Submission in the Home

1 Peter 3:1-7

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,…  [1 Peter 3:1]

This is probably not a popular verse to begin with on a Sunday morning, especially for new believers.  The wisdom of God is very different from the wisdom of this world.  Worldly wisdom says to submit to no one, but Godly wisdom says the opposite; firstly we submit to God, and then to all who are in authority over us.  “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake…” [1 Pet 2:13]  The NIV translation uses “authority” instead of ordinance; the NASB uses “human institution.”  Peter exhorts us to submit to every authority and human institution, in addition to God.

God’s authority has been ordained both inside and outside the church.  This morning we are going to look at God’s authority structure within the home.  But let us first recognize the word “likewise” in 1 Pet 3:1 [“Wives, likewise…”].  This points us to the previous verses that describe Christ as an example.  “Wives, likewise,” just as Christ submitted to the will of the Father and yielded to the Cross, so too are wives to submit to their own husbands.  As you read the entire passage from 1 Pet 2:18 through 1 Pet 3:1 you cannot deny the connection.  Because Jesus submitted [even through the suffering of the Cross] wives “likewise” are to submit to their own husbands, even husbands that are not believers.

Now I know this needs to be explained more because this is difficult teaching, and difficult to put into practice.  We read and cannot deny what it says.  It is clear, “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands.”  But just how do wives do that, and especially when the husband is not a believer?  It certainly is not something that comes natural, and it definitely cannot be done in one’s own strength.  No, it can only be done by the grace of God which comes in the work of the Holy Spirit.  This is why the experience of God’s grace is so important.  Remember it was Peter who wrote, “…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” [1 Pet 2:2-3].

It is the tasting of grace [i.e., experiencing God’s grace] by which we grow and mature.  It really is not by might nor by power; but by God’s Spirit that we are changed.  We can read and study and say “submit” until we’re blue in the face, but it is only by the Spirit’s power that we can truly submit “to every ordinance of man,” and particularly in our homes.