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1 Peter 3

Led to be a Marvelous Light by a Merciful God
(Light and Darkness)

 

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15 -17

18 -19

20 -22

Marvelous Light of a Marriage

Outstretched Love

Marvelous Light of Psalm 34

Dark Against Light

 Vessels of Light

Victories of Christ

Our Victories in Christ


  Marvelous Light of a Marriage

Instruction and Exhortation to Wives

VS 1-6  (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.

Instruction and Exhortation to Husbands

VS 7  (7)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Wives:
In the same way that Jesus was submissive to earthly authorities while in all things entrusting his heavenly shepherd
(2 Peter 2:21-23).
(22)
Wives, be subject 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 to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Eph 5:22-24  [Paul confirms that the headship of Adam carries on in the church with the husband being the head of the wife]

 

To Husbands:
In the same way that Jesus was an example of meeting the needs of His Body.

(
25)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, (26)so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (27)that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. (28)So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; (29)for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, (30)because we are members of His body. Eph 5: 25-30  [Husbands are doubly accountable to honor and care for their wife, first because of the natural order of creation---Eve being created as the weaker vessel helpmate---and secondly because his wife is a member of the Body of Christ]

 

"...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"

(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"

Q. Why does Peter include the example of Sarah?
It shows that God's order of the authority of the male in his creation of "man" is consistent through his people from Adam and Eve to the church---Sarah living after Adam but before the Church.

In so doing her submission is ultimately to God in whom she hopes, as a stranger on the way to her heavenly home with heavenly rewards.

Women can be confident that such submission puts them in the Lord's will as long as they remain faithful unlike Sarah who became "frightened by fear".

 


  Outstretched Love

VERSE 8 - 9  (8)To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing


Marvelous Light of Psalm 34

VERSE 10-12  (10) For, "THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT. (11)HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. (12)FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL."
Peter quotes Psalm 34 so we know that fearing God has always been the key to deliverance and refuge. There is nothing new...yet it is new (1John 2:7-8) because now Christ is specifically the one in whom we are righteous and have refuge.


 Dark Against Light

VERSE 13-15   (13)Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? (14)But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,(15)but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.


 Vessels of Light

 

VERSE 15 -17  always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;  and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame (17)For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.


Victories of Jesus

VERSE 18-19 (18) For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (19) in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, (20) who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah

Salvation = victories of Jesus Christ in us

 


Our victories in Christ

VERSE 20-22  (20) ...during the construction of the ark in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. (21)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (22)who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Q. Why is this passage about Noah's Ark and baptism here?
Having recounted the victories of Jesus in the previous passage, Peter now illustrates how His victories become our victories through the pictures of Noah's Ark and believer's baptism---both are symbols of a believer's union with the death and resurrection of Christ.