1 Peter 3:1-7 Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word… We adopt the opinion that "the Word" is used in two distinct senses, and we read the passage thus: If any obey not the gospel, they also may without preaching be won by the character and conduct of the wives. The subject before us is this: The gospel reproduced in character and conduct, a means of saving sinners from the error of their ways. In discussing this subject, however, let me guard against even the appearance of underrating the written and the preached Word. Without "the Word," what revolutions would this void create! The "Word" withdrawn from Christendom would rend the finest pictures, and pull down the most splendid buildings, and take the salt from the best literature, and bury in oblivion the highest science, and darken the brightest homes, and devastate the fairest countries, and undermine all righteous thrones, and send back some civilised nations to barbarism, and bring a huge shadow of death over the whole world. Without "the Word" mankind are without gospel, without light and life. I. "THE WORD" RECEIVED PRODUCES A DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER IN HIM WHO ACCEPTS IT. This is alike its object and tendency. "The Word" reveals the one living and true God — the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost — as the redeeming God, and shows that God is reconciling the world unto Himself. Now, the man who receives "the Word" is translated from darkness to light, he is transplanted from an ungenial to a friendly soil, and he admits to his nature elements which, combining with whatever is Divine within him, will produce a new man and effect a new creation. II. THE CHARACTER WHICH "THE WORD" PRODUCES IS OF A NATURE TO ATTRACT AND WIN. The character begotten by "the Word" is — 1. Strong. It has in it all the constituents of complete spiritual power, intelligence touching the highest subjects, faith in God, hope of the greatest and most enduring good, love of the purest and most fervent flame, immutable and everlasting principles of action. 2. The character formed by "the Word" is also genial. There is in it the attractiveness of beauty and of pleasantness, as well as of power. The basis of that which is genial in the Christian character is love. 3. This strong and loving character is also reasonable, it is conformed in all points, to rational principles. It has within it none of the elements which constitute the fanatic or visionary. Imagination creates not this character, but faith in a Divine revelation; and that revelation presents nothing contrary to reason. III. THE INFLUENCE OF THIS GOSPEL-FORMED CHARACTER IS FELT MOST WHERE ASSOCIATION IS MOST FREQUENT AND CONTACT MOST CLOSE. The text points to a home as the sphere of Christian influence, but it also directs our attention to woman as influential there, and it leads our thoughts to the presence of unbelief in the family. This suggests two things: firstly, that there is often evangelistic work to be done in families of which Christians are part; and secondly, that this work may be extensively wrought by Christian women. Christian men and women, whatever your hands may find to do beyond, neglect not the home. IV. BELIEVERS OF THE WORD MAY ACCOMPLISH THE END OF PREACHING BY BEING DOERS OF THE WORD IN THE FACE OF UNBELIEVERS. The great want of the world at the present time, is the Christianity of the New Testament translated into action. The demand for Christians is more urgent than the demand for churches. Men would see works that they may believe our words. (S. Martin.) Parallel Verses KJV: Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; |
    |