Wives
1 Pet 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;
1 Pet 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
Likewise, we are to be servants, as Jesus served us and his Father even to death on the cross. Likewise, ye wives, be help meets and servants to YOUR OWN husbands. This is Peter's spiritual advice given to the wife to make for a more stable loving relationship with the husband. Husbands need the respect and approval of their wives. If the wife obeys God, then her husband, even a disobedient one, will by her good conduct be drawn to her and God in her.
A Christian wife is elevated above any other woman of the world. Look at the Islamic women, forced to be covered and in bondage. A woman who is mistreated should seek help from a Godly Christian Pastor and his wife, not alone. This is one reason we are to attend church, to have supportive relationships.
Peter continues to describe the qualities of a wife.
1 Pet 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
1 Pet 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.
No one wants to be around an adorned wife, if her heart is not submitted to God. A bitter heart and a sharp tongue bring grief to a husband.
Prov 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
A pretty woman and nice perfume with lovely clothing, these attract a man, yet, a woman with a meek and quiet spirit is a great comfort to her husband. If the others are missing, still the husband is blessed by a good companion. A wife with a sweet spirit is a great treasure.
Prov 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
1 Pet 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: 1 Pet 3:6 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.
I don't think "lord," is a term used today for respect of a husband. The NIV Bible uses the word master, how about chief, boss, cool one, my all in all, your the best? You can use any term you choose, but mean it from a heart of love. Be sure, you will be loved in return. A Christian husband loves his wife and children.
Unhindered Prayers
1 Pet 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.
Now husbands, dwell with your wife according to knowledge. Now that is not an easy thing for a man. Who can understand the mind of a woman? Who indeed? the Lord knows all things. What you do not understand, ask of the Lord and receive by grace. All we do is by his grace.
Peter gives a couple of hints; the wife is a weaker vessel. How do you treat a delicate glass vessel? With care and respect; should not the wife be much more precious?
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Peter continues saying honor your wife, being heirs together of the grace of life. Together you live and if both are saved both have eternal life. Now an important reason is given: "that your prayers be not hindered." This may be the cause of much marital discord: the lack of respect one for another. God will not hear your prayers.
1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 Pet 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 Pet 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
As our Lord was one with the Father, we are to be one in Christ and of one heart. Be compassionate, caring, polite. In a family we are not to fight, accuse or exchange harsh words. We are children of the God of love and peace, so let his grace fill your hearts and homes. Live as examples of God's family, the family is important. Always go to bed with forgiveness and kind words so your prayers will reach God and he will bless you.
The eyes of the Lord
1 Pet 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:
The secret to a long life is to keep from speaking and doing evil, to love and be loved in return.
1 Pet 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
1 Pet 3:12 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.
Do we not want to please God who sees all and knows all?
Let us see the eyes of the Lord, as he is shown throughout the Bible.
He gave grace to Noah saving he and his family.
Gen 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
A new promised land, both on earth and in heaven.
Deu 11:11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:
Deu 11:12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.
Deu 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
King Asa, was favored : the homosexuals were removed from his land, these were male temple prostitutes, they were a curse to a society in sin. The idols also were removed.The idols of lust and pleasure and the sacrifice of the children to Molech.
1 Ki 15:11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.
1 Ki 15:12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
Tree worship is idol worship. We should not hug trees, they are for beauty and for wood to build and make fires.
2 Chr 14:2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
2 Chr 14:3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
God searches the earth, looking for those he may bless, that wish to do well.
2 Chr 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
What if a nation does evil in his sight? Here is the rest of the story;
Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Relationships are important to God. Families need to love one another, respect one another. From the family comes the church family. If we do not get along our prayers will be hindered. A strong family and a strong church will be the light to a sin darkened world. God will bless those who seek him and show the character of Jesus. Never are we to show the evil ways of the flesh and the devil. It is possible to be as Jesus, for it is commanded to be holy as he is holy. If we are connected, we shall be able by his power in us to be as he is.
Be Ready to Witness
1 Pet 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
Only satan and his followers will harm a good person. They battle in the spirit and in the flesh against God and his people, but they are loosers.
1 Pet 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
Oh we should be wise and careful, but not afraid. We should not be troubled in our hearts. Remember the eyes of God search the earth to bless those who seek him and walk in truth. Also, he will turn from those who do iniquity.
2 Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2 Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2 Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2 Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
1 Pet 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 separated in your heart to the Holy Lord God, and be ready to share your hope with all people. For apart from Jesus is no hope and eternal damnation. We are the vessels to be used to reach the lost.
1 Pet 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.
Being without sin in our lives, we are known and seen as being different and separated from the world. They may mock you and try to pull you down, but if you live for God they will have no truth to accuse you of doing wrong.
1 Pet 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
We may suffer as Jesus suffered, but not for wrong doing. If we do wrong, there is no glory in suffering, for we are reaping the results of wrong doing. Be above the accusatioins of the devil. Live lives pure and holy unto the Lord, reach out to the lost with the light of the gospel truth. Jesus has shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins. redeem the time, for the harvest is ripe. Who will go out into the fields?
Quickened by the Spirit
1 Pet 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:
Jesus suffered at the hands of unbelief, the just for the unjust, he suffered for our sin and shame. His flesh was put to death and he was risen by the Holy Spirit. We have this same life giving spirit, when we belong to Jesus.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
1 Pet 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Where were the spirits in prison? Let us look again at Isaiah's prophecy concerning the work of the Messiah.
Isa 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
The spirits in prison are the spirit's of people bound by satan. He ruled until Jesus came to return the authority back to those who dwell in Christ. Has satan bound you? Has he that right as a child of God? Are we believing his accusations and being held captive? If so break loose, there is no power on earth that is greater then Jesus Christ, and you abide in him.
There were other departed souls waiting from history who departed believing in the promises of God. These Jesus reached with the good news by his Spirit. For in truth they are not counted as dead, but alive.
Luke 20:37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Luke 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
God's spirit in Jesus witnessed to the departed believer's who were waiting for the promised Messiah. Some even were raised, yet some remain until Christ comes again.
The witness of Matthews gospel;
Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
The remaining saints "sleeping" shall be raised at his second coming in the air.
1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The death and resurrection of Jesus released the life giving power of God to those who believe in his son, Jesus. The dead were raised, the saints were encouraged. We all have hope of eternal life, because Jesus was obedient even to the suffering on the cross for you and I.
Phil 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Phil 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Phil 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus Christ is Lord!
Baptism
1 Pet 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.
Jesus also preached to the spirits held captive in hell. In the time of Noah many were demon possessed. There is a verse which refers to Jesus leading captivity captive.
Psa 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
This is as a conquered army being paraded before the people in triumph. Jesus has triumphed over the devil and his fallen spirits. He has led captivity captive.
Eight souls were saved by water in the time of Noah. This is symbolic of water baptism.
1 Pet 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:
Peter is quick to clarify, that it is not just cleansing by the waters of baptism, but it is of God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not the burial in the watery grave, but the rising in new life by the Holy Ghost baptism as Jesus arose from the grave in new life.
1 Pet 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Jesus has risen to the right hand of God the father; above all powers. The Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords.
In his love, Gary
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