December 11, 2011
Morning Service

I Peter 3

 

Review:

            In chapter two Peter encourages these Christians which were scattered into Turkey to:

1.     As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word.

2.     To offer up spiritual sacrifices.

3.     To abstain from fleshly lusts.

4.     To be submissive to the government.

5.     To be submissive in the work place.

 

            Let’s begin with chapter three:

 

1Pe 3:1-22 KJVR  Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands;

• Paul teaches the same thing on this matter.  I Cor. 11:3-9;  Eph. 5:22.
• Many would argue that this teaching is outdated.  That their customs were different than ours.  They lived in another country.  So on and so forth.
• But what we have to remember is that they lived this way because God instructed them too. 
• This is the very simple order that God wants us to know:  1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
• Husbands, step up, and lead your family into the closest walk with God that you can.  Doing it in the Spirit of love, and care, with tenderness, and consideration.

 

Let’s see why Peter says this:

that, if any obey not the word, ( meaning husbands) they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 

• Conversation means way of life.  The way you live every day.  NOW NOTICE.

(2)  While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 

• While the husband watches how the wife lives every day in his presence.  Keeping herself in perfect harmony with the Word.  Being in subjection to her husband with Godly fear.

(3)  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 

• Who among us can’t understand what Peter is teaching us? 

 

HERE IS WHAT HE IS AFTER IN OUR LIVES:

(4)  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.  (5)  For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:  (6)  Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 

• Gal 5:22-23 KJVR  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance:

 

NOW FOR THE HUSBANDS:

(7)  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 

• Husbands, if you feel your prayers aren’t making it to the throne, you might try being a little kinder to your wife.

(8)  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:  (9)  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 

• As we can see, it’s a matter of allowing the Spirit of Christ, which is in us, to show forth in our lives.
• Do our best to be Christ like.

 

(10)  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  (11)  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.  (12)  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 

• Peter is quoting Scripture from Psa. 34:12-16;

(13)  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?  (14)  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 

• This is the way it should be, but we know that there are those in the world that will do their best to knock you down.  Example after example of people in the Bible that suffered wrongly.

BUT PETER’S ANSWER:

(15)  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 

• Again we can see how that we are taught to strive for a meek spirit, and to show forth the fear of the Lord.

(16)  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.  (17)  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 

• Paul said;  2Ti 3:12 KJVR  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
• As long as you are trying to serve God, the world is going to persecute you.  One way they will do this is to talk about you, and cut you down.  Why?  Because you are not perfect, and the world loves to bring your faults, and hang-ups to your, and everyone else’s attention.
• This why Peter says, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.”   You get knocked down, get up, and keep going.  No one else has the words of eternal life. 
• And Peter is saying that eventually your persistence, and faithfulness will silence your mockers.

NOW NOTICE:

(18)  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:  (19)  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;  (20)  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 

• We look back at chapter 1:11;  1Pe 1:10-11 KJVR  Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:  (11)  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

• The idea here being, that Noah, being a preacher of righteousness, preached the message that God was going to destroy the world by water.  Just as Peter explains the prophecies of old were done by the Spirit of God, he is saying that Noah preached by this same Spirit.  The Spirit of God.
• He is using the term ( in prison ) because they died not accepting the preaching of Noah.

NOW NOTICE:

(21)  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:  (22)  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

• Why does being baptized give us a good conscience toward God? 
• The simple answer is that it is taught very clearly in the Bible that this is in the plan of salvation.  Example, after example. 
• And Jesus in on the right hand of God, sitting in the seat of authority, over everyone, and everything.

 

PETER COVERED A LOT OF TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER.  MAY GOD ADD HIS BLESSINGS ON HIS WORD.