Introduction

Today I want to begin a new series of sermons shifting from Romans to the topic of apologetics. Now instead of going paragraph by paragraph through a particular book, we will be considering verses and paragraphs within different books of the Bible that bear on this topic. So a couple of things need to be said up front to set this series in place and open our way to the message for this morning.

First, we should say something about the definition of apologetics. It is not being apologetic in the sense of saying, "I'm sorry." It is literally the defense of the faith. So it involves doing what 1 Peter 3:15 requires of us: "Be ready always to give an answer of the hope that is within you with meekness and fear." The Greek word for "to give an answer" sounds very much like our English word apologize (apologia); hence the name apologetics. Also defense giving is only a part of a larger whole, as we will see later on in this series.

Second, the idea of answer giving shows us that apologetics is not to be restricted to a course of study in a theological curriculum. It is actually part and parcel of Christian living in relation to non-Christians. Specifically, it has to do with communication and conversation between insiders and outsiders, between those inside the circle of faith and those outside that circle. Consider how this is stated in Colossians 4:5-6. How the Christian lives in relation to those outside the church is tied inseparably to how the Christian converses with those outside the church. Apologetics is a slice of the pie of gospel proclamation, Christian witness bearing, and evangelism (by both life and lip).

Third, this text directs us to the beginning of the beginning. It shows us that apologetics begins with prayer (Col. 4:2-6). So my title for this message is "Praying apologetically." The accent here is not on praying "repentantly" (i.e., apologizing to the Lord with godly sorrow) but on the relationship of prayer to apologetics, praying with apologetics in mind.

There are two main things to consider within this text of Scripture: 1) the general posture of prayer presented or our stance in prayer, and 2) the particular petition of prayer. The general posture is devotion and the particular petition centers on the open door, which directs us to the apologetic, answer giving, theme.

1A. The General Posture (or stance) is Devotion

Paul says, "devote yourselves to prayer" (Col. 4:2).

In other words, prayer is not to be perfunctory. It should not be simply routine, forced, and repetitive with little care or interest. It should not be something that is strange to us. This is especially true regarding our private prayer life as a personal and individual matter. But it also applies to our praying with others, whether at home at the dinner table or in church with all the saints. But on a deeper level perhaps, we need to say that prayer is a matter of special concentration of mind. It is to be "whole-souled," with the whole of your soul or inner self involved. To use the words of Bunyan, it is an affectionate pouring out of your soul to God. Words may lose their meaning here, but prayer should be engaged as a privilege of fellowship and communion with God. It is the high point of true religion in the expression of reverence to the Lord and dependence on Him for all your wants and needs. So Paul says, be devoted, have a devotional life; this is far a field from mere formalism and "goody-goody-ism."

Paul characterizes this devotion in two ways: be watchful and thankful.

1) Be watchful

Why does he introduce the notion of watchfulness at this point relative to prayer? He doesn't tell us explicitly. So we have to glean from the context (looking back and ahead). Watchfulness pertains to the development of heavenly mindedness (Col. 3:1f). Thus there is a process of putting off and putting on that involves a "sin in my life watchfulness" to avoid the serious problem of self-deception. The cultivation of Christian graces and virtues takes place in the tension of being in the present evil age but no longer of it. Again it is easy for us to see what other people need but difficult to see our own true need. Our preconceptions are always favorable to ourselves. This is a sin alert. It is part of a Christian's devotional life in being devoted to prayer. This is a "graces" alert for their cultivation by our stations in life (3:18f).

And there are hints here of our relationships to people who live "the life you once lived" (3:7) and from among whom you have been chosen (3:12, think of yourselves as God's chosen people, dearly loved, and set apart from other people). So, part of devoted prayer is thankfulness.

2) Be thankful

We are to be thankful for every blessing, especially for the number one blessing-salvation in Christ by the Spirit through faith. In the movie Blast from the Past there are some needless religious caricatures. Still the movie has some enjoyable parts. One part that we can take to heart is the thankfulness of a thirty-five year old person who sees the sky for the first time because he was raised in a bomb shelter. He just stands there looking up in awe. Others ask as to what he sees. And he responds with a wonder and thankfulness, "it’s the sky." When he sees the ocean, he is overwhelmed and plunges in with his face beaming with joy. We need to often slow down, pause, take in the world around us, and thank our Lord for these everyday wonders. And if that is the case, and all that have eyes to see recognize that it is the case, then how much more ought we to be thankful for our salvation.

Thus Paul is saying, "Remember that you were once a prodigal lost in the wilderness of this world, blind, and dead. But you were found, made alive, and given eyes to see (cf. Lk. 15:7, a "righteous person" is righteous in his own eyes, thus blind being dead and lost, 15:24). Be thankful for the many lamps that light up the creation displaying the radiance of God's wisdom and glory. We are to revel like kids in His creation, curious, awe struck, thankful to Him. What a sin it is to worship the creature instead of the Creator. Be thankful for the eyes to see the Lord in His works and to know Him in His provision for every need for now and forever!

We are given exhortation to be devoted to prayer. We are commanded to pray. Prayer is the life breath of Christian living. It is the highest privilege. Prayer is our opportunity to meet with and commune with our Father in heaven. We have been given access into this grace wherein we stand. The veil in the temple that blocked access to the presence of God has been torn apart and the way is wide open. What a marvel: sinners are welcome in God’s presence, sinners that we have been, and sinners that we still are. Thus we are free to pour out our souls to His majesty, the King of the universe.

Now, notably, in experiencing this privilege, we are to remember those left behind in the far country. We must never forget the pit from which we have been dug or the rock from which we were carved. Thankfulness like this should lead to prayer for other prodigals like ourselves, that they too will be found and brought home to the Father’s embrace. How we are to pray remembering others still in the far country is our next point.

2A. Particular petition is for the open door (cf. the church of the open door)

Prayer for the open door (Col. 4:3-4) gives the "prayer context" for our answer giving to outsiders (Col. 4:5-6).

In this stance of devoted watchful thankfulness, we are to remember the others out there in the far country. You should still be able to smell the smoke and fire on your clothes. You have been brought home from the pig mire. You have been snatched like brands from the burning. Therefore prayer includes intercession on behalf of outsiders.

But how does Paul direct this intercession or prayer on behalf of the outsider? He says to pray for an open door for our message (v. 3) and pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should (v. 4). Two things can be said about this open door: it is God's open door, and it is our open door.

1B. Pray for God's open door

In one way, praying apologetically focuses on the matter of opportunity. He says pray "that God may open a door for our message" (Col. 4:3). Pray for opportunity.

Opportunities are special times or occasions where there is a convergence of circumstances that are favorable for some purpose to be fulfilled. We speak about windows of opportunity. Most people do not have houses made up entirely of windows; most people do not live in glass houses. Opportunities come and go. They are not always there. We say to young people in high school or college: this is a special opportunity in your life, go through this door with great diligence because you will never have this time, this structure, this freedom, and this open door again. The circumstances are favorable for you now to get a good education, even if you may sometimes have to turn sideways to get through the door (an open door does not eliminate work but provides it).

People like to speak about making opportunities for themselves. This goes with our age of independence, freedom, and self-sufficiency. It is often put like this: "You can be whatever you choose to be, so go for the gusto."

But Paul is talking about gospel opportunity. This is something that God must grant; it is not something that we create. We are to seize the opportunities when presented with them but we do not "make them happen." Paul says, "pray to God that He may do something for us that we cannot do for ourselves, pray that He may give something to us that we cannot give to ourselves." He says, "pray that God may open a door for our message." We pray for opportunities because they are God’s to give as He sees fit.

So we need to be spiritual and godly opportunists; we need to be people who take advantage of opportune circumstances, not for self-serving ends, but for the purpose of spreading the word of God. For this we need much wisdom.

2B. Pray for our open door

It is an open door for us in our time. Pray that God will give us an open door for the gospel in our setting. We have to think of this in a "then and now" model. The "then" part pertains to Paul back there and the "now" pertains to us here in the present. Another way to state this is in terms of the apostolic and post-apostolic distinction.

Paul speaks here of the apostolic message regarding the mystery of Christ. This refers to the coming of the gospel hidden like a mystery in the OT though clearly revealed there. Hidden mystery-like means that it was promised but not yet realized (we have seen this in Rom. 16:25-27). The fulfillment came in Christ. It is the gospel of Christ that is laid down as a foundation for the church. So now we obviously do not pray for an open door for Paul in his proclamation of the gospel. But we do have that gospel of fulfillment in Christ in the NT. So we are to pray for an open door for the apostolic gospel in our day and context. This applies directly to us in the fact that we have the apostolic word given into our hands as a trust.

This is how we can balance Ephesians 2:20 with 1 Timothy 3:15. In Ephesians we are told that the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. But in 1Timothy we are told that the church is the foundation of the truth. How can the apostolic message be the foundation of the church and at the same time the church be the foundation of the apostolic message?

Paul hints at the answer we need in 1 Timothy 3:14. There he says that he writes instructions to the church so that church people will know how to conduct themselves. This alludes to the foundational word of the apostle that guides with authority. But to what is the church guided? By the apostolic word, the church is guided in how to pillar that word. That is, the church is under the apostolic word and it is to hold it up in reading, preaching, teaching (1 Tim. 4:13-16).

So the open door for the word of Paul applies today to the reading, preaching, and teaching of Paul's word in our context. It applies to the ministry of the word that is based on the text given by Christ to us through His authorized witnesses, the apostles and prophets. Thus founded on the word, the church is to hold up the word like pillars holding a building up in plain view.

But this in no way leaves the flock off the hook. If anything, it hangs the flock on an even higher hook. Your conduct is to be guided by the instructions found in the apostolic word. And the ministry of pastor-teachers is geared to take the apostolic word and by it equip you to do the work of ministry (Eph. 4:11-12).

Why this focus on the minister and on prayer for the minister as for Paul? One answer is for the spread of the word through the work performed by the flock. Note the order here: 1) pastor-teachers prepare God's people, 2) God's people, along with pastors, do the works of service. The open door for the minister involves the open door for the flock. Thus, when we look back we hear Paul saying, "pray for an open door for the apostolic word through the ministry of the word by pastor and people in post-apostolic times"

Some concluding applications

1) We should be devoted to prayer and that praying should spill over apologetically on behalf of those that live in the far country, on behalf of those that are "outside."

2) This should be on our lips often in prayer: Lord, we ask you to open a door for the apostolic message that you have entrusted to us. We pray that we may hold it up in reading, preaching, teaching, and in every saint ministry of service. This is praying apologetically in a fundamental way petitioning the Lord to grant an open door in front of us in the proclamation and defense of the gospel (thus, answering in Col. 4:6).

3) This prayer can be particularized in our setting. It is individually oriented and it relates to us corporately. We have responsibility as individuals and as a group.

This relates to how an open door may be opened for us relative to matters like visitors on Sunday given that we meet in homes. What is the Lord's will in this regard for us? Pray for an open door. We are limited. We are limited in inviting. Are there other ways we may proceed? Is the radio an option? Can we make better use of the Internet? Can we have mid-week Bible studies focused on unbelievers? Does my teaching philosophy and Christian worldview to unbelievers move in the right direction? Pray for God's open door.

Again, what about having a public location for our meetings? We should be thankful for the way of meeting that we have. It is a great blessing. Numbers are of no account in themselves. Something is very amiss in the "small means unfaithful" argument.

The Christian unity that we have is very important in raising one voice to the glory of God (Rom. 15:5-6). Furthermore, weekly preaching and teaching is evangelism. Paul speaks of teaching doctrine as a means by which ministers save themselves and their hearers (1 Tim. 4:16). Gospel proclamation is inclusive of the call to sinners and the nurture of saints. It is making disciples and teaching them. That whole is evangelism. We are evangelistic week by week.

But we are to pray for God's open door that gives an open door for us in our time. This must apply to our setting. We must be prayerful, ready, and willing to walk through whatever doors God may open for us, seizing the opportunities that God gives us.

4) Therefore, apologetics properly begins with prayer. So I encourage you to make this series into more than an academic exercise; make it an apologetic engagement by your attentiveness to preaching and teaching and especially by your attentiveness to praying apologetically.