God Is a God of Order. 1 Peter 3
God is a God of order and we see it when we look at how the various parts of the universe operates. From rain falling to grow life, to the evaporation of the rain back into the atmosphere, or to the process that governs the different seasons and cycles that are predetermined according to the natural order of things. God did not create this world with such great detail and precision, only to leave mankind, His greatest creation, without a process of order. The problem is that most people do not want to submit to God’s divine order and rather lean to their own ways.
Proverb 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; NKJ
Submission of the Wife and Husbands to one another:
God’s order of things is that man and women should live in unity and there is an order with one head. So naturally, anything with two heads is a mutant or is malformed and cannot function properly. God has given the husband the position of head of the wife just as God is the head overChrist. There is only mutual respect and love and nothing condescending or humiliating in their relationship and it should be the same with husband and wife. Every wife would be willing to submit to a loving, protecting caring husband, because she knows he has her best interest in mind. The selfish, prideful and self-centered person is the one that is hard to submit to and trust.
1 Peter 3:1-2, 7 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. … Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
God is the head of Christ, and Christ is the head of every man, and man is the head of woman. Some people see this as a putdown to women but that is only because we view it in the light of fallen mankind where the pride of life, and the lust of the eye and flesh has ruled over relationship rather than the word of God. It is because of sins of pride and selfishness that mankind is no longer operating according to God’s order. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit living in us to give us the ability to not be lifted in pride, and to live in submission to one another.
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
1 Corinthians 11: 7b -9 … but woman is the glory of man For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
1 Corinthians 11: 11-12Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
The world would say we would be belittling ourselves when he submits to others and that it is condescending for women to submit to a man. Which is totally opposite of what God’s word says. God is the head of Christ, so women are in the same position as Christ. There is nothing disrespectful or demeaning in Christ’s relationship with God or with Christ being the head of man. Submission, is two equals giving one’s consent to yield, or is an agreement between equals to respect and submit to one another. God the Son being equal with God did not think it was robbery to acquiesce or consent to being in submission to God the Father.
Philippians 2:6-8 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross
It is because of sin, selfishness and pride that mankind no longer obeyed God and failed to cherish his wife as one to provide and protect, as his own body. He became abusive, neglectful and careless with his relationship with his wife. A woman, or any person for that matter, who feels cared for, protected and cherished will submit to the instruction andauthority to those they trust to love, appreciate and respect them. As it was in the beginning with Adam who called Eve, bone of his bone and he was told to place this relationship above all others, even in leaving father and mother.
Genesis 2:23-24 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
It is the dysfunction and the disunity of the husband-and-wife relationship that causes division and we see this in the beginning when Adam blame God and blame Eve, saying “that woman You gave me…” Rather than taking care and protecting his wife when she was approached by the serpent, he allowed her to be beguiled and lured by the enemy. God had given to Adam the command to not eat of tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam as the head, instead of becoming Eve’s savior and intercessorbefore God, as Christ did for mankind, he took part in her disobedienceand then blamed God and her for his failure. That same blame and disunity has entered the relationship of men and women that affect their unity and obedience to God.
Genesis 3:12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
Living in Unity:
1 Peter 3:8-12 For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him see peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
The natural connections that we are born into and have through our culture, race and nation should be just as apparent in God’s kingdom and our spiritual connections by the way we live our lives. Our spiritual likeness and awareness of God, as our Father and King must rise above our natural affinities and sympathies. So that God will be exalted and His kingdom ways and principles will be elevated above all else. It is an ambassador’s lifestyle and quiet way of living out their kingdom’s laws and statutes that speaks and communes with others without a word. Our actions are the loudest and best representation, as ambassadors of God, to those who were taught in this worldly system.
1 Peter 3:10-12a Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you are called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and purse it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers… NKJ
Suffering for Right and Wrong:
When we suffer for doing the right thing, we should consider ourselves blessed, because it is God’s will for us at that particular point or phase in life. We are told not to be afraid or troubled by threats of others but have faith in God, believing in our hearts that He is able and will vindicate us. When people ask why do we forgive others or do not lash out, we should be ready to tell them about the love God has for us, in forgiving our sins and wrong doings. Therefore, we can now, with the power of the Holy Spirit, forgive others and trust God to recompence the good and the evil.
God, in His love, mercy, grace and great compassion has provided us a payment for sin. Jesus has taken the wrath and has made atonement for sin for all mankind and has satisfied God’s fury and taken the judgement against sin from those who by faith, believe in the completed work of Christ.
1 Peter 3:13-17 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. NKJ
Christ’s Suffering and Ours:
In the Old Testament God gave mankind the blood of animals to cover their sins for a season and this had to be done repeatedly because the blood of the animals does not completely atone for mankind. God dealt with mankind as a Holy God and a Righteous Judge. That is why when their sins were more than the animal’s blood could cover and The RighteousGod could tolerate, God’s judgement and punishment fail on the people.
Prior to the life, death and resurrection of Christ, God dealt with mankind as Creator and as a Holy and Righteous Judge. But now, Jesus has paid the sin debt owed by all mankind, and God has provided an opportunity for everyone to choose whether or not they will be adopted into the family of God. By the choice of their actions, all will stand before God and He will be their Abba Father, or stand before Him as a Holy and Righteous Judge.
1 Peter 3:18-22 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Jesus suffered for our sins, the Just for the unjust, leaving us an example to follow, to forgive others as He has forgiven us. Everyone will make their choice, by their actions, and that will determine their eternal future.
Integrity- People of God 