Sunday Morning in the Word November 12, 2017

The Bible is a counter cultural book!

In Desperate Times Today: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Embrace your living hope! The Structure and Flow of 1 Peter 1:1-2 1:3-2:10 2:11-4:11 4:12-5:11 5:12-14 Intro and greeting Instruction Exhortation Comfort Closing thoughts Embrace your living hope! Apply your living hope! Trust Theological Practical Personal

1 Peter 2:12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles . . . A Key to doing so is submission!

Concept of submission cuts across the grain of our sinful, fallen, human nature. Concept of submission goes against the flow of our culture’s emphasis on personal autonomy. NOT EASY!

1 Peter 2:13-17 – submission in society   1 Peter 2:18-25 – submission in the work place 1 Peter 3:1-7 – submission in the home

“If our Christianity does not work at home, our Christianity doesn’t work at all!” Alistair Begg

In Desperate Times Today: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Submission in the Home: Instruction to Wives 1 Peter 3:1 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands . . .

Misconceptions of a Wife’s Submission Submission means that a wife is inferior to her husband 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ. 

The Son’s Submission to the Father John 8:29 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him. John 12:49 For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said.

The Son and the Father are of One Essence John 10:30 I and the Father are one. John 14:9 The one who has seen me has seen the Father.

So the Father and the Son are of one essence, yet there is a distinction in function within the triune Godhead. The SON willingly and fully submits to the Father (places himself under the authority of the FATHER) – but this in no way makes the SON inferior to the Father! He is one essence with the Father!

Misconceptions of a Wife’s Submission Submission means that a wife is inferior to her husband (not so!) Luke 2:51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them.  

Misconceptions of a Wife’s Submission Submission means that a wife is inferior to her husband (not so!) Husbands are commanded by God to make their wives submit

Husbands are commanded by God to make their wives submit Ephesians 5:22-25 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her . . .

Husbands are commanded by God to make their wives submit Colossians 3:18-19  Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.19 Husbands, love your wives and don’t be bitter toward them. 

Misconceptions of a Wife’s Submission 2. Husbands are commanded by God to make their wives submit (not so!)

Submission in the Home: Instruction to Wives Submission of a wife to her husband is part of God’s plan for the functioning of the family! For far too many women, living with husbands who show nothing of the love of Christ, this idea of submission is a very sensitive issue!

Submission in the Home: Instruction to Wives 1 Peter 3:1-2 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives. 

Submission in the Home: Instruction to Wives 1 Peter 3:1-2 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives. 

Submission in the Home: Instruction to Wives 1 Peter 3:1-2 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives. 

Submission in the Home: Instruction to Wives 1 Peter 3:1-2 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives. 

My strategy to bring my husband to faith in Christ The musical strategy The verse-of-the-day strategy The Begg-ing strategy

The silent testimony strategy 1 Peter 3:1-2 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives. 

The silent testimony strategy 1 Peter 1:15-16 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

“She served her husband as her master, and did all she could to win him for You, speaking to him of You by her conduct, by which you made her beautiful … Finally, when her husband was at the end of his earthly span, she gained him for You.” Saint Augustine (353-430 AD)

Submission in the Home: Instruction to Wives 1 Peter 3:1-2 In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live 2 when they observe your pure, reverent lives. 

Pursue the right kind of beauty! Every woman wants to feel beautiful, yes?

Pursue the right kind of beauty! 1 Peter 3:3-4 Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry,  4 but rather what is inside the heart—the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 

So Ladies, this is indeed countercultural teaching, is it not? First submission to your husband and then focusing on the “dressing up” of your inner being rather than your physical body…

Submission in the Home: Instruction to Wives 1 Peter 3:5-6 For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.

Submission in the Home: Instruction to Wives 1 Peter 3:5-6 For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.

Submission in the Home: Wives, do not fear any intimidation! 1. Whenever we place ourselves under the authority of another we place ourselves in a vulnerable place. 2. Any time any of us seek to live out God’s mandates we can expect some sort of resistance!

Submission in the Home: Instruction to Wives 2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Concluding questions Wives, are you committed to God’s plan for your marriage, which involves you placing yourself under the authority of your husband as the leader of your home? Wives, how are you striving to support your husband in his leadership role in your home?

Concluding questions Wives, do you think of your husband first when it comes time to making your plans? Wives, to whom are you looking for your role models? Trendy celebrities or godly saints like Sarah?

Concluding questions For ALL of you: Are you truly committed to Jesus Christ, having trusted him to save you from your sin and now following him in all you do – even when his call involves something totally contrary to what the world around us believes?