The Unbelieving Husband

Temple Baptist Church - 6-28-2017

1 Peter 3:1-6

Introduction: 

A.  It needs to be noted that the first word of chapter 3 ties it to its continuing context.  The context is suffering in righteousness! 

1.  One of the worst fears of parenting is for their children to marry wrong.  We train them, pray for them, guide them, and are there for them but the final choice belongs to them.  Our text deals with the saved wife and unbelieving husband in the same home. 

2.  This works both ways: either to marry wrong or to have either a husband or wife who is out of the will of God: either saved or lost.  There is virtually nothing worse than a spiritually divided home.  I have tried to help many ladies whose husband is not right with the Lord but have also had to try to help men whose wife isn’t right.

B.  God is interested in the spiritual welfare of our homes.  God established marriage and marriage that follows the Word of God works.  But, often the spiritual condition of the home is divided becomes a two-way street: one going one direction while the other goes the opposite direction.  God sets forth a way to win your mate without spiritual warfare within the home.

C.  The world has put forth much “humor” concerning the divided home and how to deal with it in a carnal sense: AND, yes, I copied some of it.

1. Years ago, while Mark Twain was speaking in Utah, he got into an argument with a fellow over the issue of polygamy. The fellow said to him, “Can you give me a single passage of Scripture which forbids a man to have more than one wife?” Twain quickly responded, “Yes, ‘No man can serve two masters’.”

2. Someone has observed that “when a man and a woman are married, they become one. The trouble starts when they try to decide which one.” Another individual once said, “Marriage is nature’s way of keeping people from fighting with strangers.”

D.  Enough of that.  God designed marriage to be unity, not division.  It takes cooperation not conflict.  It is to be friendship, not a fight.  Peter is now giving instruction to both wives and husbands on how to have peace within the home through Christian behavior.

E.  Peter deals first with the more common situation: a believing wife with an unbelieving husband, whether he is and unbeliever who is lost or a saved unbeliever who chooses to rebel against God’s Word and ways.

F.  How to win your husband without war.  The Russian author, Leo Tolstoy, wrote a book titled “War and Peace.”  I should have titled this as “Peace without War.”  The biblical context is not demeaning to the wife but reveals the dignity, strength, and power of a godly one.

G.  In our text, God is giving us guidelines for both keeping peace in a divided home and possibility winning our spouses to the Lord.

1.  Stay With Them – vs 1 “to your own husband”  That means you are there!  If you leave, you will probably never win your husband.

Romans 12:18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from herhusband:  (11)  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

2.  Be In Submission To The Husband's Authority – vs 1 “be in subjection”

Ephesians 5:22-24  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  (23)  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.  (24)  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

3.  Do Not Preach To Your Husband – 1 “without the word”  Three times the Bible commands the woman to be quiet in the New Testament:

a.  Concerning Tongues in the church – 1 Corinthians 14:34-35  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 

b.  Concerning preaching or teaching men in the church - 1 Timothy 2:12  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

c.  Concerning the divided home - 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;

4.  Live A Separated, Holy Life-  vs 2-4 “chaste conversation”

a.   It Is An Inward Holiness – vs 3-4 - 2 Peter 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

b.   It Manifests Itself In An Outward Holiness - vs 2 - 1 Timothy 2:8-10  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;  But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1 Peter 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

5.  Live In Fear Of The Lord – vs 2 “coupled with fear”

a.  Fear Of The Lord Brings Reward - Proverbs 22:4  By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

b.  Fear Of The Lord Brings Refuge - Proverbs 14:26  In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

6.  Do Not Be Hypocritical - 3-4a

2 Timothy 1:5  When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

7.  Have A Meek And Quiet Spirit - 4b

1 Thessalonians 4:11a  And that ye study to be quiet … 

8.  Learn To Trust God With The Situation – 5  You cannot work in his heart.  Don't try to do God's work.

Isaiah 12:2  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and mysong; he also is become my salvation. 

9.  Reverence Your Husband – vs 6 “calling him lord”  Notice the little “L”

Ephesians 5:33  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.