Call to Commitment

 

Wesley:“Not the outward sign, but the inward grace.

 

Matrimonial responsibilities

      1.   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, 

   2. when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 

3.      Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 

4.      rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 

5.   For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 

6.     as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 

      7.  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.

Warren Wiersbe commented that God has established three institutions on earth… the government, the church, and the home. The latter is formed first by a husband and his wife, and so, both Peter and Paul give inspired counsel to the married couple. I emphasize that, because as is true in all the Scripture, this counsel is also divinely inspired. It qualified Paul, who was not married, along with Peter, who was married, to give expert advice. Christian couples need counsel from heaven that goes beyond earthly experience. This world’s wisdom is not sufficient for any area of Christian living, and the believers’ home is a heavenly, supernatural institution. All counsel to believers must be based on biblical, Holy-Spirit directed wisdom.

 Peter begins with the wives and, because he is writing to first generational converts, he assumes that not all have believing spouses. Those, who are married in Christ, should have no need for advice concerning unconverted husbands or wives. Paul gave clear command: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial (the word Belial from Hebrew… worthlessness, unprofitableness, wickedness)? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” (2 Co.6:14-15).