“And hope maketh not ashamed.”  (Romans 5)

After being exiled for three and a half (3 1/2) years from Geneva Switzerland, John Calvin was called back. On September 13, 1541, Calvin arrived back from his exile. Because of his loyalty to Scripture and it’s exposition, Calvin began on the same verse he had been preaching from when he right before his exile. This tells us of his belief in the rightness of expositional preaching and teaching.

The honest preacher uses expositional preaching as his instrument to mine for the gold of God’s Word. Expositional preaching/teaching exposes the fallacies of false teachers. It is false teachers that shy away from exposition. Exposition holds a man to the truth and purity of Scripture, it disallows the twisting and wresting of Scripture. In our last article we began  expositing the meaning of Peter’s first (1st) epistle, chapter three (3) and verse thirteen and fourteen (13 & 14). We wrote upon hope, we sought to define the Biblical meaning of hope.

In verse 15 we are directed by Peter to have an answer for the reason we have hope during times of tribulation and trouble. We are told we should answer this question of our hope that is in us with meekness and fear. Meekness is a strength that is hidden from others. The Christ-ian has a position and an authourity that we keep hidden or under control, that we boast not about. Fear is the reverence and respect we hold God in. The Christ-ian should do all things under the fear of God and with the fear of God. When the saint acts in and under the fear of God, a magnification goes before him or her.

The wise man of Proverbs teaches the reader: there is strong confidence available to one (1) when one (1) walks under and in the fear of the LORD; when one (1) has the Fear of God inhabiting him or her. Reader, i know where of i speak. God has put a boldness inside of me, there was a definite day and time this was done. Don’t think me sensationalistic or charismatic.

Reader, it is what it is, you can believe it or you can dismiss it. Those who know me recognize the difference. One (1) minute I was reserved and fearful or shy and easily intimidated, a few minutes later, I was: bold, confident, forward and without intimidation.

I used to fear barking dog and the very thought of Great White Sharks, today I know, the fear of the LORD wd allow me to survive an attack by either of God’s creations. Like i said, believe it or not; it matters none to me. I will say, i prayed for this filling; this baptism by fire, by Christ.

I prayed for fifteen years (15) and God inclined and hearkened unto mt cries and petitions. This is how it should be for all of God’s persons and people. God chose to answer my request, but my request came with a price. The price I paid is a total possession by God’s Holy Spirit. This causes trouble and difficulty in this world. Again, you can believe this testimony or dismiss it; your choice matters not to me, but it could matter to you.

Before we are enabled by the the Spirit to give this answer we are given a condition. Before we can give an answer to the inquirer and before we can actually have this hope; this hope that passeth the understanding of others, there is something God calls us to do. In verse fifteen (15) we are told to sanctify God in our heart, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. After one (1) has Sanctified God in one’s heart, one (1) is able to answer the inquiring world with our meekness and fear…But…

But how does one (1) sanctify God in their heart? What is sanctity or sanctification? There are different shades of meaning to sanctification. Sanctification is a position or placement, a principle and a practicality. There are even different times of sanctification.

*Positional Sanctification: In Christ the elect has been sanctified or set aside for God’s pleasure and purpose.
*Principle Sanctification: In our principles we are holy, we live by holy principle or should.
*Practical Sanctification: In our practices, in our lifestyle we exhibit and demonstrate our sanctification or holiness.

In terms of the timings of the elect’s sanctification or holiness:
*Before the foundations of the world God chose us to be sanctified; set apart, to be put in Christ for our keeping and protection (Jude)
*In time God has saved us and has sanctified us or placed us aside for His pleasure and purpose; for a demonstration and the observation of others (Matthew 5).

With the definitions of sanctification, which one (1) do you suppose Paul is talking about?  I would say Paul speaks to all of the above, save the before the foundation of the world and even that definition wd speak to God’s purpose, pleasure, and plans. The Christ-ian, before s/he can give answer for hope, must first have or acknowledge God as being Positioned as Lord in the heart; God must define what His righteous principles are and His vessel must act them out, in our practice or life practices, holiness or sanctification must be exhibited. I’m not talking legalism but the fruits of the Spirit; God having His way in the regulation of our lives, our lives given over to Him. This is how one (1) can sanctify God in one’s heart. This sanctifying of God is a condition, a qualification, a demand that must be met before one (1) can give an answer to others and more importantly, experience the hope and peace that God offers.

We will, DV, continue this exposition in the next article.

Godspeed.