August 26, 2018pm Ne w Hope R oad Joelton, TN 37080

Transcription

1 1 Peter 3:7 Heirs Together August 26, 2018pm Ne w Hope R oad Joelton, TN READ 1 Peter 3:1-7 The last few verses that Peter has dealt with in 1 Peter has been in reference to our relationships. He started out in chapter 2 by talking to us about our relationship with Jesus (the Living Stone). Then he moves onto a Christian s relationship to the world: your government and employer, but then he moves into our homes. Isn t if fitting that the only apostle that we know was married should write about a husband and wife relationship? We assume the all of the others were, but we know Peter was. He knew the value of a home working together for the Kingdom. I assume also that he knew the dangers that weak/broken homes would prove for the furtherance of the Gospel. The home is where hypocrisy dies. You kick your shoes off, remove the mask, and you are who you really are at home. You may seem like a spiritual giant at church. You might be able to keep up the facade in front of the boss; you may be able to fool your neighbors, but the home is where hypocrisy dies. Your wife knows you your kids know you. I have always said that teenagers are some of the best hypocrite detectors in the world. By and large, they can tell who is faking it and who is legit. Corey M. Minter Page 1 of 9

2 How important it is, then, that Peter deals with our homes. It is the seat of how we interact with the world. Rebellion against God? Check the home. Disrespect for government? Evaluate the home. Irresponsible on the job? Go to the home. That does not negate the personal, free will of our children. Some will choose to live against 1 Peter in spite of sincere faith lived out at home, but it is rare that a child raised in a house of hypocrites will acquire genuine faith in Christ. Someone mentioned a few weeks ago after I preached from 1 Peter 1:1-6 that Peter wrote six verses to wives and only one verse husbands. They said, I guess men did not need much correcting, huh? Nah I m pretty sure that Peter just wrote based upon attention span It does seem kind of unfair, though, doesn t it? I mean, in that first paragraph of 1 Peter 3, the Spirit directs wives to (1) consider their conduct, (2) focus on inner beauty and (3) remember a timeless example Sarah, calling Abraham lord. By the time that Peter gets to husbands all he says is 7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them Live with them?! OK Peter No, seriously, if I had to give you my educated guess I would say that Peter is writing to a specific need within the local church that he is addressing. If you remember, in verse 1, Peter is speaking directly to women whose husbands are not Christian. 1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives. Corey M. Minter Page 2 of 9

3 Later, he addresses all Christian wives of all husbands, saved or unsaved. So, that s my guess as to why Peter spends more time on how the wives ought to conduct themselves: because he deals with unsaved marriage relationships and then wives. But why doesn t Peter deal with the unbelieving wife and the believing husband? I ll go ahead and warn you how absolutely politically incorrect this next statement is going to be. I recently read a fascinating article that shows the importance of a father who faithfully attends church. The poll was a European one, the article written by a vicar in the Church of England, and it only deals with church attendance and not decisions made, but Robbie Low writes: In short, if a father does not go to church, no matter how faithful his wife s devotions, only one child in 50 will become a regular worshipper. If a father does go regularly, regardless of the practice of the mother, between two-thirds and three-quarters of their children will become churchgoers (regular and irregular). If a father goes but irregularly to church, regardless of his wife s devotion, between a half and two-thirds of their offspring will find themselves coming to church regularly or occasionally. 1 Fathers/husbands are incredibly important in the spiritual development of their children. That is not to say that the mother/wife is not, but there is a beautiful phrase that follows several accounts of men deciding to follow Jesus, And his household. Whether it is said of 1 Corey M. Minter Page 3 of 9

4 Cornelius or the Philippian jailor, it was common practice that the religion of the husband/father would quickly spread throughout the home. That does not mean that there was no believing husbands with unbelieving wives in the church, but I think we can agree that their numbers were much smaller, and therefore, Peter does not draft them into this epistle. But what s up with that verse 7? Husbands, live with your wives No you know that s not all that it says. 7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. It says a lot more. Doesn t it? But I hope you took my advice and that you start circling or underling the verbs in your Bible. The verbs drive the message, and in this verse/paragraph, there is only one verb: DWELL. This is not a gotta live with it mentality Just gotta live with her. No, its a word that denotes intimacy (sunoikountes). Listen to some ways derivatives of that word are used throughout the New Testament: to converse together, to build together, to go on a journey together. Pretty much every time it is mentioned it deals with cooperation for a common purpose. So let s break down this verse a little more and see how husbands are supposed to dwell with their wives. 1. Humbly Husbands, likewise, dwell You might have jumped over it pretty quickly, but there is a word that just keeps popping up in chapter three. It started off in Corey M. Minter Page 4 of 9

5 verse one, showing wives how they are to submit to their husbands, and it comes up again in verse seven in reminding husbands how to dwell with their wives: likewise. That word likewise points us to go further back to the earlier thought in chapter 2 that shows us how Christ suffered for us. 1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps Marriage is hard. Having a Godly marriage is NOT EASY. It involves a lot of equal submitting to the needs of the other, a lot of serving and even some suffering. There is absolutely no room for an ego-trip or power-trip. Christ served us by suffering and dying for us. We [husbands] ought to likewise dwell with our wives. 2. Lovingly Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding Macarthur writes that this Speaks of being sensitive and considering the wife s deepest physical and emotional needs. 2 Paul writes of this extensively when speaking to husbands in Ephesians 5: 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 2 MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 1 Peter p, 181 Corey M. Minter Page 5 of 9

6 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. I first met Voddie Baucham at Welch College several years ago when he preached at their annual Bible conference. Since then, I have enjoyed reading his books dealing especially with family ministry and following his sermons. He speaks of the husband loving his wife in a way that only he can. [VIDEO] It is an act of the will. One that we must choose daily. That wedding was a once for all action, but it involves a lot of working in order to develop a loving, God-centered marriage. 3. Chivalrously Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel Chivalry is dead, and I am not all sure that the fault ought to be laid at men s feet, but we certainly did our part in strangling it. For some reason, we have twisted giving honor to the wife, as to a weaker vessel into meaning something that it absolutely, completely does not mean. Weaker vessel deals directly to physical strength. It does not mean less valuable (in fact, I could make a pretty good case based upon some of the verbiage that Peter uses that he is actually implying that women are more valuable). Corey M. Minter Page 6 of 9

7 It does not mean intellectual inferiority. Some of the greatest minds in science and theology have been women. It does not mean that they are weaker socially. Peter is not trying to start up a caste system where all men are more affluent than women. Wherever Christianity went, it elevated women in that society. Truthfully, all feminists ought to celebrate Jesus Christ s contribution to societies. It does not mean that women are of lesser character. Some have assumed that since Eve was the one to first eat the fruit, she was more given to sinning. Actually, the point of that interaction is that Adam and Eve were not together, thus making them both vulnerable to Satan s temptation. It certainly does not mean that women are spiritually inferior. Peter will deal with that in his final directive to husbands. No, when Peter tells husbands to treat their wives with honor, as a weaker vessel, he is basically saying, Don t treat her like one of the guys she s not." 4. Spiritually Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life Peter calls marriage the Grace of Life. It is the undeserved, unmerited gift that God has given to mankind. Within marriage, God has hidden the parable of Christ and the church. The closest that a human could ever get to experiencing and giving AGAPE love on earth is from within the blessing of marriage. Corey M. Minter Page 7 of 9

8 God solves loneliness, accountability, financial stability, acceptance and so much more into marriage the Grace of Life. But Peter means more than just joint recipients of the blessing of marriage. Listen to how Paul writes of the spiritual equality among believers. All things that seem to separate, categorize and sub-categorize just dissipates when Christ steps in. Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ s, then you are Abraham s seed, and heirs according to the promise. The truth of the matter is that a believing wife can greatly aid a husband in his spiritual walk. He will learn more about Christ and his relationship with the Church (His bride) through a Godly relationship with his help-meet. Treat her then as the spiritual helper that she is. She can lift you up as a fellow-christian more than any pastor. She can encourage you more in Christ than any other Christian relationship. Dwell with her humbly, lovingly, chivalrously and spiritually But to those who refuse to treat their wife in such a manner, God attaches a curse. Corey M. Minter Page 8 of 9

9 1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. Essentially, God says, Don t you dare think that everything between Me and you is OK if you are mistreating and neglecting that girl that I have blessed you with. That s a serious threat. So tonight, men, I think it would be good to ask not Are you dwelling with her humbly, lovingly, chivalrously and spiritually but instead, How s your prayer life? Corey M. Minter Page 9 of 9