I Peter Chapter 3
Being a Christian involves more than just attending church on a Sunday morning. We are called to walk with Jesus throughout every aspect of our life. No matter where we are or in what situation we find ourselves, God wants us to be a good testimony of the love of Jesus Christ. A solid foundation of faith must begin in our own homes.
Peter teaches us that Christian women are to be subject to their husbands even if they are not believers. This is a heart attitude, understanding that God ordained the husband to be the leader of the home. The most beautiful thing a Christian wife can exude is an inner beauty of peace and respect for her husband.
Let's Reflect
1. What is the hope of the believing wife married to an unbeliever when she puts her faith in God?
2. How does God view this type of spirit in a woman according to verse 4?
In verse 6 God tells us women that we are not to be frightened of anything that is frightening. I believe the meaning is that, as a woman being the “weaker vessel,” it is a beautiful thing when we depend on our husbands to take care of us and to protect us. If the husband is not being the protector of his wife and he is causing the wife to be afraid of him, God will judge the husband for that. When there is abuse in the home, the wife must seek God’s guidance how to handle the situation and how to proceed to protect herself and her children.
3. How does Peter describe how the husband is to treat his wife?
4. Peter then addressed all believers and described the heart attitude that we all should have. Peter says that our good conduct will get the attention of God and what will happen according to verse 12?
5. As a believer we should always be ready to do what when confronted by non-believers? In what manner are we to relate to the unbeliever about our faith?
6. Peter reminds us that if we suffer as believers by the hatred of non-believers that it is an honor to do so because Christ suffered so much for us to redeem us. According to verse 18, what did Jesus conquer for us?
There is a lot of debate about the meaning of verse 19. I believe it simply means that Jesus bore testimony over the demonic angels that had fallen from heaven that He had conquered death. He proved to all humans and all spiritual realms that He is God, the Messiah. Jesus was proclaiming that He will save us from death, He is the one who can cleanse us from sin and the power that sin, and evil has over mankind.
The power that evil had over humans in the days of Noah – God took care of with a great flood. In the same way God cleansed the world through a great flood, Jesus cleanses us from evil. Jesus demonstrated by His resurrection that He has power over sin and death. When the believer is baptized with water it shows that they have placed their faith in Jesus who has conquered all evil in their life, and the Holy Spirit has taken possession of their life. The water is a symbol of spiritual cleansing.
7. According to verse 22 what is the power behind our salvation that allows us to come to God with a good conscience?
