Today will test our character, are we doing the “Will” of God, or are we being prideful. Speaking to both husbands and wives. 1Pet.3 and verse 1 reads.
1Pet.3:1] Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
Here we go, wives, are you willing to be under your husband so long as he is in the word of God? Before you answer no, did you catch that he must be in the Word of God? You husbands, did you catch that you must be in the Word of God to be acceptable to lead your wife? Because if you are not, then the responsibility falls on the wife to lead her husband. Now, wives need to listen for a moment, the man is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. This would be his example of being in the Word of God, let’s go to 1Cor.7 and read 14-15.
1Cor.7:14] For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
[15] But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
Back to 1Pet.3 and verse 2 reads.
1Pet.3:2] While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with 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;
But let these be done mindfully and modestly. Check out Isa.3:17-24 if the women don’t think it matters to God.
1Pet.3:4] 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.
Let it be for your soul, for your spirit, and let the Lord see it in your hearts. The Lord will see and he will bless you. Mat.5, “Blessed are the meek and the humble”.
1Pet.3:5] 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 Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
For the wives, adorned by their husbands. The marriage is sanctified by the love of both.
1Pet.3:7] Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Paul taught this in Ephesians 5:21-26 and it reads.
Eph.5:21] Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Both are to submit one to another.
Eph.5:22] Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
[23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Do this as unto the Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our Savior.
Eph.5:24] Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Now husbands pay close attention here.
Eph.5:25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
[26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Can you see how much Christ loved the church? Did he not give his life for it? Cleansed by the Word of God, Jesus Christ. So, husbands, you are the bishop of your home, stay in the Word of God and lead your families in the word or you are not pleasing to the Father. Back to 1Pet.3 and verse 8 reads.
1Pet.3:8] 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.
All should be good examples to their communities, Christ like in all ways. We are called, chosen from the foundation of this earth. Meaning from the first earth age because we fought for him there, and we will stand with the gospel armor on now, and we will fight for the LORD.
1Pet.3:10] 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.
Let’s go to Job, when God has a conversation with Satan. Job 1:6-10 and it reads.
Job 1:6] Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
[7] And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Satan was given in this earth age (the second) freedom to walk among the people. Satan was not born of the flesh, but that he could walk among us and he did.
Job.1:8] And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Loves and reveres the Lord and hates evil.
Job 1:9] Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
[10] Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
This is our example for the elect today. God has a hedge around us and all that we have. Think about that for a moment. These are our blessings for loving the Lord and for being a doer of his commandments. Back to 1Pet.3 and verse 13 reads.
1Pet.3:13] And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
Let’s go to Proverbs and read 16:7.
Prov.16:7] When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Back to 1Pet.3 and verse 14 reads.
1Pet.3:14] But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
It is written that we should suffer for Christ’s sake. Don’t let it bother you; this means you’re doing it right.
1Pet.3:15] 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:
Be ready to plant those seeds for Christ, be humble and do it with love.
1Pet.3:16] 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.
Don’t overlook that they will falsely accuse you. In the end, they will be ashamed.
1Pet.3:17] For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Always praying for God’s will be done and not our own will.
1Pet.3:18] 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;
Here is an interesting statement. Jesus, after he was crucified, went to the spirits in prison. He is talking about those on the other side of the gulf, those that did not make it. Find time to read about the rich man and Lazareth. Luke 16:19-31. But, don’t overlook that he is risen from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1Pet.3:20] 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.
Speaking of which, only eight Adamic people were saved. The only one’s not polluted by the fallen angels were Noah and his wife, his three children and their wives. Noah also brought onto the Ark two of every flesh, all races from the sixth day creation.
1Pet.3:21] 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.
Verse 21 explains how the baptism is connected to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Comparing the Ark of Noah to the baptism, and why Christ went to those in prison. For you see, those that died before Christ was crucified had only the law to save them. And we know that law cannot save, but not only Jesus’s blood on the cross gives us Salvation, but that he was resurrected and sits on the right hand of God. For you see, the power is in the right hand of God for forgiveness of our sins and that power is Jesus Christ. Now pertaining to baptism, when we go under the water it is symbolic of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. And coming out of the water is symbolic of his resurrection. Now, some argue that it should be done in the name of Jesus, while others argue that it should be done in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I would do the latter, but in all fairness, isn’t saying Jesus the same. Jesus means Yah’s Savior and Christ is the Anointed One, the Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us. Kind of silly to argue about little things, but churches today seem to be a little silly to me anyways. Keep in the Word of God and study to show thyself approved. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible