How To Influence Your

SpouseI Peter 3:1-7

March 10, 2013

1 Peter 3:1–7 (NRSV)

Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.  Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing…

…rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.  It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by accepting the authority of their husbands. Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.

Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.

Submission is the counterweight to our citizenship in heaven

Why should we all submit?

A.Because God is interested in influence over fairness

B.Because God is interested in mission over comfort

“The reader who does not understand Peter’s intent and his instruction to slaves, wives and husbands, will not understand the message of I Peter.

Within this passage Peter grounds his ethical teaching on the Christian life

rightly lived after the example of Christ’s suffering. How short-sighted it

is to use this passage as if it were a marriage manual simply addressing the

relationship between husbands and wives. And how ironic it is that the

words that 1st century slaves and wives would have read as affirming and

empowering are criticized today as being enslaving and oppressive.”

“When read within its original historic setting, these verses

become a call to social transformation as a mission within

their Christian community, allowing it to become an

alternative society based on God’s redemptive plan.”

Why should we all submit?

A.Because God is interested in influence over fairness

B.Because God is interested in mission over comfort

C.Because God is interested in His glory over your glory

“The love of God is not making much of us, but God’s saving us from self-centeredness so that we can enjoy

making much of Him forever. We are all bent to believe that we are central in the universe. It is a

mistake to say, ‘Well, if the aim was to rescue us, then we were the

ultimate goal of the cross.’ No, we were rescued from sin in order that we might see and savor the glory of

God. This is the ultimately loving aim of Christ’s death. He did not die to make much of us, but to free us to

enjoy making much of God forever.”John Piper

God is interested in whatever makes Him look good, because Him looking good is the only hope for

mankind.

Submission means exchanging fairness, comfort

and our way, for influence, mission and God’s glory.

3 ways to “do” marriage:

1. Non-Christian equality (egalitarianism)

2. Christian egalitarianism3. Christian

complimentarianism

Authority of God: Matthew 28, Romans 13, Ephesians 1Authority of husbands: Colossians 3, Ephesians 5, I Peter 3, Ephesians 6Submission of wives: Colossians 3, I Timothy 2, I Corinthians 13, Titus 2, I Timothy 5, I Peter 3

1 Peter 3:1 (NRSV)

Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands…

Hoopotasso = Submit, Come Under

I. The Deepest Foundation for Christian Womanhood: Hope in God1 Peter 3:5 (NRSV) It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by accepting the authority of their husbands.

Proverbs 31:25 (NRSV)

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

I. The Deepest Foundation for Christian Womanhood: Hope in God

II.The Biggest Enemy of Christian Womanhood: Fear

1 Peter 3:6 (NRSV)

Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.

I. The Deepest Foundation for Christian Womanhood: Hope in God

II.The Biggest Enemy of Christian Womanhood: Fear

III. The Clearest Motivation for Christian Womanhood: Internal Adornment

1 Peter 3:3–4 (NRSV)

Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.

Proverbs 11:22 (NRSV)

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without good sense.

Proverbs 31:26 (NRSV)

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

What Submission is NOT:1) Does not mean agreeing with

everything your husband says and does

2) Does not mean leaving your brain and will at the wedding altar

3) Does not mean NOT trying to influence her husband

4) Does not mean putting the will of the husband before the will of Christ

5) Does not mean that she gets her personal, spiritual strength through her husband

What Submission IS:

1 Peter 3:7 (NRSV)

Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman…