5: Revealing The God Who Saves (1 Peter 3:1-18)

UPCOMING EVENTS & INFO

Trunk or Treat & Ladies Retreat went well!

Shoeboxes are HERE - Due Nov 14

Giving

Digital Church Sign - amount given (almost $14,000) - This is what we were considering - 2.5 by 7 Digital Sign with the UPPER ID CABINET with our Church Name.

We are doing our due diligence to make sure we are being good stewards and install a good product, so we had 2 demos this week that revealed something to us - the sign we were considering is NOT big enough to be seen on this road. So, here’s the plan that your Church Council is proposing.

A bigger DIGITAL SIGN without the UPPER SIGN. Though the digital sign will cost more, doing away with UPPER ID CABINET will help defer the cost. Here is a picture of the size difference.

Further, we can put our CHURCH NAME on the sign at any time we desire - TOP,

BOTTOM, or even a scrolling column.

VIDEO: Here’s an idea of what this might look like as the screen runs and changes.

We told you earlier that the 1st sign was around $22,000 (that was sign w/o installation). This sign, with installation, is right around $29,000. So, with the almost $14,000 already given, we need about $15,000 more which could come from our checking account or will be lowered if any of you choose to give to this project. $15,000 more is $125 of advertising & communicating WHO we are and WHAT we are doing - over the next 10 years. If you’re interested in year-end-giving, consider this.

Next Sunday - Covered Dish Lunch & Conference (Sunday, Nov 14 @ 12:15pm)

Finally, if you want to see our VISUAL NOTES - take a pic of this QR Code and open it on your digital device.

Now, turn to the person next to you and tell them…YOU ARE VALUABLE!

__________________________

We are now in week 3 of this new series called “Hope for Suffering Saints”

from an ancient text, written by one of the closest disciples of Jesus, pointing beleaguered believers to their heavenly HOPE in the middle of difficult days.

Last week was a HARD teaching that some of us have wrestled with this past week.

As we learned the keys to Enduring Unjust Suffering. Being AWARE that God is NEAR and sees all, and trusting that God is using our consistent obedience to point others to Jesus.

And today we continue traveling down that trail as we discover some practical ways to faithful in REVEALING THE GOD WHO SAVES to our family, to our faith family, and to our community.

Ask yourself this question, “How am I revealing the God who saves to those I live and work around?”

LET’S PRAY

Let’s read a chunk of the text regarding FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS and then dive deeper and chew on it.

1 Peter 3:1–7 (NIV)

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.

[v4] Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

[v7] Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

What’s the point of all that? You see...The God who saves is REVEALED by Christlikeness in the Home.

Alright…let’s dig in!

1 Peter 3:1–2 (NIV)

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

In the same way as WHAT? Remember the context of what we studied last week? Followers of Jesus are to “submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority” (1 Pet 2:13a). Beyond spiritual leaders, that includes governing leaders & employers. And we are to submit for the Lord’s sake - this is HIS will. When we don’t want to submit, we do it…for Jesus.

When we submit to other authorities they might just be eternally impacted -

The same is true for unbelieving husbands who watch their godly wives WALK out purity and reverence.

While a Christian woman should never marry a non-Christian man (and vice versa), it is possible that the spouse who has now come to truly follow Christ is married to someone who does NOT follow Jesus. The believing spouse can certainly play a HUGE ROLE in pointing the other spouse to Jesus by their behavior, not just their words.

Ladies, if your husband won’t lead you spiritually, ASK HIM TO and then POINT HIM TO some other men who will show him how. Sadly, it is typically the man who is the last to surrender to Jesus - cause we’re knuckle-heads. But when Daddy follows Jesus, the rest of the family usually does too. So, ladies DON’T GIVE UP! Keep praying, keep asking, and keep demonstrating the goodness of Jesus through your purity.

The wife doesn’t influence the ungodly husband by nagging him, but by serving the Lord & serving him. In this way, the wife who serves reveals the God who saves - by her purity and reverence.

What’s that purity and reverence look like? I’m glad you asked!

1 Peter 3:3–4 (NIV)

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

Some have taken this to mean you ought to look as ‘homely’ as you can. No makeup, no hairstyles, and no nice clothes. But that’s not Peter’s point, nor the Holy Spirit who led him to write it. Peter is reminding women that your beauty should be much more than skin deep.

Sadly, we live in a world where women are most often judged by what’s on the outside rather than what’s on the inside - by your body rather than your brains & heart.

Between ongoing plastic surgery, pounds of makeup, foot-long fake eyelashes (what’s up with that!), & anorexic practices - even older women can look younger - at least for a little while.

But the goal of the Christian woman isn’t to see how long you can look young & beautiful - something that WILL eventually fade. Instead, it is to grow in the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

Or put another way...

Scot McKnight writes: “External appearance is relatively unimportant, but internal virtue is the prime pursuit of life.”*

*Scot McKnight, 1 Peter, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 184.

When I first met Tonya I WAS blown away by her beauty. But she wasn’t flaunting her body nor spotlighting herself. The more I got to know her, the more I wanted to KNOW her! Her inward beauty - her character, her compassion, her purity - was like a bug zapper to an insect. Like the insect flying toward it as the friends warned it not to, the bug responded, “I can’t help myself.”

That’s how I felt as I spent time with this wonderful woman who has an unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.

I gave you MY example, but now Simon Peter gives us a biblical example.

1 Peter 3:5–6 (NIV)

For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

I know what most women are thinking, “Uh-uh. Nope!” But Sarah’s submission and calling Abraham “lord” didn’t mean she thought he was God. Instead, it shows that she placed herself under his authority, protection, & love - recognizing & respecting him as the leader of the home.

So too, ladies, you are to follow in Sarah’s footsteps and willingly place yourself under your husband’s leadership. This does NOT mean you can’t disagree with a decision and neither of you should jockey for position. You should make decisions as a team. But when your husbands don’t listen to wisdom or to God, then just DUCK and let God get him!

1 Peter 3:7 (NIV)

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Weaker partner is certainly not referring to mental or willful weakness. Some of the strongest minds I know belong to women and some of the most bold stances were taken by women.

My grandmother in Mississippi (Paye-Paye) once had me pull off on the side of the road. At the time in their community, advertisements for alcoholic drinks were not allowed on roadsigns. When she saw one going up, she did something I would not have done. She marched her small-framed self up to the poor man doing his job and DEMANDED that he stop. She warned that she would call the police and likely did when we got home. I DON’T THINK I HAD THE BOLDNESS TO DO THAT! She wasn’t emotionally or mentally weaker than me. In fact, she was much stronger.

But, as a teenage boy, I could have easily overpowered her PHYSICALLY.

This is what Peter is referring to in treating them with respect as the weaker partner. No man should threaten to harm his wife because he is physically stronger. Instead, men, we are to be considerate of our wives and treat them with respect.

As Christian husbands, we are to recognize our wives - not as our servants - but as our heirs with you of the gracious gift of eternal life!

Your Heavenly Father is HER Heavenly Father too!

The forgiveness you have been given has been given to her too!

She will experience FIRST CLASS eternal life too - not be pushed back to the ECONOMY CLASS. (I know what some of you are thinking - “I don’t care where I sit. Just let me be on the flight!”)

As your fellow heir, you are to protect her, not mistreat her. And if you DO mistreat her…then don’t be surprised when her Heavenly Father stops listening to your prayers.

I’m pretty sure than men who have married daughters would like to help their son-in-laws if he comes asking for help. But what about the son-in-law approaching his father-in-law for help when he has been mistreating his daughter?!? I think I know the answer to that question…and so do you.

Evidently, when you treat God’s daughter poorly, your heavenly Father refuses to respond to your prayers.

Men, has God been answering you lately? If no, have you WONDERED WHY? “Here’s your sign.”

Because...The God who saves is REVEALED by Christlikeness in the Home.

What could God do in our homes if husbands & wives served one another like as God commands us through the Scriptures?

Denny Burk was interviewed by Greg Koukl discussing how the husband/wife relationship is a picture of Jesus & His church (see Eph. 5:22-33). As Jesus sacrificed his life for the church, so the husband sacrifices his life for his wife. As the Church submits to the servant leadership of Jesus, the wife follows her servant-leader husband.

Denny Burk said: "Our marriages are supposed to be saying something about the gospel...When a husband fails to love his wife; when a wife fails to follow the leadership of her husband; when a marriage breaks apart in divorce, we are actually saying something blasphemous about the Gospel, because marriages are supposed to be these little dramas of redemption put on display for the world.” *interviewed by Greg Koukl on podcast ‘Denny Burk - The Meaning of Sex’

How many marriages could have been salvaged if Christian wives would have submitted to Christian husbands & Christian husbands would have sacrificially loved and protected Christian wives?

How many in this room could have been better influenced by Mommas & Daddys who lived out the drama of redemption day in and day out!

There are some husbands & wives that need to ask each other for forgiveness TODAY. You need to go home, shut the door, confess your selfishness, & ask for forgiveness.

Because...The God who saves is REVEALED by Christlikeness in the Home.

Next Peter points to how...

The God who saves is REVEALED by the Unity & Humility of the Church (our FAITH FAMILY)

1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

Like-minded can also be translated as harmonious (NET) or having unity of mind (ESV). Followers of Jesus are to be UNIFIED in Jesus.

When all the players follow the COACH, the team has a good chance to succeed. But you show me a team that is fighting against each other & a coach who doesn’t care about his team and there is a good chance they won’t do much of significance.

So too, the CHURCH is to be of ONE MIND - ONE PURPOSE - to know the Lord Jesus and make Him known to others.

Further, the Church is to sympathetic - hurting with one another and celebrating with one another. That’s the kind of church that shows a family-kind of love for one another, people who are compassionate and humble.

The God who saves is REVEALED by the Unity & Humility of the Church.

And then, going beyond our family and our faith family...

The God who saves is REVEALED by the consistent witness of Christians (even when we aren’t treated well).

Simon peter’s next words are reminiscent of what we studied last week - ENDURING UNJUST SUFFERING.

1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

We have an example of this from Paul’s life. When being tried before the Sanhedrin, the high priest commanded his men strike Paul on the mouth. And Paul quickly retaliated:

Acts 23:3–5 (NIV)

Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!” Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!” Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

Paul spoke the TRUTH, but with the wrong attitude. He was immediately convicted by the authority of the Scriptures and quotes Exodus 22:28.

As we are pointing to the authority of the Scriptures this morning, so was Paul.

“In fact, the New Testament contains more than two hundred direct quotations of the Old Testament.” * Robertson McQuilkin. Understanding and Applying the Bible, rev. ed. [Chicago: Moody, 1983, 1992], 20

Paul and the other writers of the New Testament Scriptures believed the authority of the Scriptures and WE SHOULD TOO.

Next Simon Peter quotes from Psalm 34:12-16.

1 Peter 3:10–12 (NIV)

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the Face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Is God attentive to your prayers?

If not, could it be that you words are evil and deceitful? Could it because you turn TO evil rather than turn from it, you rather FIGHT than pursue peace with others.

But…if you honor God with your lips, turn from evil and do good, seek and pursue peace, then God sees and recognizes your righteous deeds and He is listening to your prayer!

Still, we can do the right things and still be mistreated.

Don’t be surprised. Be ready and remember that God sees all!

1 Peter 3:13–14 (NIV)

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

And then comes what should become one of the THEMES of our LIVES.

1 Peter 3:15–16 (NIV)

But in your hearts revere [set apart, honor] Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

To revere [set apart, honor] Christ as Lord means that no one else holds that position in your life. You might have earthly masters - those in authority over you. We certainly submit to one another and yes - Sarah even called Abraham her “lord”, but there is ONLY ONE LORD who should rule from the throne of your heart.

Whether persecuted or not, we must be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. The word translated as “answer” is the Greek term apologia, meaning “defense”.

In other words, Christians must have the knowledge, wisdom, and character to share WHY we have hope in Jesus!

This is one of several reasons why you NEED to get in the Scriptures and determine WHY you believe WHAT you believe.

Of course, we are to answer - NOT WITH PRIDE or RED-FACED ANGRY TONES - but with gentleness and respect. We might still be mistreated, but we don’t respond in kind, BECAUSE...

The God who saves is REVEALED by the consistent witness of Christians.

We should do our best to leave a conversation with a non-Christian that leaves the door open for future talks.

And we finish with this.

1 Peter 3:17–18 (NIV)

For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

And the reason why we can suffer while doing good is by remembering what Jesus did for us! The righteous One suffered to make payment for our sins.

As we get ready to celebrate the Lord’s Supper (aka Communion), may we NEVER forget that Jesus DIED…but also that HE IS ALIVE - risen from the dead!

He died for us, let’s live for Him! This week, may we take up the task and privilege to be the people...

REVEALING THE GOD WHO SAVES to our family, to our faith family, and to our community.

Do you KNOW Jesus? Is He LORD over your life?

Do you have questions or need some help? Talk with us. Call us.

STAFF

DEACONS

PRAY - Band comes up

Communion

Let me briefly remind you who SHOULD participate and who SHOULD NOT.

Read from Matthew 26:26-29 and take Communion.

Remind of Paul in 1 Cor 11:26 “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”)