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Sunday, October 18, 2016 am                                                    Others 2016 Index

 

SUBMITTING TO ONE ANOTHER
1 Peter 5:5

 We have been noting a number of different “one another” passages, in which we are reminded of how we as brethren are to be toward each other.   Continuing our study, today we want to talk about submitting to one another.

We live in a world with leaders and followers.  And honestly, we need confident leaders with the ability to direct others to accomplish what needs to be done.  There are those who naturally, and others who through hard work, rise to positions of leadership.   And if someone is a good leader, we are willing to follow them.    But when we get there, how do we treat others?  We also live in a world where many, especially in high places, think more of themselves than those beneath them.   Furthermore, it is somewhat natural to want to be in charge.  We want to get our way and we want others to cater to us.  But is that what being a Christian is about? 

It is a difficult thing for us to do, but if we are to be pleasing to God AND if we genuinely desire the church to be what it ought to be, we must submit to one another.   The life of a Christian is about submission.

 I.                     Submission

a.       Submitting – to submit to orders or directives of another.   Sometimes translated “obedient”. 
Vine’s identifies this as a military term meaning “to rank under.”   Anyone who has served in the military understands this word. 
In practical terms, submission means to yield to others.  

b.       For example -  the demons were subject to Jesus (Luke 10:17).  This was NOT voluntarily. 
1 Cor. 15:27-28 – God has put all things under the feet of Jesus.  This will remain until He returns at which time, even the son will be subject (submit) to the Father, “that God may be all in all.”

c.        Submission is continually emphasized in scripture:

                                                   i.      The Christian to government – Romans 13:1 & 5 – subject to governing authorities, and not just for wrath but for conscience sake (because you know to do the right thing)
Titus 3:1 – Titus was to remind brethren to be subject to rulers and authorities (the type is not specified – thus it is a general admonition to all such situations)
1 Peter 2:13 – we are to submit to ever ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake (with the obvious exception – “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 4:18-20, 5:29)

                                                 ii.      Employees to employers –Titus 2:9 (obedient), 1 Peter 2:18 – servants to be submissive or obedient to masters (regardless of their goodness) – we can make application of this today to our work relationship.
NOTE: Employers to treat employees with fairness – Col. 4:1 – masters called upon to be just and fair.  Ephesians 6:9, after describing servants, speaks to masters to treat them with the same godly conduct that is directed toward them – give up threatening, etc.   In this, sense, a employer thinks of his employees and does what is best for them – i.e. he serves them!

                                                iii.      Children to parents – Eph. 6:1-2, children are to obey and honor their parents.
cf. Luke 2:51 – even as Jesus was subject to His parents
NOTE: Parents to their children – Colossians 3:21, Ephesians 6:4 - fathers are not to provoke their children. Instead they train them and provide for them -  1 Timothy 5:8 – in a sense they are giving them what they need – i.e. serving them.

                                                iv.      Wives to their husbands – emphasized several times in the New Testament - 1 Peter 3:1, Colossians 3:18 – as is fitting to the Lord, Ephesians 5:22 – as to the Lord.  God established the order in a marriage and it is not to be challenged.
NOTE: Husbands to wives – husbands are not to abuse their authority or mistreat their wives.  Scripture is clear as to how we treat our wives - 1 Peter 3:7 – we honor them and treat them delicately, Ephesians 5:25-26 – love your wives as Christ loves the church, even to the point of giving yourself for them.  Husbands provide for the family, including the wife.
Again, there is a sense in which we serve each other - Cf.  1 Cor. 7:4-5 – the wife does not have authority over her body, neither does the husband

                                                  v.      In all these Biblical directives, we gain an understanding of submission.

 

 II.                   Submit to One another

a.       1 Peter 5:5, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’”

Ephesians 5:21, “submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

b.       Examples of submitting to one another

                                                   i.      Submit to the elders of the congregation – Heb. 13:17. In context, the writer is addressing spiritual leaders – thus this would be the elders.   We are to submit to them.
NOTE: Conversely, Elders are to consider the members – 1 Peter 5:2-3 – an understanding of being shepherds (“pastors”) shows this.  They are not to be lords (dictators), but they lead by example and as caring shepherds.

                                                 ii.      Similarly, 1 Corinthians 16:16, “submit to such” – Paul has described some godly brethren as examples.  He then notes, you submit to such - and to everyone who labors and works with us. 

                                                iii.      To the elderly - 1 Peter 5:5. Younger are called upon to submit to their elders.  The context seems to point toward anyone who is aged (not just the elders of a congregation). 
Leviticus 19:32, “‘You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.”
1 Timothy 5:1, Timothy is instructed to treat older men as fathers and older women as mothers.
This is just common respect, though it is woefully lacking by many in our society.  It is a disgraceful trait in our society.
NOTE: The elderly are not to despise youth – 1 Timothy 4:12 – let no one despise your youth, cf. 1 Corinthians 16:10-11 – where Paul calls for the brethren to accept Timothy. 

                                                iv.      In worship – as we study how to worship God, order is to be maintained.  This requires that we respect and submit to one another. 
We teach and admonish one another in our singing – Colossians 3:16
For example: 1 Corinthians 14:34 – wives have a role to keep silent and be submissive, just as the service is to be conducted in an orderly manner (cf. vs. 29-30, 40 – let all things be done decently and in order).  

 

 III.                 How are we to submit to one another?

a.       In the fear of God – (Ephesians 5:21) - remember our study on reverence! This is where a proper treatment of one another begins – We are commanded upon to submit to God – James 4:7.
Hebrews 12:9 – considering how we are in subjection to our earthly fathers, how much more our heavenly Father?

cf. Romans 10:3 – they did NOT submit to the righteousness of God

b.       Unto God – for His sake.  cf. Colossians 3:18, “as is fitting in the Lord.”
1 Peter 2:13, submit to every ordinance, “for the Lord’s sake”
The point here is we are thinking about God in our conduct.  We are demonstrating to the world AND to one another, that we honor God over man. 

c.        As the church is subject to Christ – Ephesians 5:24. Along with submitting to God the Father, we submit to Jesus and His instructions! 

d.       It is mutual – 1 Peter 5:5 - again the idea of “one another.”  We have shown how in relationships involving submission, there is a reciprocal response and attitude. 
As the Bible calls for us to be united, you can see that we are working together in these things.

e.       Willingly – submission can be something you are compelled to do (and we are since it is a command), but also associated with the word is a willingness to do this. 
To gladly submit, i.e. 2 Cor. 12:15, Paul tells His brethren, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls.”
Cf. Romans 13:5 – you are subject for conscience sake, etc.
When we develop an attitude where we WANT to submit and serve each other – it is not a drudgery to do so. 

f.         With respect – the whole premise of submitting to one another is this respect.  It is a realization that we are equals in God’s eyes.  Cf. Galatians 3:27-28.  many of the above relationships that call for submission call for respect.
Hebrews 12:9 – in a text calling for us to be in subjection to God, the writer uses the illustration of respecting our fathers as they corrected us.

g.       With humility – 1 Peter 5:5-6. The very idea of submission is an understanding that one is over you in a particular area.  NOTE humility is not the same as humiliating. 
James 4:6 – God resists the proud, but give grace to the humble.

h.       With love – Romans 12:10-11, 1 Peter 1 22 – with sincere love of the brethren… ,
Phil. 2:3-4 – we are looking out for each other’s interests.
1 Corinthians 16:14, Let all that you do, be done with love.  Submitting to one another included.

Let us consider these things as we strive to be the godly family God intends for us to be.  Am I truly willing to submit to my brethren?  If I submit to God I will!  Think about it.