Christianity in an UnChristian World: Love
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Looking at our lives as
Christians in an unChristian world, Peter writes of husbands and wives. These
verses cause no small amount of contention in our time, because the world reads
them and considers them demeaning to women. If taken out of the context of the
rest of Scripture, perhaps they might be. But when one speaks of husbands and
wives in the Bible, always standing there is Christ and His Bride, the Church.
Human marriages are to be images of that relationship. Picture a husband who
loves his bride so much that he willingly lays down his life for her; picture a
bride who willingly submits herself in return to her husband—though never
forcibly. In such a relationship, both husband and wife are raised up.
Peter
points to Abraham and Sarah as an example, which has no small amount of irony
for us. We know that Sarah was a very beautiful woman, which is why Abraham
seemed to be always afraid that someone else was going to kill him and take her
for a wife. And yet, Peter says, she is an example not of outward beauty but of
inward, “the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,” whose “hope
was in God.” Because of her trust in God, she submitted herself to Abraham,
even calling him “lord.” This doesn’t mean she never spoke up or stood up for
herself; we know she did, telling Abraham to send Hagar and her son Ishmael
away. The Lord told Abraham to listen to her and do what she said! But in
calling Abraham “lord” and submitting to him, there is the acknowledgement that
the Lord had given her to Abraham and Abraham to her. Her heavenly Father was
working good for her through Abraham’s calling as her husband. And so she sees
the Lord in her husband. Once again we see a picture of Christ and His Bride,
the Church, who calls Him “Lord” and “Savior;” we expect every good from Him.
And
there is more irony with Abraham. Peter writes, “Husbands are to live with
their wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker
vessel.” Abraham did not seem to do this. Twice, out of fear for his own
life, he allows Sarah to be taken and almost made the wife of rulers: first the
Pharaoh of Egypt,
and then Abimelech, King of Gerar. Abraham was a sinner too. Today, the world
would be upset that these verses that call the woman “the weaker vessel,” and yet the world would
ignore the fact that these verses tell us that women should be “shown
honor.” Husbands are to treat their wives as precious and worthy of being
shown such honor. These verses have nothing to do with power and physical
strength, and everything to do with how we regard one another. Again, consider
how valuable and precious Christ considers His Bride and how He has honored
her. In the same way, as Peter says, “All of you have unity of mind,
sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil
for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you
were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
That is what we
should do. That is how our life together should be. But just as was the case
with Abraham, it isn’t always so for you. We are sinners who commit grave sins.
And that is why, at the end of this chapter, Peter points once again to Jesus. There is our hope. The righteous One died for
the unrighteous ones, “that he might bring us to God.” He did that in
His death, resurrection, and ascension. He took the punishment for our sins. He
broke open the grave. He who perfectly submitted Himself here in this life has
now ascended; “all powers have been subjected to Him.”
All this has been
given you in your baptism, and “baptism now saves
you.” This washing removes the stain of sin from your soul. That water
unites you with Christ in His death and resurrection. It is where you receive
Him and all that He died to give you. You are safe in Christ, saved in the water. You
are safe, forgiven, and protected in your heavenly Bridegroom.
The
baptized are united in Christ, Christians in an unChristian world. That life is
going to look quite different than those of the world and what they’re used to.
Since that is the case, “Always be prepared to make a defense”—to give an explanation—“to anyone who
asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Tell them of
Christ and His forgiveness and the new life He has given you. Do not be afraid.
Indeed, fear no enemy, for no one can take away what God in Christ has given to
you. If you suffer for the sake of Jesus, blessed are you. Again, it doesn’t
mean your life in Christ will be easy, but you can trust that your Savior can
and will use everything in this world and life for your good. We may not always
be given to understand how, but faith clings to that word of promise.
The
world tends to think of love only as an emotion. The Bible speaks of love as
action. Jesus didn’t just say “I love you;” He lived love, especially on the
cross. He has given that love to you so that, in all your relationships, living
as Christians in an unChristian world, you can love without fear, for “perfect
love casts out fear.” That perfect love is Christ: His forgiveness, His
promises, and His victory...and all of that love is for you. In the name of the
Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.
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