Practicing Submission part 3 – Home front submission
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Title: Practicing Submission part 3 – Home front submission
Introduction: There is a childhood song that has been rattling around in my head all week. It was a song that I first remember my grandma singing over and over again. Maybe it was because of a week full of memories of her that the Lord brought it to mind. It is a simple song that merely repeats the line using different action word, a few of the words are “obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.” Now the way I remember it I would have to say that the reason my grandma sang this song so much was because I was always near when my sister was in trouble and needed the gentle reminder. In light of our message this morning I think I am going to change one of the action words to say “submission is the very best way to show that you believe.”
Central Idea: Biblical submission practiced in the home produces a strong testimony for Christ.
Main Transition: This morning we continue where we left off last week in our discussion of submission. We have understood that we must as believers practice submission to our government, no matter how corrupt they may be, as long as we are not violating biblical laws. We then must practice submission before our employers as they see Christ in us. Now Peter turns to the home front and reveals that here too submission plays a vital role in our testimony of Jesus Christ. So we begin with the evangelistic wife, and we come to realize that the evidence is on the inside, then we will turn our attention to the husband and find the earnest submission of the husband to his wife and family.
I. The evangelistic wife (1-2)
A. The submissive wife (1)
1. “In the same way” This chapter starts out by taking us right back to verse 13 of chapter 2 and verse 18.
a. Just like the resident of a country is subject to the government and the employee to the employer so to is the wife to the husband.
b. It is vital that we understand that submission has nothing to do with value, submission is a matter of responsibility.
c. God holds the husband responsible for the godly raising of his children and the spiritual welfare of his wife. God in his infinite wisdom put the husband as the head of the home and the wife to support that role.
2. Peter’s emphasis on submission is different than Paul’s in Ephesians, in Ephesians the recipients are a believing couple. Here Peter is writing to those that do not have a believing spouse, or if they do that they are examples to an unbelieving person.
a. Peter is using the practice of submission as an opportunity to witness to a lost soul.
B. The attitude of submission (1)
1. This wife’s husband Peter is discussing is in disobedience, other places in this book reveal that this man is not a believer in Jesus Christ, he is rebellion.
2. But that does not change the submission of his wife.
a. Just as the submission to the government does not change when a person leave office, or your requirement to submit when your boss changes, submission at home does not depend on how well you are treated or whether your husband desires it or not.
b. A word to you believing husband is that you must also be different and we will discuss you in a moment.
Application: A sinful world has changed this to say that a wife must not submit no matter what the circumstances. But this is not what the Word of God says. The Word of God reveals that you were put where you are at for such a time as this. You where placed there to represent Christ, now do it, show Christ. And Peter tells us how.
C. The quiet representation of Christ (1-2)
1. Peter says that the unbelieving husband is won without a word, in other words if your husband does not know the Lord and you have repeatedly nagged him about becoming a believer,
2. Stop talking and prove it to him, show him that there is something different about you.
3. These words in verse two “chaste and respectful” This reflects a pure life lived in reverence not to the husband but to God and then out flowing to the husband. This is a the most powerful witnessing tool a believing wife has before her unbelieving husband.
Transition: Peter is encouraging us to see that submission is used of God for the Glory of God and for our good. Submission has the power that words do not. It can and does melt the granite hearts of bosses, governors, spouses, and friends. No wonder Satan has attacked submission so hard, if he can twist our minds, then we avoid submission all together, but this must not be in the family of God. Peter continues with the wife by revealing that the evidence is on the inside.
II. The evidence is on the inside (3-6)
A. More than outward beauty
Illustration: We have all met women who are flashy, dress provocatively, and they cover themselves in the finest and most expensive clothes, shoes, makeup, jewelry, and on and on. Your impression of them, hopefully I didn’t just describe you, is that they are stuck on themselves.
1. This must not be the picture revealed from a godly woman. Peter is likely thinking of the pagan worship taking place all over the Roman empire, where women would braid their hair and where cover themselves in jewelry, wear expensive dresses.
2. Now don’t get me wrong, Peter is not condemning braided hair and dresses, he is condemning the attitude of self importance. He is looking at these women as they go to worship and is asking the question who do they worship?
B. The inner beauty of a godly wife (4)
1. Your beauty as a godly woman must be more than outwardly.
2. Listen to what Peter says, “Let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit.”
Application: Women, if you want to make an impression for the Lord get out of the way. Let the world, and especially an unbelieving husband see through to a changed heart. Show the real beauty that only the Lord could create. All the excessive attitudes and wears that adorn your body are noise that blocks the gentle quiet spirit that an unbelieving husband needs to see.
3. Of course, this gentle quiet spirit needs to be developed and lived out. Again don’t misunderstand and go home and declare, Pastor said, “I don’t have to wear jewelry, or do my hair, or dress up anymore.”
4. This is not what is being said, but if those thing block the gentle quiet spirit it is too much about self and not enough about the Lord.
C. An Old Testament example of a submissive wife (5-6)
1. Peter turns to the Old Testament to find examples of submissive wives he speaks of holy women who hoped in God,
a. This word for holy is “set apart” these women pursued holiness because they were set apart and used submission to their husbands as their example of holiness.
b. Be holy for I am holy verse 16 of chapter 1 requires godly submission.
2. Peter then gets specific and uses Sarah as the example who called Abraham “lord” this word is a title of honor used by Sarah to identify his leadership over her.
a. By the way this example came from Genesis 18 when Sarah laughs at the Angel of Lord who reminds Abraham of the promise of a son in their old age.
b. So even in sin she maintains the proper submission to her husband.
Transition: Peter has opened the heart of an unbeliever before us and revealed what it is that can crack even the hardest hearts to the Spirit of God that they would be convicted of sin and believe. Wives you play a tremendous role in reaching your husbands, show them, don’t nag them the truth of the gospel, nurture that tender quiet spirit that only the Lord is able to produce.
III. The earnest submission of the husband (7)
A. Husbands are responsible for submission as well
1. Peter now turns to the husband and begins the same way that he did with the wife, “Husbands in the same way,” he is not referring to adornment, he is referring to submission.
2. Now the submission of the husband is not to subject to her leadership, but rather to her emotionally, you are to submit to subordinate your needs under her needs
B. Husbands be sensitive to the needs of your wife
1. Peter clearly reveals that the wife looks to her husband for protection and strength as she is weaker, not spiritually, or emotionally, but physically.
2. In providing the leadership that you are responsible for you must not do so with a cold heart and an iron fist. You are to place your needs as subordinate to her needs
C. Husbands honor your wife
1. As a husband it is your responsibility to esteem your wife. This is the word for chivalry.
2. We are to do so knowing that we are join heirs, or in other words of the same value to Christ
3. All of this is accomplished so that your prayers will not be hindered
a. Peter is referring directly to the prayers for the salvation of his wife, but for believing couples, this would include even prayers for other unbelieving couples.
b. Just as the wife reveals the truth of the gospel clearly by her actions, so to does the husband, they just happen to be different actions.
Conclusion: Submission has been maligned and abused since the garden of Eden. Satan does not want you to submit to each other as a couple, but especially not to God. But husbands and wives we must realize that submission is first to God and through that to each other. The wonderful qualities of submission extent beyond your obedience to the Lord are is powerful in reaching a lost soul for Christ.
At the beginning of this chapter Peter has added one more place where submission is part of living successfully in this cruel dark world. In chapter two Peter gave us the first two and we have one more yet to go. But we are to be submissive at work, submission to the civil authorities and submissive in our families. Peter’s purpose for discussing it with us is that understand the value of submission in evangelism, as well as order. God has established submission for our good but for his glory, we benefit, others benefit, and God is glorified by our submission to Him and the work accomplished through us because of our obedience.