1 Peter 3 and 4

1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

People do watch us so we need to always be aware we are setting an example for those around us. When people look at you do they see someone who walks the word or do they see someone who talks a good game but does not follow through with actions. Like we are exhorted to do in the book of:

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

We need to live the word. We will fall short but the idea is not that we are perfect. There used to be something said that I always thought conveyed the idea really well Production unto perfection. We are never going to walk perfectly but each day we do better than we did the day before. It is a process just like everything else in our lives we get better the more we do something.

If you were to go and play baseball the first time at bat you might very well strike out. So your next at bat you try and learn from your previous time what not to do and each at bat you hopefully will learn more and more until you reach a level of performance where you become a consistent player. Then you do not level out and stay there you always practice and keep working at improving your game. The same holds true with your fielding you keep practicing fielding ground balls and line drives and pop ups. we strive to improve.

As far as talking about wives submitting to there husbands it says the same thing in Ephesians but if you check the context you will see that before it says that it says in Ephesians 5:22 for wives to submit to their husbands but the verse before it talks about how as believers we are to submit to each other so husband should also submit to their wives and are further told to give themselves for their wives as Christ gave himself (sacrificed himself) for the church.

2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outwardadorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Again the reference to the Hebrew Scriptures and nothing about the sacred secert or what some call the mystery.

It sets a modest tone here in Peter. Women of God don’t need to worry so much about the outward appearance. The true beauty of a woman of God comes from the inside and truthfully I will take a woman whose heart is in God’s word over any fleshly beauty queen any day. A woman with a heart for God outshines any shallow all I care about is me and my looks type any day.

7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

We as men are to honor our wives. We are heirs togther with our wives as well as with other believers.

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, bepitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

We are not to seek revenge on those who have wronged us. Instead we are to be a blessing. Know this God expects us not to be stupid either. You are to learn from that which has happened to you not keep letting the same thing happen again and again.

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

It’s pretty easy just don’t do evil. What is evil you ask, going against what God says to do in his word such as lyin,stealing, and putting anything before God in your life.

13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

It shows when you walk the word. People will see there is something different about you. They may not believe it is the spark of life we have because of walking the word but you need  be ready with the answer. I walk and live for God!!

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

At times it is good to remember we were not always just, that we were justified by what Christ did. It can be an easy thing to forget.

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Chapter 4

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.

Again another chapter starting with a conjunction. I am to the point where I believe this was intentional that this kind of mistake happens to often for it to be unintentional. That is just my humble opinion of course.

We are suppose to arm ourselves with the same attitude that Christ had. We are to forgive men who may mistreat us.

Did you know that forgiveness by man is never talked about in the Hebrew scriptures? It never said to forgive one another that was a new concept introduced by Jesus Christ. God was the one who forgave. That is one reason the Pharisees and the teachers of the law had such a hard time with Jesus in Luke 5:17-26. There was no precedence for a man forgiving sin. As far as they new only God could forgive. Yet what did Christ say from the cross?  

(NLT) Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

I don’t know if I could do that. To be that forgiving while you are suffering to ask God to forgive them.

2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

Reminds me of the verse that says we had our behavior and went alonng with what the crowd did in the past but now we have a new scheme to follow (Phil. 1:27 Romans 12:1, 2)

4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

I like the Aramaic to English version on verse 6:

6 For because of this, The Good News was proclaimed also to the dead that they would be judged as children of men in the flesh and they would live in God by The Spirit.

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Here we are told to use whatever gift we may have to help the rest of the body of Christ. I learned this my first year in the word. I was in a new area so the word was moving among young people mostly high school students in the area where I lived. Most of them without transportation and I had this big old Bonneville station wagon. Most meetings I was carrying 8-10 people to that meeting. I had to organized to get everyone and to be at the meeting on time. I was late to only two meetings that year, I don’t recall why.

I used my ability to make sure those kids got to where they needed to.

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

There are some who seem to think if they believe if they believe that they will get some sort of pass on people persecuting them. Well Jesus said the world hated him and that it will hate us as well. We are very lucky in the USA that we are free to worship or not worship God as we choose. We have brothers and sisters who end up loosing their lives for their beliefs.

14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

Does this mean we stand and cheer when this stuff happens, of course not but we can always rejoice because no matter what man does we are still God’s and there is a day coming when all will be settled and there will be no more tears of pain.

19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Doing good is just walking the word.