1 Pet 3:7
INTRO: Husbands and wives ... people in the closest possible human relationship. The relationship begins with little or no training in the days of our youth. The relationship begins with the assumption that two very young, inexperienced people will make it work (and many do). But along the way there are bumps and potholes which they manage to get past, but they may hurt a bit ... even be a little disillusioned. Its nice, then, to have some reminders, some suggestions from time to time. It helps us build on our bumps. So, husbands ...
1. Give her no cause to regret saying , I do
a. Col 3:19
b. regrets can be strong, damaging
c. regrets can make it difficult to be positive
d. but in so many little ways you can give her cause to regret ... even to be bitter
e. so, everything Im going to say will come back to this very first point!
2. Give stability to your wife
a. Eph 5:28
b. no cause to thing the marriage will not be til death do us part
c. this stability may be demonstrated in numerous ways
d. in your words of affection; in the manner of your providing; in your calm contentment
e. if you love her as you love yourself, she will know she is secure!
3. Give leadership to your wife
a. Eph 5:23
b. this leadership is spiritual; it is practical
c. it sets the course; it is steady in its application; it comforts in its confidence; it is protective
d. but this leadership is not dictatorial
e. leadership certainly takes her into consideration - does not decide, then, announce!
4. Give her understanding!
a. 1 Pet 3:7a
b. two different people from two different worlds
c. (are her biscuits like your mothers? if not, must you tell her so?)
d. her habits, her interests, her desires, etc. should not be dismissed with a wave of masculine hand; nor trampled
e. yielding from time to time does no damage to headship!
5. Give her information
a. Gen 31:4-6
b. most men tend to keep their own counsel
c. but Jacob was very wise to give Rachel and Leah information which lead him to a course of action
d. wives may also have wise input advice to give
e. so many misunderstandings, tensions are avoided when husband take wives into their confidence ( I recently heard of a husband who decided to move, quit his job ... then, told his wife!)
6. Give her support
a. Gen 25:21
b. Isaacs support of his wifes great, legitimate desire was wise and meaningful
c. yes, here I must tread softly ... wifes desires may not always be best for family - and in my comment I assume her desire is best, beneficial
d. then, support with children; support when hurting; support in her hard decisions
e. wives need to know husbands are on their side
CLOSE: We will have more to share next week. But husbands, be sure you love your wives as Christ loved the church.
Cecil A. Hutson
19 August 2001
You Must Hear the Gospel
Romans 10:17
You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
You Must Believe
Hebrews 11:6
You must believe and have faith in God because “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)
You Must Repent
Acts 3:19
You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called “Sinner’s Prayer” that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)
You Must Confess
Romans 10:9
You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus “Lord of your life.” Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just “accept Jesus as your personal savior.” We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)
You Must Be Baptized
Acts 2:38
Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!
You Must Be Faithful Unto Death
Revelation 2:10
Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God’s grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God’s grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)