Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. A Christian wife. will reflect True beauty which is inside. How will she do that? Peter is telling us, by her conduct.
By her purity, by her demeanor, she will conduct herself with a quiet dignity and gentleness. which in God's sight is very precious. Uh Welcome to The Verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. In our image-obsessed culture, billions are spent on beauty products, fashion, and cosmetic procedures. But what if we're looking for beauty in all the wrong places?
Today, we'll see that Peter shares principles about true beauty and godly influence that. Challenge our status quo. Here's Pastor John Monroe with the first part of his message: The Christian Wife. Authentic Christianity is to impact every aspect of our lives. Our enemy tries to convince us that our faith is to be kept private.
Go to church, but otherwise live how you want.
So Peter, in writing his letter to first century Christians, addresses the Christian home. In chapter 3 of 1 Peter, He deals first with the Christian wife in verses 1-6. and then the Christian husband in verse seven. Today and next time, we'll be thinking about the Christian wife. In a world where girls and women are still exploited, demeaned, And they're confused about gender and their sexuality.
I very much appreciate the clarity of the Word of God. Although these verses are primarily applicable to women and wives, all of us need to hear them. Throughout the world, many women are exploited and abused. The figures for physical assaults on women are horrendous. In many countries Uh women are forced into unskilled uh jobs where they're underpaid and overworked.
Sex trafficking exists. in many countries, including here In the United States of America. And as Christians, as followers of Jesus Christ, we're very concerned. about the sinful treatment of women and girls. And uh for the Christian There's certainly no place for chauvinistic and domineering men or men who exploit.
Men who abuse And men who demean Women. This message is for Wives today, but let me just stop for a moment and speak to men. I trust no man here abuses his wife. Whether physically or verbally. Our society gives us very little Help in gender roles and relationships.
So we're going to read. From Peter's letter. 1 Peter chapter 3, verses 1 through 6. And we're going to learn about the Christian wife. What a difference the gospel makes in our homes and in our relationships.
And next week, we'll consider the Christian. Husband.
So this is directed to wives.
So why is I want you particularly to be listening. And alert. Are you ready for a Someone said, next week you're going to beat up husbands. I thought, no, I'm going to speak to the wives. They're as sinful as a man, right?
First Peter three, then verse one. Likewise, wives. Be subject to your own husbands.
So that even if some do not obey the word, They may be one without a word. by the conduct of their wives. when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external. the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry.
or the clothing you wear. But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart. With the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight. is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves.
by submitting to their own husbands. as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord. And you are her children. If you do good. and do not fear anything that is frightening.
Interesting, isn't it?
Well, we're going to see from this text, first of all, That wives are to display submission to their husbands. Verse 1. Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husband.
Now we have to understand. the context of submission. Peter, let me remind you, is writing to believers who are suffering for their faith. They're experiencing difficult and unfair circumstances. And in the midst of this injustice, in the midst of their suffering, Peter is repeatedly saying throughout this epistle, they are to display a respectful spirit in all of their relationships.
And see Eurasians.
So here is Peter writing to suffering Christians who are, he tells them, and this must have been difficult for them, as sometimes it's difficult for us, to submit in very difficult circumstances.
So the context as we come into chapter 3 is one of submission. Peter has told us, Christians are to submit to the secular government, which may be very unjust. He's done that in chapter 2 verses 12 through 17. And then in chapter 2, verses 18 and 19, as we learned, Christian servants, we would say Christian employees, are to be submissive to their masters, even when their masters are harsh. Unfair and unreasonable.
For all of that, he gives us the beautiful. The supreme example Of how to act in the midst of unfair suffering as he holds up our Lord Jesus Christ and makes this amazing statement. For Christ also suffered For you.
Now we will see as we come to 1 Peter chapter 3, understanding the overall context that a Christian wife. Peter says very clearly, is to submit even to her unbelieving husband.
Now, in these verses, Peter is not giving a general treatise on marriage, but he's dealing with the specific situation where a Christian wife is married to an unbelieving husband, presumably, the wife. came to the Lord after they were married. Scripture is very clear. that we are to marry in the Lord. That is, if you're single.
And you're dating, don't date someone who's an unbeliever, don't even start that. Because it's important, if you're going to get God's blessing, that you marry a believer, that you are both under the lordship of Jesus Christ. What a great way to begin marriage.
Now in the first century Wives automatically assume the religion of their husbands. A pagan? Husband worshiping false idols, false gods, expected his wife to worship his idols.
So here is an unbelieving man. He is his own religion. The Romans and the Greeks had their pantheon of gods. And uh he's married to this Christian woman. Notice what Peter does not do.
He doesn't instruct the Christian wife to leave the unbelieving husband. That might be. Your first thought, he doesn't do that. He doesn't tell the Christian wife to abandon her faith. But rather Christian wives.
married to unbelieving husbands are to continue in their marriage.
So that's the overall context of submission.
Now secondly, what's the meaning of submission. What does it mean to be in submission? Submission is a way of life for every Christian. Not just women. This term be subject that we see in verse 1 is used frequently by Peter.
And he says, likewise, notice how chapter three begins, likewise. That connects with the previous chapter, previous verses, where he's talking about being subject. This term Being subject. was used of our Lord Jesus Christ. Luke tells us he was subject.
to his parents. As a boy. As a young man, He was subject to his parents. The demons were subject to the disciples. Citizens are subject to the government, Paul says in Romans 13, verse 1.
The universe is subject to Christ, 1 Corinthians 15. Church members are subject to church leaders. Hebrews 13, verse 17. Servants are subject to their masters. Titus 1, verse 9.
It's the same word throughout.
Now wives are to be subject to their own husbands. Paul says in Ephesians Just as the church is subject to Christ, so the wife is to be subject to Christ. husband.
Now I realize this term This concept of being submission to some people is the meaning. Very negative. unacceptable, particularly In this advanced society, that may have been true 2,000 years ago, but you can't expect wives to be subject to their husbands today.
Well, this Greek word subject hypotaso occurs In chapter 2, verse 13, we saw Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution. It's used in Verse 18 of chapter 2, servants be subject to your masters.
Now it's used in chapter 3, verse 1. Wives, be subject to your own husband. It's used in chapter five, verse. Five, likewise you who are younger, be subject to the elders. You know this overall context.
That every Christian in different relationships is to manifest Submission. Respect.
So now we're in a home. He started with society. He's dealt with the workplace, now in the home. A wife. Is to be subject to her husband.
After all, she's a suitable helper to him. We saw that in Genesis 2 verse 18. Here is Adam, he's alone, he's a perfect man. But in some way, he's incomplete. And so this wife, Eve, comes to him and supplements him, complements him.
So that the two can be stronger and better than one.
Nowhere in the New Testament Does this word Subject hupotasso in Greek, nowhere does it mean inferiority. When our Lord Jesus Christ was on earth, He was subject to his father. He said, I've come not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. Was Jesus on earth Inferior to his father? Absolutely.
No, that's heresy. He was of the one essence, he was God. And yet, in his incarnation, in his submission, In his humility, He is subject to his father and comes to do the father's will. Remember the great prayer in Gethsemane: not my will. But yours be done.
He's praying to his father. Our Lord. was subject to his father. Equal That is true. No inferiority, but subject to his father.
So, this subjection that Peter is talking about is God's order. As I say, And Society in the workplace. in the church and in the home. You find that hard? That submission is done for the Lord's sake.
It's done as an act of worship to our Lord Jesus Christ. And so we come. to verse one of our text. Likewise, wives, Be subject to your own Husbands.
Now, husbands shouldn't demand that their wives be submission. Notice it's addressed to the wives. We'll deal with the husband.
Next week in verse 7. This submission of the wife is a voluntary surrender of her rights and her will. It's not a biblical warrant for husbands insisting that their wives obey them. I remember in the previous church being wakened up at 5 a.m.
Now, if you're waking up at 5 a.m., make sure it's an emergency. In fact, my cell phone is off there. Call one or the other pastors. Because I'm asleep at 5 a.m. And this went cold.
And he said, I don't mind. I hope you don't mind me calling you, Pastor, at five o'clock, but I'm just beginning my work. I thought, you know, I have not beginning my work.
So what's the urgency? He said to me, Do you know Hebrew and Greek? I said, Well, I'm not a scholar. But I studied Hebrew and Greek. Um At seminary, I've got uh some knowledge of it.
And he said, well, I want you to go through all of the Bible. And note the verses.
So that I can tell my wife to obey me. This at five AM I said to him, brother, there is a scripture I want to tell you. And I don't want to put down the phone. It's found in Ephesians 5, verse 25. Husbands, Love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
I said, why not practice that? And if you do that, you will need to call me again at 5 a.m. That's not what Peter is saying. Peter is addressing this to wives. Wives?
I'm speaking to you. This is the voice of God to you today. Wives? You're married? Be subject to your own husbands.
They're to do this not out of compulsion. but voluntarily. Just as our Lord was in submission to his Father on earth. in that divine order.
So Peter is giving The divine order. I know this. The reference, Peter says, be subject to your own husbands. It's not that wives generally are subject to men, that's not the point. The relationship is in view.
Here is an unbelieving husband and a believing wife, and that wife is to be in submission to that husband.
So, first of all, wives are to display submission to their own husbands. Secondly, wives are to display Godly behavior. Again, their tax. Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even You listening? Even if some do not obey the word, they may be one without a word by the conduct of their wives when they see.
You're respectful. And pure Conduct. The Christian wives Godly behavior, our godly conduct will be a powerful witness to our unbelieving husband.
Now I think in the context It seems clear, I think we can make an inference. that the Christian wife has presented the gospel to her unbelieving husband. But he does not. Verse 1: He does not obey the word. He's heard the word, but he doesn't obey it.
He's rejected the gospel. Perhaps he's even hostile to his wife. that she is a follower of Christ and he is not. How is she to respond? Got a Christian wife?
She presents the gospel to her husband. He does not obey the word, doesn't want to hear about it. Tells her to stop. What's it what she did? She is verse 2 to display Notice what Peter says, respectful.
And pure conduct. Her godly submission to this man and her irreproachable conduct will demonstrate her trust in the purposes of God. In these very difficult circumstances, This woman is to respect her husband. and live a holy Life. A godly wife.
will not try to argue her husband into Believing. Husbands Peter says, isn't this intriguing in verse 1? Can be one that is one for Christ without a word. Christian wives? Don't nag.
Have you learned that husbands don't like to be nagged? This wife is not to keep nagging her husband. No. She's to seek to win him. That is to lead this man to Christ.
displaying her purity. Displaying her respect, and that is going to be a powerful witness to her unbelieving husband. Peter is not de-emphasizing the word of God. But he is de-emphasizing the words. of the wife.
The conduct? Of a Christian wife. I think we can understand this. The conduct of a Christian wife will be much more influential than her words. That's true of anything, anyone we're witnessing too.
Isn't that right? Perhaps at your home, your father, your brother. Perhaps a friend, someone at work, is an unbeliever. You present the gospel to them. Are they rejected?
What are you to do? Are you to continue to hammer and hammer and hammer at them? No. What you did? to display by your life, by your conduct.
That they will see Christ. in you. The point.
So, first, wives are to display submission to their own husbands. Secondly, wives are to display godly Behave your conduct. And then thirdly, wives are to display true beauty. Verses three and four. Do not let, first a negative.
Do not let your adorning be external. the braiding of hair. The putting on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear, but here it is, let your adorning. Be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight. is very precious.
True beauty is not External. There is the external, Peter says, but there's also the internal. There is that which is obvious. There is that on the outside that we see, but the true beauty, Peter is saying, is hidden.
So beauty. of the heart. Peter contrasts the external and the hidden beauty.
Now a wife's desire Or a woman's desire to be externally beautiful normally focuses on three things that Peter says. Did you notice them? Here Jewelry and clothes. Things haven't changed, have they? But beauty in these areas is not going to win.
the heart of the unbelieving husband. Notice the contrast, verse 3. Do not let your adorning be external. Verse four, but let your adorning be the hidden person of. The heart.
This word adorning is a Greek word uh cosmos, from which we get cosmetic. What's cosmetic? That which is external. Peter now clearly, Peter is not Prohibiting a woman from taking care of their hair or wearing jewelry or clothes, obviously, they're to wear clothes. And that's important.
I think a godly woman will take care of herself. and not deny her femininity. After all, the godly women of the Old Testament, such as Sarah, he's going to mention, and Rebekah, are described as very beautiful in Genesis and they also wore jewelry. That's not the point.
So these verses shouldn't be interpreted as a recipe for the Christian wife to look like some kind of frump. Absolutely not. I'm serious guys, right? The point is That the beauty is not ostentatious. It's not the external adorning that God is concerned that we should be concerned, but true beauty.
positively impacts husbands and pleases God. Did you notice at the end of verse f four? which in God's sight is very precious. How does our society determine Beauty. Peter is saying, listen.
The measure of true beauty doesn't lie in the external. True and lasting beauty. Is internal rather than external. It's not cosmetic. No amount of elaborate hairstyles.
No amount of expensive jewellery. can cover up an ungodly, shallow, mean-spirited woman. You're listening to The Verdict with Pastor Jean Monroe and the first part of a message titled The Christian Wife. John will return shortly with closing thoughts. Peter's teaching about authentic beauty and godly influence remains remarkably relevant in our modern world.
The principles he outlines can be. Character versus appearance, the importance of respecting others, and and lasting beauty which comes from within. challenge the shallow priorities of our culture. And these timeless truths remind us of the larger importance of cultivating an eternal perspective. Our featured resource, For the Time is Near, explores how better understanding God's ultimate plan helps us prioritize what lasts forever over what fades away.
When you grasp the biblical big picture revealed in Revelation, it transforms how you view everything, including what constitutes real beauty and significance. Get your free copy of For the Time is Near today at the verdict.org. Supporting the verdict means standing behind messages that offer hope to marriages in crisis, wisdom to families under pressure, and biblical truth to a culture desperately in need of God's word. Your contribution, whether $25, $50, or whatever God leads you to give, multiplies this ministry's impact in communities across the world. Together, we can continue bringing these life-transforming truths to those who need them most.
Make your secure gift today. at the verdict.org. If you're in the Charlotte area, we'd love to welcome you to Sunday worship at Calvary Church, where John serves as senior pastor. or join us remotely through our live stream online. For more details, visit theverdict.org.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe with closing remarks.
Well, what's your verdict? Do you find yourself agreeing with Peter's teaching or arguing with it? Submission is difficult for all of us. We prefer to be in charge of our own lives rather than submitting to anyone else. But we've learned that every follower of Jesus Christ is to be characterized by submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
That submission works out in different ways in our relationships. and in no way is this godly submission negative or demeaning. Whether we're married or single. We should be characterized by humility. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict.
I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
