In the Same Way, You Wives, be Submissive to Your Own Husbands
1 Peter 3:1-6
(Children's Sheet for Sermon Interaction is at bottom. Notes are throughout sermon)
Please turn to 1 Peter 3:1. 1 Peter 3:1 is our primary passage under study this morning. As you are turning there. I think it will be necessary for us to get re-aquainted with some important details of the context. Since the section is so long, it is easy to miss the overarching sense that the Spirit has been pressing before, and into, chapter 3. Also, the addition of chapter and verse numbers to the Bible makes the points seem like they are somewhat disconnected. But there are no chapter breaks in the Greek. There is only one long interconnected teaching that Peter has already been asserting. In the flow, I want us to notice a key that unlocks a foundational point in Peter's whole teaching thrust. 1 Peter 2:13 points us in the right direction. He says there,
"13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, ..." 1 Peter 2:13
Peter's concern has been that we act in a an exemplary manner. We should try not to create unnecessary problems while we live among the lost world culture. This is not legalism. The Spirit wants us to recognize that this is Lordism. We submit for the Lord's sake, because that is what the Lord wants, and that is what matters. The sense is that in our testimony, our notable behavior, as representatives of Christ, is reflective of the reputation that comes from what Paul says to the Thessalonian Christians,
"make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business ..."1 Thessalonians 4:11
The point is that our commendable character reputation in society is for the Lord's sake. Part of this means acting as people who are free in Christ, yet as bondslaves of God, 1 Peter 2:16. In other words, we have been freed from the cursed world that is held in bondage to sin, but the Spirit wants us to be controlled by Him and His word as we serve our heavenly Emperor. The Spirit is detailed in His desire for His royal priesthood of set apart heavenly nationals. He urges manifesting Christ for the Lord's sake in such a way as to,
"17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king." 1 Peter 2:17
With this same reasoning in mind, Peter tells slaves to be submissive to their masters with all respect. This does not only apply to those who are good and gentle. It also applies to those who are unreasonable, 1 Peter 2:18. Why? Peter tells us: Because this finds favor with God when you bear up under sorrows when suffering unjustly in consideration of God. Again, this points back to submitting for the Lord's sake of 1 Peter 2:13. Peter revisits the foundation again in verse 21,
"21 Because you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, ..." 1 Peter 2:21
In Christ's high and holy task as the prophesied suffering servant of Isaiah 52 and 53, and the Messianic Psalms, He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth. While being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously, 1 Peter 2:22-24. Christ is the Cornerstone. His shape is what the Spirit has chiseled us into positionally, and is chiseling us conditionally, and practically, to reflect Christ's glory in the world. Christ Jesus has left us clear footprints to walk in as we follow in His steps. This is the mode that has been modeled for us of what we are to be doing for the Model's sake Himself. We must remember these points in Peter's flow coming into our passage. It is the foundational flow that contains that important key to understanding the section we are studying this morning. The question is:
What is the key that we need to see here and keep in mind?
Make a note of this because this is so important. The key has to do with the foundational point of verse 13. The key is expressed through this whole section in verse 17. The key has to do with the calling and purpose of verse 21. It is found all through the rest of the epistle. Here is the statement that is the key that brings 13, 17 and 21 together as the operating principle:
God wants us to do all for the sake of Christ according to the way of Christ which in the context means:
a) respecting earthly authority in submission,
b) suffering for Christ by following in His footsteps,
and
c) honoring all people, loving the Christian brothers and sisters, fearing God, and honoring the earthly king.
That is pretty simple isn't it? Let me state it in a briefer way:
God wants us to do all for the sake of Christ according to the way of Christ.
With these considerations in mind, we come directly into our passage that is right in the middle of Peter's continuing flow. Please read it with me now, starting in 3:1. Peter says,
"1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. 3 Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear." 1 Peter 3:1-6
Prepare your heart to learn, along with me, in this sermon titled,
"In the Same Way, You Wives, be Submissive to Your Own Husbands"
[prayer]
In reading our passage this morning, we instantly recognize that an honest, and Holy Spirit driven, eye will see that it is God's desire that Christian wives be submissive to their husbands. This morning we will glean some principles from Peter concerning this important charge toward Christian conduct that is desirable to God.
/1/ The first principle concerning the call to submission that the Lord has given is that it has a foundational base. We have already touched upon the foundation in the introductory review of Peter's context. Now Peter says,
"1 In the same way,
you wives, be submissive to your own husbands ..." 1 Peter 3:1
The important words that connect this to the foundational base for Christian wives to submit to their husbands are the first four words of verse 1. Notice that Peter says "in the same way." What Peter is doing is pointing back to things he has been touching upon in his teaching flow. He is pointing to the foundation he has already laid. That foundation is the "same way" that wives are to be submissive. The question we want to explore a little more is:
"In the same way as what?"
This is where the key comes in. Peter is talking about the same way of doing all for the sake of Christ according to the way of Christ. For wives this means "the same way" of 1 Peter 1:13, 17, and 21,
"13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, ... 17 Honor all people ... fear God ... 21 Because you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, ..." 1 Peter 2:13 and 21
What Peter is doing is taking the submission of wives, and the lack of submission of wives, out of being merely philosophical practices of the lost world culture. He is putting it all back into the arena of the culture of Christ where it belongs. There are many reasons for this. Foremost, marriage is an institution that has been ordained, defined, and commanded, as a creation of God. Marriage is not a creation of humans. Further, the roles of husbands and wives are also ordained by God. The roles of husbands and wives are not defined by humans. The roles of wives are not defined by wives. God did not consult the opinions that drive the egalitarian, feminists, trends of the lost, and their social theory academics, when he ordained the overarching social interaction rules for husbands and wives in the marriage bond. In fact, we find God's creation of the first marriage in Genesis where God made a woman for the man to be his help mate. This is the foundational proto-marriage. It is the same marriage that Jesus quoted when the religious hypocrites tried to trick Him. Jesus quoted it as the marriage to define God's will. He said that what He joins together, no man, nor woman, should separate with the knife-cut of divorce. Paul the apostle pointed back to the first marriage too. He quotes the first marriage as the definitive statement of the design, function, and purpose, for marriage while adding more insight into it as a picture of Christ and the church. Marriage is God's institution. It reflects God's design for His Son and the people He saves. The roles are pre-established by God which means that the roles are not opened to experimentation and redefinition by feminist tainted minds, or any other humanist who is pushing their godless philosophies.
I want us to think about the fact that God's institution of marriage goes deeper than reading about its ordination at the beginning. Let's think about our New Covenant revelation of marriage as God's picture of Christ and the church. In our relationship, the bride of Christ, which is us the church, submits to Christ, who is the Groom. We do this out of respect for God and honor for the great Groom, don't we? When Paul used the illustration of a groom and bride for Christ and His church, Paul was alluding to the Israelite practice where the bride and the groom were betrothed in marriage for at least a year before the actual union ceremony. In the betrothal period, they were considered to be lawfully married because they were engaged in promise to one another. In the betrothal period of their marriage, they had not yet had sexual relationships with one another. The consummation union was to happen on the night of the wedding feast ceremony. It is when the groom would receive his bride while she was still a virgin. In the meantime, the groom used the time of their betrothal to prepare a place for he and his bride. The bride was also preparing herself to be presented to her groom. Consummation is where the bride and groom become one flesh in the sexual sense. The spiritual picture is that with Christ, and the saved elect, we become one spirit with Him,
"16 ... For He says, 'The two shall become one flesh.' 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him." 1 Corinthians 6:16
@1 Those who join to the Lord in salvation are one ________________ with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:16
In this union of Christ in us as our hope of glory, what God has joined together, no one will be able to separate, ever. It is a picture of being Once Saved In Eternal Spiritual Salvation (OSIESS). The point is that both physical marriage, and God's ordination that wives be submissive, come from God, according to His word, as a picture of the church's relationship to the Lord. It is not according to mere human invention, and can never be. A quick survey of New Testament teachings demonstrates that God's desire for wives to submit as the church submits to Christ for His sake, is something that is repeated over and over again. In looking at these things I think it is important for us to recognize that the Greek word hupotasso is used to signify the submission that Peter has been speaking of in his whole flow of teaching. It is the same word the Spirit uses over and over again for the same point--submission for the Lord's sake. In Colossians, Paul directs,
"18 Wives, be subject [Gk. hupotasso] to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord." Colossians 3:18
Notice the same Greek word. Also notice that the submission is for the Lord's sake, "in the Lord." In Ephesians we read,
"22 Wives, submit [Gk. hupotasso] to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject [Gk. hupotasso] to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. ... 33 ... the wife must see to it that she respects her husband." Ephesians 5:22-33
The Greek is consistent. Notice also that here again this submission is for the Lord's sake too. In Titus 2, we find that wives are urged to,
"... encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, submitting [Gk. hupotasso] to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." Titus 2:5
Same Greek word, and also the same thrust of not dishonoring the word of God which is for the Lord's sake. And here in our passage, we read,
"3 ... you wives, be submissive [Gk. hupotasso] to your own husbands ... 5 ... the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive [Gk. hupotasso] to their own husbands; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him master, and you have become her children if you do what is right ..." 1 Peter 2:22-23, & 3:1-6
@2 It is God's will that wives be ___________________ to their own husbands. 1 Peter 3:3
It is vital that we look at all these things from God's word. God's word is where we get our doctrine. Our doctrine will drive our actions, but our actions must align with God's revelation on the matter. God's word brings our actions into the proper arena of doing all for Christ's sake, including submission. Operating in marriage for Christ's sake, wives demonstrate what godly marriage is supposed to be in the holy nation of Christians. In this way, Christ's humbleness, gentleness, quiet spirit, and submission, is the model that wives are supposed to emulate in manifesting the fruits of the Spirit. We recognize that this particular fruit of the Spirit is clearly submission, right? But the Spirit is comprehensive here, as in all teaching on submission in the New Testament. This is where the key to our text comes in. Submission is ordained by God in suffering according to the great example for wives to follow. Remember what it is? It is the example of following in the steps of Christ. I want us to notice that Peter is not saying that women are submissive to all men simply because they are men. Peter is saying to submit to your own husbands (to your own man). This is your required responsibility as a wife. This leads to the next principle.
/2/
It has to do with a certain desired outcome that submissive wives are wanting to see achieved as they submit for the Lord's sake. It is
"... so that even if any of them [husbands] are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior." 1 Peter 3:1-2
@3 The ministry goal of wives manifesting the fruit of the Spirit of a gentle, and quite, spirit, is that the husband who is disobedient to the word, will be __________ by the preaching of her actions. 1 Peter 3:1-2
The principle here is that Christian wives submit to two kinds of husbands. The Christian wife must submit to her Christian husband. The Christian wife must submit to her non-Christian husband. Peter is writing that submission is required even to those kinds of husbands who are disobedient to the word of God. But you might be thinking:
"Hey wait a minute. I can understand that God wants Christian wives to submit to Christian husbands, but I don't think that God is talking about Christian wives needing to submit to non-Christian husbands too."
If you think that, then you are wrong. We know Peter is talking about submitting to non-Christians too because it reflects his point in his contextual flow; but there is more that gives evidence of this fact. What I mean is that being disobedient to "the word" is Peter's language for what the unsaved do. Notice the consistency: Speaking of those who were destined to reject the gospel,
"8 ... They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do." 1 Peter 2:8
Those who are disobedient to the word are those who are lost. Later, Peter explains that "the word" is made up of the good news--the gospel,
"17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the good news [gospel word] of God?" 1 Peter 4:17
This is what Peter means in our text. He is talking about the word of truth as the message of the Messiah. Peter has already written concerning earthly authorities, such as Kings, Governors, and police. He's touched on masters of slaves, including submission to those who are unreasonable. Now Peter is addressing the same sense of marriage where the wife has received Christ, and the husband has not. Though she may be unequally joined together with an unbeliever (which is made evident in the fact that the husband is disobedient to the word) she is still required to submit to him as the proper authority in the marriage. I want you to know that this has a very uncomfortable sounding ring to it for so many Christians for so many reasons in our day. This is why we absolutely must remember that this submission is primarily for the Lord's sake. Knowing this, we recognize that this kind of submission does not mean a wife must obey her husband if he wants her to sin. This kind of submission does not apply to the wife if her husband wants to stop her from doing the Lord's express will as is mandated by Scripture. This kind of submission does not apply to her if the husband is wanting to physically harm her which means he wants to be a law breaker. Her husband may be disobedient to the word, but God says here in our passage, that he wants the Christian wife to do what is right while not being frightened by any fear while married to a non-Christian. All Christians, including wives, must make every effort to manifest Christ by being obedient to God's word in all situations. The point is that the submission is for the Lord's sake.
There is also a desired outcome. It is the ministry goal of the wife's actions. I like to call it "the mission of submission." The husband may be disobedient to the word of the gospel, so the word is already something that he has come in contact with. He has heard the good news, but he has rejected it. Instead of harping at the husband in a relentless manner, the sense is that she is to continue to show her husband the good news, but she does it in her actions; She does it while trusting the Holy Spirit to do His work. She is to literally be "good news" as she lives the life of Christ in manifesting the fruits of the Spirit to her husband. This means, in a sense, to relentlessly speak Christ to her husband through her Christian behavior. Now I want us to think about this, because the Spirit is indicating that there is a desired goal to all of this. The desired goal, for what she is doing, is to allow the Holy Spirit to win over her husband by using her to demonstrate that Christianity is not a religion of rebellion, and disrespect; But rather, it is the life changing, life giving, good news that it really is. Peter is not saying that the mission of submission guarantees that the unbelieving husband will be won over to Christ. Peter is talking about purpose, not promise. To be won over, in the effectual sense of the miracle process of salvation, is a work of God where God does the winning of the elect. We may be tools in God's hands in this process, but that is where our part ends. Peter is saying, though, that this is part of God's purpose for Christian wives to submit to men who are still spiritually dead. In the same way that all of us Christians are to preach through our actions among the lost world culture with the purpose of hope that the world will see Christ manifested out of us, and He will use us to draw them to Himself, wives are to view their marriage mission field the same way.
Then there is the Christian husband. There is a comprehensive principle here. There are Christian husbands who are disobedient to the word by not manifesting the love that Christ has shed abroad in their hearts like they should be doing. Maybe the Christian husband has been viewing pornography, and because of the influence of the distorted erotic images of the world, he brings those perverted experiences into his own marriage bed in his mind, actions, and demands. Maybe the Christian husband is fellowshipping with people that the wife disapproves of because she sees that he has succumbed to their mind controlling influences, and false teachings. Maybe the Christian husband uses some distorted doctrinal view to drive his actions toward his wife, and so he seeks to justify a kind of dominating, oppressive, behavior that he thinks he does not need to be accountable for. I know of a Christian marriage where the wife is using all of these excuses to divorce what God has joined together. She accuses her husband of lack of love, and lack of grace, which may be true; but the irony is that she shows neither love, nor grace, in her divorce actions that express the contempt that renders the love of Christ meaningless. In her own sin, instead of submitting to God by submitting to her husband that she perceives to be disobedient to the word, she has sought to redefine God's will for her, which will bring grave, damaging, and far reaching, consequences. Make no mistake about it: Divorce is one of the greatest manifestations of hatred, and contempt, that there is. Even if a wife thinks that she has been, or is being, physically endangered, then there are other ways to deal with the perverted husband, like for example appealing to the authorities over him whether it be church authorities, the police, or other means. There are laws against physical abuse, and God has told us to obey the authorities. If a husband is a law breaker by hurting the weaker vessel that God has entrusted him with, and he has cleverly set up his wife so that she has not been able to have any other recourse, then he reaps what he sows as she obeys God and holds him accountable to the human institutions for his sinful actions toward her as per 1 Peter 2:13-20, and Romans 13:1-6. The point is that divorce is not an option. Seperating from the danger for help may be necessary (See Footnote 1 Below). On the other hand, whether it is the pursuit of seeing a Christian husband obey the word, or if it is winning over an unsaved husband, the pursuit hinges on what the husband sees coming out of his wife.
Is he seeing the fruits of the Spirit that follow the example of Christ?
Or
Does he see the fruits of the flesh?
The Spirit is indicating that the manifestation that preaches volumes from a wife to a husband who is disobedient to the word is chaste and respectful behavior.
a) First there is chaste behavior: What does that mean anyway?--"chaste behavior." Chaste behavior means pure behavior. In our day of dulled wisdom, where foolishness in this department reigns in the church in a crippling way, it is necessary to consider this in many of its facets. Clearly, we can understand that pure behavior is the kind of behavior where a wife is sexually faithful to her husband, right? But there is a bit more to this. Pure, chaste, behavior, is the kind of behavior that is not meant to incite sexual lust in others who are not the husband of the wife. For example, an impure way of dressing is a costume that is meant to make someone sexually attractive to others to incite desire. Impure actions are when a wife flirts with others to gain their attentive favor like she is seeking to lure their heart toward romantic attraction. Impure behavior can also be impure talk, and language. Pure behavior, on the other hand, is chaste behavior that seeks upward call living in manifesting love for God and love and faithfulness to your husband in Christlike honor of both. It is where you manifest the New Covenant law of Christ of the Spirit (which is the "complete law") in an exemplary manner which is New Covenant Supernomianism. This is what the husband needs to see and experience.
b) Then there is "respectful" behavior. Respectful behavior means to have reverential behavior. The unsaved husband sees that kind of honor, and it tells him that Christianity is not a religion that convinces wives to disrespect him. He is going to see his wife walking in the footsteps of Christ. He is going to see that she treats her husband like he is the authority in the marriage that he really is, for Her Lord's sake. This purity and honor, as respect, is a very important marriage ministry of wives that is accomplished for the Lord's sake.
/3/
This leads to the next principle The ministry job of wives in their marriage where they glorify God, and show what their husband needs to see in their ministry to him, is to express the life changing inward dwelling Spirit, outwardly to their husband,
"3 Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." 1 Peter 3:3-4
Let me quickly get a point out that Peter is not saying for wives to quit braiding their hair. He is not saying that braiding hair is wrong. Peter is not telling wives to quit wearing gold Jewelry, or that wearing gold jewelry is wrong. Peter is not saying that wives should quit wearing dresses, or that wearing dresses is wrong. There are some Christians who think that Peter is saying that braiding hair and wearing gold jewelry is something that Peter is teaching against here, though they conveniently, and cleverly, skip over the wearing dresses part. The point is that they are wrong. Peter is no more teaching against wearing braids or wearing jewelry than he is preaching against wearing dresses. What Peter means is really quite simple. Peter is saying that:
All adornment of the body in any manner that involves pretty decorative accenting of yourself to your husband so that you will be attractive to him, is not nearly as attractive as the inward beauty of the inner person of the heart that comes from the Spirit Who lives in the heart of all Christians.
God wants wives to bring out the manifestation of Christ's life for their husband to experience on a moment to moment basis. Braided hair, wearing jewelry, and wearing dresses, are all things that anyone can do--even the most obnoxious and vile people. This is the point. All those things are coverings and decorations. None of them are inward. They are not part of your changed heart. Outward things are only little specks of glitter that can never cover what is ugly to a husband, which is an unsubmissive, coarse, wife.
Notice that Peter goes beyond what is precious in the sight of the husband, and he takes it to the highest court of arbitration. He take it to what is precious in the sight of God. What is precious in the sight of God is what God wants you to consider to be the precious things to wear to attract your husband. What is precious in the sight of God? The Spirit says that it is the high-quality attributes of
a) a gentle
and
b) a quiet, spirit.
It is vital that we recognize that these are fruits of the Holy Spirit,
"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," Galatians 5:22
I want you to know that I have done a lot of marriage counseling over the years. Some of the time, I will find that a lot of the problem has to do with the husband. Some of the time, I will find that the problems have to do with both the husband and the wife. There are other times that I will find that the problems have to do with the wife. Many of the times I will find that the wife has decided that it is okay to not manifest the qualities of a gentle and quiet spirit to her husband like God has prescribed in His word. In respect to this, I have seen some wives who have become the reason for the marriage problems, or, at least, part of the problem. I have also seen wives do this because they have become reactionary. What I mean is that they develop a humanistic tactic that they believe is the survival mode that is supposed to be the best route to take. Unfortunately, it only makes things worse. What they do is become non-peaceful in their approach to their husband. Their manner becomes coarse instead of quiet. They do not manifest the attributes of a gentle and quiet spirit like God clearly told them that they need to do. The question, then, is:
What does this mean in respect to a husband, whether saved, or unsaved, who is the primary reason for marriage problems?
What this means is that if the wife does not manifest the fruits of the spirit according to the word of God, then she shares responsibility for the problem of not being the minister that God wants her to be to her spouse. Every Christian wife is completely responsible, for the Lord's sake, to do what she is told to do by the Lord no matter what her husband is doing. This is not philosophy. This is God's word. The husband may be disobedient to God and His word, but you, wife, are not to be. But, this fact does not let all of us husbands off the hook of our responsibility before God concerning our own actions, our own manifestations of the Spirit, and the state of our marriages. Husbands will get their teaching in a moment in Peter's flow of his points. But at this point, Peter is directed by the Spirit to talk to Christian wives. The character quality that God wants to see shine forth from godly wives is gentleness, and quietness, that demonstrates honor, and submission, that is so impressive that it causes the husband to realize that it comes from someplace else. It comes the miracle work within that brings fear, honor, and delight in the Lord who finds all these things to be precious in His sight. But you might say,
"Yeah, but I know of a wife who does this and the husband just walks all over her like he doesn't seem to care."
Some of you wives may be saying,
"Exactly--this is the way it is in our marriage."
The answer to that is, But what does God say needs to be done with the goal to try and win your husband? What does God say is precious in His sight? Godly wives are told to do, what are first and foremost, the precious things in the sight of God. In other words, you are doing all of this for God in doing this for your husband. You say,
"But my husband is not taking up proper spiritual leadership in our home."
"But my husband is not even saved."
"But my husband does not treat me with love."
Yes, your husband has his responsibility before God, and you may be experiencing his sinfulness and foolishness as his wife. But, you have your responsibility too, and you do not get your marching orders from secular talk shows, disgruntled friends, or the lost world culture's perceived answers to its perceived problems. Your responsibility is to God in obeying Him as a missionary in your marriage, which means your responsibility extends to your husband in respect to what is precious in the sight of God for the Lord's sake.
/4/
This leads to the fourth principle. It is the actual example of godly women that God gives Christian wives to emulate.
"5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear." 1 Peter 3:5-6
@4 The Holy women of God are the example of adorning with a gentle and quiet spirit in being submissive to husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him __________________. 1 Peter 3:5-6
This is a beautiful patterned progression of God's enduring truth throughout history. What I mean is that the actual women of God in the ancient past, before the time of Peter and the emerged church, were emulating what is precious in the sight of God. Then, God records their role relationship actions in the Old Testament as what He wants New Covenant women to emulate. They were holy women, which means that they were set apart to God. Now, in our day, we are guided by both the ancient holy women before the time of Peter, and also Peter's instruction to the Christian woman who are dispersed across the land. This is how the Holy Spirit teaches us all of this. We look through the New Testament lens to interpret the Old Testament for us, because that is what God is wanting here. In doing so, we get the unmistakable revelation from Peter on how wives are supposed to act in the church in our day among the culture around us. This continuous thread, that goes unbroken through history (according to revelation), is the thread that manifests the relationship of the church in respect to Christ. Peter's main point is that submission is the beautiful adornment of godly women throughout all time. Submission is that attribute that the so called modern feminist women hate. The lost world culture teaches and glorifies modern feminism tainted women who are the exact opposite of the illustrations that God approves of. It is a shame that many contemporary Christian women in the church today have quit following God's teachings on how He wants them to be; and instead, they have sought to emulate the ungodly women of the lost world culture. But God says to act as the holy woman of the past who hoped in God. This is the timeless culture that God refers to. So, how did those women act that is so different than the so called liberated woman of today? If this way is important to God, then we need to become very familiar with it, don't we? Make a note of what they did:
They adorned themselves with respect for their husband, in submission, while expressing the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit.
That right there is some of the greatest marriage advice for any woman planning to be a wife. It is one of the greatest marriage lessons for any Christian wife. It doesn't take a whole lot to memorize. Here is what God wants from Christian wives: Adorn yourself like the women He showcases--like a woman who has respect for her husband in submission, while expressing the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit. This is the precious quality that God is looking for. You may think that there is no other hope in your world. You may have even given up on hope of winning your husband; but when you hope in God, you are doing what it takes to go on to serve Him in your marriage for Christ's sake. Notice that the specific example that God gives, is Sarah, Abraham's wife. Sarah hoped in God. What else did Sarah do that made her sparkle like a priceless treasure of the Lord? She obeyed Abraham, calling him "master." This is what the bride of Christ calls Jesus. We call Him "Lord." It is the Greek word kurios, which means both lord and master. God wants all Christian wives to become Sarah's daughters. He wants you to follow her example of godliness in respecting, and submitting, to your husband too. This even includes the example of Sarah calling her husband her master. You will never learn this principle from a feminist disease infected culture. All the false heroines of our day won't do it. Unfortunately it is becoming rarer, and rarer, to find Christian woman who will teach this or practice it. But God says that to call your husband "master," is precious in God's sight. God is not interested in you learning this from the world all around you. God's example of the godly woman is that Sarah not only acted like her husband was her master, but she affirmed it by calling her husband by his role as her master. This is what Peter means here when he says to do what is right. Peter says you are Sarah's daughter if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. What Peter means is that a Christian wife should do what is right no matter what the husband who is disobedient to the word may do. Even if fear is there, she should not be frightened into acting differently than all that the Spirit has just laid out to be obeyed in regard to walking in the steps of Christ. I know that these things are not popular in our apostate age, but these things are what the Spirit is teaching us.
Lets recap what we have learned: The call to submission that the Lord has given through Peter has a foundational base. Peter points to it when he says to submit "in the same way." The "same way" is our key. I urge you to remember what it is,
"13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, ... 17 Honor all people ... fear God ... 21 Because you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, ..." 1 Peter 2:13 and 21
This is the foundation. I urge you to consider the second principle. It is the desired outcome that wives are looking for through manifesting the fruits of the Holy Spirit of submission, respect, and a gentle and quiet spirit. They are looking to their husbands to be won by their actions. It is where your actions are speaking louder than your words in such a way that your husband is actually listening; but he is listening to what you do--not what you say. Then there is the third principle. It is to show what is inside you by bringing it out and making it your decorations that your husband sees. It is more important than the things you are wearing on the outside to try and impress you husband. This is where the ministry to your mate means showing the inward dwelling Spirit, outwardly to your husband. These qualities are precious in the sight of God. And finally, remember the last principle. The actual examples that God gives Christian woman to emulate are real women with real stories that have really been recorded for you to see in God's word. They are holy women who hoped in God. They adorn themselves by being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. Remember that you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. Amen.
FOOTNOTE:
(1) Godly submission means all Christians, including wives, are to submit in all things that are not specifically sin, which would include not submitting to violent criminal assault of physical abuse. If a husband is trying to make his wife participate in sin, or if he is criminally abusing his wife by violently hurting her body in physical assault, then the wife needs to be able to go to another God ordained authority for intervention. According to the scriptures, God who is the highest authority who ordains all authorities, has ordained earthly governments to minister against the criminal activity of violence, Romans 13:1-5. God has also ordained elders in the church to be men who are ministers to oversee the saints in respect to sin problems. Pastors are meant to help minister to both the wife, and the husband, in these areas if they arise. The husband may not want His wife to go to another authority for intervention. The wife, in such cases, is not required to submit to the abusive husband who is requiring her to sin, or is being a sinful criminal in the way he is treating her. This is the example of Acts 5:27-29 and many other examples of godly men and women who suffer for doing what is right. As a pastor, I have seen some rare examples where non-submission was justified, but only because of sin:
{a}
There was a time when an unsaved husband wanted his wife to get involved with a sinful practice with him involving multiple sex partners. The wife came to me in distress because of what he wanted her to do. I told her to tell her husband that what he wanted to do was sin, and that God says that the wife is not to partake in the sin. Actually, I confronted the husband with this myself. Because it is a sin, she did not have to submit to him in that area.
{b}
I knew of a husband who wanted his pregnant wife to kill her baby in an abortion. She refused to submit to her husband's murderous desire because murdering unborn babies is sinful. Her husband threatened to leave, but she stood her ground by submitting to the Highest authority, and she was right to do so. She obeyed God rather than man.
{c}
I knew of a woman whose husband wanted her to tell lies on the witness stand in trial concerning a crime that he was accused of. She refused to lie because lying is a sin, and so she submitted to God.
{d}
Our church helped out a woman who fled another state because her husband had beat her so badly that he had broken bones all through her body. He almost killed her. Every time she would try to reconcile with him, he would later beat her to where she had to call the police. She finally fled. He kept demanding that she come back, but he was sinfully committing criminal actions against her. He was breaking the law of love, and he was breaking the law of the land. He was demanding that she submit to his sin. She was justified to get away from him while she continued to work with authorities to rescue their child from his custody.
I realize that these cases are rare, but they are real, and in such cases submitting to higher authorities above the authority of the sinning husband is justified.
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@1 Those who join to the Lord in salvation are one ________________ with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:16
@2 It is God's will that wives be ___________________ to their own husbands. 1 Peter 3:3
@3 The ministry goal of wives manifesting the fruit of the Spirit of a gentle, and quite, spirit, is that the husband who is disobedient to the word, will be __________ by the preaching of her actions. 1 Peter 3:1-2
@4 The Holy women of God are the example of adorning with a gentle and quiet spirit in being submissive to husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him __________________. 1 Peter 3:5-6
