus their Lord, including leaders and teachers (Ephesians, Revelation 2 & 3, Proverbs 4:23, 1 Peter 4:12-19). This is why embracing and understanding the Holy Spirit—whom Jesus promised as our teacher and counselor—is crucial (John 14:13-18, 25-26).
That said, I do believe it is important to find a community that teaches God’s Word faithfully—one that does not add to, remove from, or modify His commands to fit human standards. What do I mean by "human standards"? I am referring to teachers and preachers who only share messages that feel good in order to appease a congregation, whether out of fear or personal gain. Likewise, there are congregations that emphasize condemnation as their primary teaching, neglecting the full message of the Gospel. Corporate worship, while valuable, can also be the downfall of the church when not rooted in the Spirit. Humanity is flawed, and no congregation is perfect—but we serve a High Priest who is perfect in every way. Staying in step with the Spirit by studying God’s commands in Scripture and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance and clarity is essential to embodying Christ in our lives and resisting Satan’s schemes (John 14 & 15, John 6:63). Many people place great significance on their grand, expensive, and elaborate church buildings. However, Scripture teaches that each person who has made Jesus their Lord and has received the Holy Spirit is the true church of Christ. Attending church services and participating in religious activities are not inherently wrong, but what matters most is connecting with Jesus in the spiritual realm and embodying His church in every area of our lives. This is the example Jesus left for His followers.
The book of Revelation, along with the accounts of the first-century church established by the apostles, reveals how Satan actively spreads deception and confusion among believers. The frightening reality is that his influence is often subtle, leading many to believe they are doing God’s work when, in fact, they are being misled.
So, ask yourself: Are you truly a temple of the Holy Spirit, a living stone built upon the foundation of God’s church? Or is your faith rooted solely in the physical, tangible denomination you belong to? God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Romans 8-9).
