Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The book of 1 Peter

Chapter 3

1Pet.3:1 In like manner, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don't obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word; 3:2 seeing your pure behavior in fear.

What is subjection? The word is so skewed in today world that most Christian's avoid the word and thought altogether. Here is the problem, the husband is to be under the headship of Christ, Christ is under God's headship, and the woman under the mans headship, but what is headship and subjection?

Ephesians 4:15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ.

Will, once again its no mystery at least for those reading their bibles, and looking at the creation of God, which teaches us the order of things. Never in the history of mankind has there been a greater divorce rate, there are more people living alone than there are married in some country. So what is the problem? The human body works under the head of the body, its that simple, the head of the body does not abuse itself, nor speak evil of itself, creation should teaches us that much? Is subjection burdensome for those in Christ Jesus as their head, hardly?

1 Corinthians 12:21 The eye can't tell the hand, "I have no need for you," or again the head to the feet, "I have no need for you."

Does a hand compete to be the head of the body, does the head thinking its better than the foot on its own body? Once again hardly! Woman have been abused over the headship, or subjection taught in Christianity there is no denying it. But let us reason together can there be a Christian's marriage according to God if there is not headship? Whom indeed is the wife really subjecting herself to, ultimately? In other words, can a man be a Christian's without subjecting themselves to Christ?

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.

Here we have the problem of why life and marriage hardly works in today's world, where most men are actually in subjection to the woman's every wants and needs living in fear of saying no. This is not working and neither is it godly, each or us must stand for truth, rather we are married or not, if that means we be hated than so be it. But on the other hand, let us all examine the truth of our personal conduct in this matter, do we truly love each other as Christ Jesus does us? Do we endure in faith praying when our mate hates us, do we subject ourselves to Christ when trouble occur or do we compete repaying injury for injury? Are we willing to give up some of our rights to maintain our relationship, or do we like the world hate the word headship, and/or subjection finding it not politically correct?

Matt.5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you.

Eph. 5:28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 5:29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; 5:30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 5:31 "For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh."{Genesis 2:24} 5:32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.

1Pet.3:3 Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; 3:4 but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious. 3:5 For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

Does the Holy Spirit excite the flesh? What of Christian's men or woman whom put so much emphasis on the flesh, it's appearance, making it the pursuit of life, not only making it the main event, but preaching about it as the essential part of the Good News? What a dramatic contrast of the apostle Peter's words spoken here where the fruit of Holy Spirit is shown in the adornment of the gentle and quiet spirit of the inward person!

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

No! Mistakenly the Holy Spirit does not need our sinful flesh to look good for God, God is not selling the Holy Spirit in the prefect package . The Holy Spirit puts to the death the sinful flesh in Christ, and adorns the inward person in peace and gentleness in the fruit of Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not make a show in the flesh, nor does it excite our fallen flesh in the latest fade in dressing and make up. On the other hand, neither is the Holy Spirit concern with making a person dress in a certain way to fit into a particular religious organization, no! The issues in not the flesh, it is factually the inward person, but why?

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

Simply put, the inward person is new, new in Christ, not the flesh, but the secret person of our heart, the new heart, born again as a child of God, where no lies exist by adornment, but rather the Christ whom both woman and men have become apart of. From this context, modest is a given, because it is the heart condition, it not legislated by religious doctrine, but part of the new personality of the godly person.

Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

There is so much deception by religious garb making a person look a certain religious way, that is, more righteous, but there is no deception in the secret inward person adorned with a quite gentle spirit - now is there? Truth is not a lie, or a deception, it is the same today as tomorrow, we are in the truth, Christ Jesus, and he is in us. There is nothing fake about that, it matter not one wit the vessel be beautiful on the outside the truth is what draws God's children is found on the inside.

Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to look good in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Isa.53:1 Who has believed our message? To whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed? 53:2 For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form nor comeliness. When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 53:3 He was despised, and rejected by men; a man of suffering, and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn't respect him.

1Pet.3:5 For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:
3:6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are, if you do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

Why would Sarah call Abraham lord, when we find so few woman respecting men in our day? Did Abraham earn Sarah's respect perhaps? And/or Sarah loved God more than Abraham, unlike Eve whom rejected Adam's headship for a serpent. There were many things Sarah did not vibe for power control equality with Abraham she instead loving and respectfully subjected herself to God position for her. In other words, Sarah was wise with wisdom she could learn from creation and appreciate the order of God's beauty in creation.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

She did not confuse mankind's failure with God's loving creation thinking as Eve did God was withholding something good by not making her equal to Abraham. She wasn't discontented with God's order, God's creation, she respect it, showed appreciation for it by honoring her husband with deep respect. In this she was will pleasing to God because she walked in faith removing the sight of fallen flesh that compares itself to other fallen flesh and than scream injustice, unfairness, and because of those abuses take the right to seizes upon Abraham's position of headship. No man on earth in his imperfect state deserves the gift of headship, he has failed from birth, and will continued to be less than perfect unlike Christ.

Prov.31:29 "Many women do noble things, but you excel them all."
31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised. 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!

Moreover, no child has perfect parent but it does not give them the right to disrespect what God has given them as their parent headship. What Sarah had was not written upon paper as proof of a godly person her proof was secret, she went into her closet and honor her God with reverence and awe before the holy angles that must have delighted when considering all the rebellion upon earth against God's headship. All of us do will in following Sarah's course in headship, no she did not go down as a great prophet, a king, and leader, and teachers, but what she did was perfect in God's eyes, and being loved by God out weighs all the glory of men and this world.

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can't be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe.

1Tim.3:1 This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer{or, superintendents, or bishops}, he desires a good work. 3:2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife,temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; 3:3 not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 3:4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; 3:5 (but if a man doesn't know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?) 3:6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

1Pet.3:7 You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.

In our world today there is a concert effort to make woman as strong a men physically, in every way, a fierce competition for woman supremacy, at the same time laws and work rules are being enforced upon men to treat woman as superior - not equals, but mentally, morally and physically superior. Rather its true or not, it does not matter for nation have used the same deceptive tactics from the beginning of time, which is label something and than use every form of propaganda to make the label stick. When people are so foolish to go against nature and what it teaches us, they end up always in an extreme situation with more moral problems than what they started. But the fleshly mind thinks they can compensate for past abuses in going to opposite extreme.

Rom.1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 1:19 because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. 1:20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. 1:21 Because, knowing God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 1:23 and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.
1:24 Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves,

Christian's are not in competition with their mates, nor do they consider themselves superior to anyone each believe they are created being by a loving God. They trust God is good and don't fight against what God's creation teaches, but rather live in harmony with it trying to do no harm to neighbor or family. The war of the sex's has nothing to do with being godly or Christian's it is a war created my man/woman to correct a injustice by ungodly means of being right at the cost of someone else freedom. Men no longer know their roll in life, and woman can't seem to find a mate that they respect and admire, the fruitage of which is the greatest divorce rate every known to mankind. But none of this matter the trend will not be reversed in part or partial of society they will continue into a downward spiral until the very core of family and family values are gone which in turn will affect every segment of society into corruption. One more grand experiment at the cost of the human race by those hating God.

Psalms 14:1 <<For the Chief Musician. By David.>> The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none who does good.

Can Christian's maintain a family where God says the man is the head of his household and the woman is the weaker vessels? Perhaps, but the power behind the winds of changes are so strong it will be only by God's Holy Spirit, and in endurance by good works. But for those that do, God is will pleased with their love and loyalty for his name sake, they will shortly shine a brightly as stars in heavens as the nation corrupt into the dust of their own ungodly intellect thinking they are wise, foolish denying the works of their own making.

Proverbs 18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.

2Tim. 3:1 But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come.
3:2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3:3 without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 3:4 traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 3:5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. Turn away from these, also. 3:6 For of these are those who creep into houses, and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
3:7 always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1Pet.3:8 Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, 3:9 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.

What are we called to as Christian's? Some think judgment of others to wake them up to reality, others thinking telling it as it were! Still others, being bold, standing up for the truth is the single biggest thing for which they were called, but few, oh, so few inherit a blessing from being courteous, compassionate, tenderhearted, like minded, why?

Matt. 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,{Leviticus 19:18} and hate your enemy.{not in the Bible, but see Qumran Manual of Discipline Ix, 21-26}' 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 5:45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? 5:47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

It does not seem to be our nature, we would like to think so, but few people now days if any are drawn to these quality if their honest about the apostles Peter words here. We all have two minds, one is fleshly mind, and the other is a spiritual mind renewed by Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is what Peter speaks to here, which is a gift to God's children from above and when they have the gift of Holy Spirit it produces the wonderful fruit Peter was speaking to here. But there is the other side of this coin, a fleshly mind and what is it drawn to rendering evil for evil, reviling for reviling, but perhaps not the way one might think?

James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth. 3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

You see, these brothers and sisters sins of their flesh had be abolished, how had they been abolished? The simple answer is by their flesh not being judge any longer by God, and how had that happen? Each one had been put to death in their sinful flesh in Christ Jesus, and made new in his life. In other words, they live to God as a spirit person, not a fleshly person. Thus, because they had died in their flesh before God they now lived by Spirit. Hence, having no flesh neither could there be a judgment of their flesh, dead in Christ. But let us remember as hard as this is for some, they still lived on earth in their sinful body, but their sinful bodies were dead to God's judgments by laws for the flesh, like the old law of Moses, which condemned them in their flesh.

Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"} 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

Colossians 2:13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.

Colossians 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit to God.

Here than is the deception for them and us, when we are freed of judgment, and we judge others whom are also freed in Christ from judgment what have we done? Have we returned good for good done to us, or have we return evil for evil, for our not being judged? Actually we fall right into what Christ himself spoke. Don't judge so you won't be judged, it that simple. Here these brothers and sisters were called to blessing in Christ provided they loved the things of the Holy Spirit, if not? Than as all flesh does it will steal the words of God claiming such gives them the right to return evil as a judge of law.

James 4:11 Don't speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.

James 4:12 Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?

1Pet.3:10 For, "He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.
3:11 Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

Is judging peace? Well, it can end in peace if the judgment is with life in view, as our own judgment is by a God's of love. However, something hard for many to understand because of the secularization of God's word the bible, two thousand's years after Christ walked the earth, judging with death in view is not peace. It is a violent war in defeating and killing ones enemies by words and/or by implements of war. Many Christian's have deceived themselves into thinking God authorizes them to kill their enemies by judgmental words, thinking themselves God's prophet upon earth.

1Cor. 11:30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 11:31 For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn't be judged.
11:32 But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

But one might noted for the record, of all the apostles of Christ not one recording themselves as God's prophet upon earth, instead we find them calling themselves slaves, and/or some translation no liking the word slave, servant of God. Christ disciples, and apostles sought peace, but how? When a person discards the burning issue of the first century Christian's found the Greek scriptures, which they were formed around, before the secularization into making all things biblical fit into our modern day world, without that issue known a person cannot find the truth.

The issues was the Christ Vs. the Law, this one issue left unchecked would polluted the entire anointed body of Christ into a corrupted yeast kingdom within less than one-hundred years. When we say law it encompasses any laws that supplant the law of Christ for the body of Christ, God one authorized law for His spiritual temple.

Matthew 13:33 He spoke another parable to them. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures{literally, three sata. 3 sata is about 39 litres or a bit more than a bushel} of meal, until it was all leavened."

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Seeking peace for the body of Christ factually was seeking Christ righteousness and the law of Christ, that is, not judging with inferior laws created for the wicked. In other words, those in Christ were sinless, if the body fell back into back biting and hating one another through judgments of laws/yeast for the wicked they would kill the very thing causing them peace in Christ who had united them without judgment or condemnation by God's Spirit. What would each one chose to seek? Peace the same peace they were given by God in not having their sins accounted against them, or go back into the laws for sin to judge the speck in their brothers and sisters eye?

Matt. 7:1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged.
7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? 7:4 Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye?

Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"} 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

1Tim.1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

Doing good towards all would be bring them into Christ having them freely forgiven as they had been. Teaching the truth of mankind's fallen position into sin and the Good News of the Kingdom, which is Christ deliver us from death into eternal life by his own life. This is not an easy course nor is it a course the world understand, for all in the world are under judgment of sin and death promoting judgment of the flesh through a works of law, rather it be the laws of nation, bible, a religion and/or the place they work, all is mandatory proof of performance by self-merit. But not those under the law of Christ, their merit has been freely given them by God's own love, because they could never earn enough self-merit to enter into God's Kingdom, or His association. Someone had to pay the price for them. If these brothers and sister lost this one point they would fall into judgment of each other by works of law into would was the best, accounted by self-merit in preaching, teaching, intellect, looks, or whatever else gave the person a seemingly a better position in their flesh upon earth.

Galatians 5:1 Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don't be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Romans 3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

James 4:11 Don't speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.

James 4:12 Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?

1Pet.3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."{Psalm 34:12-16} 3:13 Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good?

When does harm come too us? Usually, when we cause trouble, putting our nose into someone private business, being a busy body in the affairs of others, exerting ourselves over others because we think we are authorized by God's word to run peoples lives. But hardly for a good work towards others. Really this is Peters point here we can get a persecution complex because we uphold the bible, or our thinking becomes us and them, and once in that thinking mold so goes good works for those we don't approve of by our religion.

Romans 12:2 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Let us remember the Lord is righteous he does not have two sets of scales one for your religion, or yourselves and one for the world. Christ died for the world, and rather we understand or not all of us once were the world alienated from God. Its easy to forget ourselves and become very righteous over sin, not realizing by doing good works towards sinner many have come to the Lord over two-thousand years. Moreover, some have found in many years of service through endurance that their own world did not come to end as they imagined through zeal for God; their generation was not the one they thought would see the end of the world.

Romans 14:16 Then don't let your good be slandered.

Romans 15:2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.

These were not enduring in good works, they were enduring for destruction of the wicked, not love of neighbor. Many harmed themselves, and others in a self-center religious pursuit of end-time prophecy, having no real love of neighbor. It is the constant love of God towards us in a life-time of trials that we come to appreciate his never-ending love towards us as weak human. It is God and Christ enduring in good works that has saved billions of the human race over thousand's of years. It has not been God's pursuit of destruction, but instead salvation through patience and kindness that we turned to the Lord. Few are harmed for love of neighbor in good works, many are hated and go on hating through judgment for their neighbor destruction.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up.

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

1Pet.3:13 Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good? 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Don't fear what they fear, neither be troubled."{Isaiah 8:12}

Let us understand suffering for righteousness sake is not suffering for self-righteousness there is a vast difference do you know why? Christ is our righteousness, we are not our righteousness, we have no righteousness without Christ Jesus giving us merit in the eyes of God. We are sinners, and because Christ gave us his life he bought us from our sins into his his sinless life giving us a righteous standing with God. We suffer than for Christ righteousness in us, as we live in him.

1Cor.1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

In Christ righteousness we fear not because he has finished what we could not finish in our own righteousness God's judgment of us. When God looks at the blood of the pass-over lamb he pass-over our deserved judgment. When Christian's are filled with Christ righteousness they produce fruit for God, not themselves in justifying themselves as obeying laws of the land, or laws of their religion, or man's laws. On the other hand, neither are they law breakers because the righteousness of Christ in them compels them into all righteousness of doing good works.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

Obedient by the law of love harms no one, hence, the laws of the land are kept because those laws protect harm from neighbor. But a Christian's does not be come self-righteous in keeping those laws in judgment towards those that don't they remain in Christ being freely forgiven they own sin undeservedly by God's great mercy and kindness.

Rom. 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18} 13:10 Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Many Christian's and non-Christian alike become self-righteous in obeying a rule or a law in judging other very harshly, but true believers have been set free of the works of our flesh, and its sin, in Christ, they walk no longer by laws judging the wicked, but instead by the laws for those made righteous by Christ Jesus blood. They live in Christ righteousness where the law of love is supreme, and freedom of sin has been conquered for them by Christ Jesus own perfect life. They do good toward all men as the Spirit in them is good towards all men and woman no matter country or nationality, for its is the living Spirit of God, the God of peace.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 Don't be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn't sin.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

1Pet.3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear: 3:16 having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good manner of life in Christ.

What is in us that one should always be ready to explain the hope in us? A job, a friend, a wife, a political view? No! The Christ, each Christian is indwelt with Christ, his life. Thus, we represent his life, not so much our own. In other words, when people see us they should see Christ, and/or his personality. Many Christian's are feed spiritual food from their bible, just as a person can go to college and become a profession speaking and acting like they have been taught from books. However, such education may or may not effect their moral lives. But not so with those indwelt with Christ they have a new personality conforming to Christ in humility.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Christ personality is not an act, it is the person of Christ whom is the truth. Many will curse the teaching of the bible, for lack of Christ being in most calling themselves Christian's, but few will curse the loving kindness of Christ indwelling true loving Christian's in peace and love. There is a vast difference between doctrine and being indwelt with Christ do you know what that is?

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Jude 1:9 But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, "May the Lord rebuke you!"

The difference is the truth, for truth to be truth it has to be more than just doctrine, it has to be our actions conforming to the Christ own life, doctrine define a truth that leads us too Christ found in our bibles, it places limits upon our thinking, but it is not love, love has no limits in showing kindness or forgiving towards our enemies, it not limited to a doctrine that says we cannot show love towards neighbor because they don't believe as we do.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

We are not saying a person can accept anything in the name of Christ, but we are saying we can show love towards all with deep respect as Christ personality does in dwelling us. In this we can have a good conscience because God is leading us by Holy Spirit, His will, and works are being done through us where we have no regrets knowing each person has been treated as Christ treats us.

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

1Cor.13:1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. 13:3 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.

1Pet.3:17 For it is better, if it is God's will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.

Laws for doing good are not a burden for God's children, God's children are not lawless or they are not God's children. They are indwelt with Christ whom was never lawless or sinful. Being good and doing good works is not something legislated into God's children it is factually written into their hearts and their very nature by a new birth into the personality of Christ.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.

They love truth, if they are in truth (Christ), they have no agenda politically or religiously, they do not put man above Christ or God. However, often they suffer at the hands of slanders that mockingly discrediting them to slander the righteousness of Christ indwelling them.
This conduct does not mean that a child of God may not be discredited by the world causing shame even from the worlds judgment. What it means is they suffer righteously in Christ for his life, not their own, they are made to look like a fool to the worlds standard of wisdom.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Now some by such persecution may break the laws of the land, and suffer shame, but they have not been rejected by God, why? Because God's children eternal judgment is not in the hands of people of the flesh, the flesh can be judged, and already has by God. Which flesh is dead in Christ, by lesser authorities, but they cannot judge the life of Christ indwelling each child of God that makes them spirit son's of God. That judgment stands alone in the hands of YHWH whom gave each one the righteous life of Christ. Having such righteousness it is not possible for sinful flesh dead in the eyes of sinless God to file accusation against one of His children (having Christ righteousness indwelling them) that will effect them everlastingly in the Spirit.

Romans 8:33 Who could bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who justifies.

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Each brother and sister in Christ must be remained that the fleshly speck in our brothers and sisters eye might will be our own judgment if we pass into eternal judgments based upon fleshly actions. For good reason the apostle Paul and others in his time understood there was a separation of flesh and spirit where the flesh was handed over to Satan for it destruction to save the spirit. Let us not tread where faithful angels have the fear and humility not to tread, knowing that our Father is not the author of lawlessness or rebellion against his righteous authority. Moreover, let none of us put anything above the righteousness of Christ which is now God's supreme authority in heaven and earth.

Jude 1:9 But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, "May the Lord rebuke you!"

Definition of Abusive Speech:

Often the abusive defamation, (an abusive attack on another person’s character or good name), by means of belittling or degrading is purposeful. Those who suffer from low self-esteem will deliberately vocally demean others in futile attempts to raise themselves up. In others, the verbally abusive speech may be meant to control or manipulate someone with the intentions of acquiring some self-serving results.
1Pet.3:18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

It is good the apostle Peter reminds us that Christ suffered for our sins once for all times, not each day as some imagine because they sin against a law of the bible, but once, and than never again! Sadly, few grasp this thought thinking Christ is above it all living in glory and peace so our suffering is trying to do better the next time evens the score card, but this is not true.

Romans 3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

What Peter is saying is in complete harmony with all the scriptures, under God's law sin offering for animals and other means could not make a person sinless before God, it required year to year atonement and in some cases offering for sin when they were committed. But not so with Christ his life was so precious to God that once he died he atoned our sins eternally, we must than walking in love, or/and in Spirit accepting this truth by faith, we are atone for once for all times.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.

Hebrews 7:27 who doesn't need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.

In other words, no more repentance from dead works, no more staying in the primary doctrines of Christ, let us move on into the truth of what Christ did by faith. Let us understand what it was judging us, it was our flesh under laws for the flesh. It was laws that condemned sin in the flesh as wicked. Now Christ has removed us from all laws of our flesh provided we walk in Spirit, which means love towards each other. But let us never forget we did not remove those laws judging our flesh by anything good or righteous we did. No! It was by the price God placed upon His own begotten Son's life that removed our deserved judgment by God's unmerited kindness towards us.

Romans 9:11 For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls.

Colossians 2:20 If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,

Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Yes, God removed our judgment once for all times because we put faith in the pass-over lamb, God pass-over our deserved judgment because of the power of Christ blood. We cannot earn or put away the filth of our own flesh by human righteousness or goodness, we must in all humility accept with lowliness of mind the worthiness of Christ life.

1Pet.3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:2 with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love;

Philippians 2:3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself.

1Pet.3:19 in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, 3:20 who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 3:22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

Here the apostle Peter eludes to a number of complex issues for Christian's one the division between flesh and spirit. Christ flesh was put to death, but he was made alive in the spirit, those angels during the flood whom created human bodies to cohabit with woman had their flesh killed by the flood for such gross disobedience to God. Next Peter speak of Noah and the eight souls whom were saved when God wiped out all flesh through a world wide flood.

1Cor.5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:5 are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?

Than he makes the point, although one might thinks they can put away the works of their flesh, once its sins, it can't be done, but how does all this flesh come together, and why did Peter bring up all this in a complex statement? These brothers and sister were born again, not their flesh, by their spirit into Christ spirit, their flesh was not saved, it was killed by water baptism into Christ life. There sins, still lived on in them, by their flesh past on to them through Adam, but their sins of their flesh were not accounted against them because their lives were purchased by an ark, of salvation, Christ Jesus. All flesh during the flood died, but eight souls God called righteous, now we must ask what made those souls righteous letting us connect the dots?

Genesis 9:4 But flesh with its life, its blood, you shall not eat.

Genesis 9:5 I will surely require your blood of your lives. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man's brother, I will require the life of man.

Those souls were made righteous by blood of innocent victims, the death of all flesh, animals, not unrighteous human sinning against God, but the sacrifice of all flesh upon earth of animals, killed by the flood saved Noah and his family. They did not put away their sin of the flesh, but their souls were saved at great cost to God and his creation. Now Peter is reminding these brothers and sisters do not become righteous over much they were saved at great cost by the blood of Christ Jesus, God's own son, they could not put away their sinful flesh, but they could ask God for a good conscience based upon Christ life. Moreover, God was not saving their flesh, but their souls into eternal life, as he had Noah and his family.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

Romans 8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Romans 8:13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Christian's must separate the flesh from the spirit, if judgment of the flesh and a war with it becomes the center piece of a Christian life, plucking out the eye of their brothers and sisters faults, they have missed what Christ had done for them? None of us can come close in paying the price, Noah and his family must have been humbled in seeing an entire world of flesh wipe out, and finding themselves living on in flesh that still sinned! We to should know God has wiped out our own flesh, by Christ perfect life, our ark, we live on in the flesh sinning daily, knowing we did nothing to earn our way into the ark of Christ Jesus life, we cannot on our best day put away the filth of our flesh, but what we can do is ask God for a clean conscience based upon Christ merit.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Romans 1:17 For in it is revealed God's righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, "But the righteous shall live by faith."{Habakkuk 2:4}

Romans 3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one

Completed on: Feburary 5, 2014

by: Daniel a Slave of Christ