Growing through submission

Christians grow in spiritual maturity through submission to God.

1. Point of Philippians is to teach Christians to live in unity even in times of suffering and pain.

2. In v.1-4 Paul’s point is the if you’ve found any practical benefit in your salvation, then live with an attitude of humility and sacrificial concern for others.

A. Jesus is our example of submitting to the Father.

1. v.5-8 tells us that in doing v.1-4 we’re simply following the example Jesus set for us.

The Christian life can be summarized as following Jesus

In v.5-8 we see that Jesus submitted Himself to the will of the Father.

Therefore, Christians are to do the same, submitting ourselves to the will of the Father.

2. Another powerful example of Jesus submitting to the will of the Father.

Luke 22:41–42 NASB95

And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

B. Christians are commanded to submit to God.

Submission: The Greek word we translate as submission literally means “to arrange under.”

Think of troops arranged under a military leader.

a) Submission requires that we surrender our will to the will of God.

Galatians 5:24 NASB95

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

This verse demonstrates something we know all too well; submission to God fights against everything within us.

b) Refusal to submit to God is part of our family heritage.

Genesis 3:6 NASB95

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Adam was given everything and only one thing was withheld from him and he refused to submit to God.

1. God requires us to submit ourselves to Him.

a) In Jesus’ teaching about how to pray, he began like this:

Matthew 6:9–10 NASB95

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

The normal Christian life is one of seeking God’s will to be done rather than your will being most important.

b) James ties our submission to God with spiritual warfare.

James 4:7 NASB95

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

c) Fruit of obedience.

Ephesians 4:14 NASB95

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

2. Christians submit to God according to His Word.

We’ve learned the biblical definition of submission: “to arrange under.”

As we think about applying this practically Christians know that we’re talking about living according to Scripture rather than based on human desires and understanding.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NASB95

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

C. Applying submission in the everyday.

Although you may agree that submission to God may be challenging in some respects, I believe that Christians will tend to accept it.

The place where we all struggle with in the matter of submission is applying it in everyday life, this is because biblical commands to submit often require us to submit to other people.

1. Biblical submission often means submitting to other people.

a) Christians are to submit to governing authorities. <Romans 13:1-4>

This is not to say that every decision made by governing authorities is right.

But, Christians shouldn’t be known for breaking lawful laws and saying nasty things about governing authorities.

Pray for and respect those that God has brought into positions of leadership.

b) Children are to submit to their parents.

Ephesians 6:1 NASB95

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

c) Younger men in the church are to submit to the elders in the church.

1 Peter 5:5 NASB95

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

d) Wives are to submit to their husbands.

Ephesians 5:22–24 NASB95

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

Wives, God means for your husband to be the leader of your family and fighting your husband in this is fighting against God.

e) Church members to church leaders.

Hebrews 13:17 NASB95

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

f) Servants are to submit to their masters. (Employees to employers)

1 Peter 2:18 NASB95

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.

2. Jesus is our example.

<1 Peter 2:21-24>

POINT: God is up to so much more than we think or imagine.

a) This never means we sin.

b) God is using this area of submission to mature you spiritually.

Christians grow in spiritual maturity through submission to God.