1 Peter 3 Part 1 (Kyle McCallum)

by Opcomm · Published October 4, 2011 · Updated March 17, 2016

1 Peter 3:1-8

Recap:
In chapter 1 we talked about those of us who know God have been born again. This term has been abused, but it is a really cool metaphor because those of us who know Jesus get to have the Holy Spirit
In chapter 2 – we are all unified because of the Holy Spirit, holding fast to the corner stone – Jesus
Tonight we are going to talk about feminism
This is a really controversial issue.
The last teaching is a good transition into tonight – we are to proclaim the excellences of God and to keep our behavior excellent to be a good witness.
1 Pet 3:1-6
This sounds bad – wives be submissive to your husbands.
The feminist movement point to this passage to say that religion hates on women. They say that religion tries to keep women down and humiliate them. But when you look at the rest of the bible and even this passage – the bible has a very high view of women that you don’t see in any other religion. But you look outside the bible and you see a history of patriarchy (a social system throughout our history where women are dominated by men and they have all the power. Women getting abused, tortured and killed. They are treated like they mean nothing. There was an extreme hatred of women.)
In religion there has been a lot of misogyny, even outside religion.
In the Talmud, in Judaism, it said that man’s wickedness is better than woman’s goodness. Man could divorce his wife for anything – snoring too loud even.
Hinduism. There are a lot of laws that have to do with a widow – she is not allowed to say the name of any other man and if she did she would be curse. And when she is reincarnated she would be born as a jackel
- Common practice – for a woman to jump on the fire when her husband was being cremated.
- They would also have the women wear their dead husband’s toe around their neck.
- When a girl is born it is a sad occasion because women are viewed as evil as evil itself.
In Islam – you are to banish them to the couch and beat them if they are rebellious. For men in heaven you can have 1000 perpetual virgins.
An overwhelming amount of people believe women are worthless
Atheism – women are still viewed as worthless. China – girls would have lotus hooks put on their feet so that the women did not cheat on their husbands.
- Confucius said that women are worthless until they bear a son.
- China – women are aborting children unless they have a son because it is considered worthless to have children
Christianity – not biblical Christianity – when it is organized into a system.
- Early Church bishop – Eve was so terrible that she was able to bring Adam down. The whole reason Jesus had to die was because of Eve.
- Pope Gregory – Women are slow minded and weak.
There is a history of patriarchy – harsh treatment of women. And because of this there are men today who are threatened by strong women.
- My grandma – very strong woman. Back in the day she would go around to churches and present God’s Incredible Plan. And there were a lot of pastors who were threatened and intimidated by her.
So when you listen to feminist rant – they have a point and you should listen.
So is the bible on the same page? He is talking about submission here and is that putting the women down?
- No – Look at the bible – Jesus taught the word to women, he had women disciples, he dined with women
- The bible says men and women are equal – no other religion says this.
- Genesis – men and women are both created in the image of God.
- Gal 3:28
  - No distinction under Christ. We are all one.
- The bible places the responsibility for the introduction of sin into the world at Adam’s feet. So I don’t know where these Christian theologians are getting their ideas.
- So many women were compelled by Jesus and it is still that way today.
So why bring up this submission point.
Two main reasons:
- Consider the culture – it was in an age of patriarchy
  - To have a woman come and listen to Jesus and go home and say that you don’t have to listen to their husbands – that would not have been a very witness
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  - The goal – win their husbands.
  - This is also the reason why he mentions the dress – whores dressed this way.
- Men and women are designed with different roles – men are not designed exactly the same. That would be boring
  - This passage has been totally screwed up – to submit means admitting that you are totally weak and incapable.
  - But submitting according to the bible – to allow yourself to be lead, served. Otherwise you get 2 competing wills fighting for dominance.
  - And you get destroyed relationships because one has to submit to the other. This is why a lot of marriages fail. We have such a crazy divorce rate – around 60%. People don’t care enough about the other person to let them lead. This is because there has been such a radical response to the feminist movement.
  - Feminist movement says that you don’t need anyone else and that you definitely don’t need to submit. But that is not going to work – you are not going to be able to make these relationships work.
But its not just women that need to submit. We all have to learn how to submit. Most of use have jobs – we have to come under our boss’ authority. This Is not just in the context of marriage
Col 3 – we need to be willing to submit to each other – in the body of Christ. Have input in each other’s lives – and be willing to listen to others. Be willing to be served when someone is coming and helping give you direction in life. Many have problems with this – they want to do everything on their own. We all need to be in a position where we are learning to be good leaders. So what is that supposed to look like?
- Mk 10:42-45
- This is how you lead – you give your life up. It is not this dominating crushing force. This leadership is loving and willing to lay your life down for someone else – that is true spiritual leadership.
- People want to lead by force. But it is not effective. This is not easy. It seems easier to smash and crush your way through.
- We can do this because Christ did this for us
- 1 Jn 3:16
- We should be willing to lay our lives down just as Christ did – he went to the cross and suffer a criminals death so that our sins would be paid for and we can have a relationship with the Lord. That is what leadership looks like.
So in the context of marriage. Men and women are different.
Women – submitting – willing to follow the man’s leadership.- be willing to be served and love
Men
- Eph 5:25
- Need to be willing to serve their wives
- This is not a privilege, it’s a responsibility. It means giving yourself up for her.
- Many see leadership as a powerful position, but really it is where the man comes under the wife and helps her out and serves her.
1 Pet 3:7
‘Since your wives are weaker’ – meaning weaker in physique. In general women are usually weaker.
This is forbidding spousal abuse. You cannot use that to abuse your woman.
Take a look at what other religions have said – there is abuse everywhere.
To sum up. 1 Pet 3:8
When you have these relationships where you are willing to lead and lay your life down and submit. This is perfect love.
Are you willing to submit to authority? If you have a hard time doing that then this is something you need to work on. We need to be willing to hear the advice of others.
Are you willing to lay down your life for others, lead in a powerful loving way? It is hard to put someone else’s needs in front of your own. Lead in a direction that is not smashing them but putting them ahead of you