Embodying Community: The Church On & Beyond Sunday (Part 4)

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Last few weeks, we have given much time to talking about the one another’s of scripture. A message that if we are being honest is not just good but vital. It’s a primary topic of the Bible. There are literally hundreds of one-another verses in scripture. Obviously we don’t have the time to talk about them all but it is a topic crucial to our life as a believer. So far we have talked about 3.
Devoted to one another
Speaking and teaching one another
Soul Care of one another
This morning I would like to take you to a book of the Bible that is filled with “one another” verses. That would be the book of Ephesians.
On first glance can anyone name some of the “one another” scriptures in Ephesians.
If you start at the beginning of the letter and read, the first actual verse that bears the term “one another” will be found in Ephesians 4:2
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
This last one on the list is the one I would like to give attention to this morning. Submitting to one another.
Three things I would like us to consider as we study Ephesians 5:21.
I. Meaning
I. Meaning
hypotassō (hoop-ot-as'-so)
This word really is multi-faceted… a difficult word to fully grasp for it’s depth of meaning. Here I’ll start us off with some simple definitions and later we will elaborate on them in more detail.
to arrange under, to subordinate, to submit to one's control, to yield to one's admonition or advice, to obey
This word was a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader".
In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden". In other words, relinquishing one’s rights to another person.
So trying to capture all of what we said into one biblical definition, we might say, submitting to one another is to align oneself below others in rank, to perceive ourselves as lesser in rank for the benefit of the other.
II. Motive
II. Motive
As we read Ephesians 5:21 again, we notice a phrase at the end of the verse. A phrase that gives us great understanding as to why we should submit to one another.
submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Out of reverence or in the fear of Christ. What does that look like? How does that motivate us? Paul actually already laid out for us a great example of how we are to revere Christ… live in the fear of Him. It starts in what we know of Christ.
As we look back at the list of one another verses that we addressed, where does the first one another command begin at? What chapter do we first see it introduced? Chapter 4
That’s significant, and it alerts us to the fact that these verses are a part of a section of scripture that begins in chapter 4. That section deals with an important subject Paul wants to convey. What is that subject....
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
The subject matter worthy of Paul’s time and writing is that about walking in a manner worthy of our calling. The question remains… what have we been called to?
The book of Ephesians describes well what we have been called to. We will look at 3 of them and identify these 3 new callings.
First who would read these verses for me...
Ephesians 1 has alot to say on our calling… but I’m going to focus mostly on these few verses...
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
A. We have been called to a new inheritance
A. We have been called to a new inheritance
ie… salvation
By the way, what was our former inheritance- death and separation from God- our wages.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
This is elaborated on in chapter 4:17-24.
B. We have been called to a new life
B. We have been called to a new life
In fact, so often, even as is the case here in Ephesians, one of the primary ways Paul motivates men to stop sinning is by reminding them of this truth.
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
or take another example… how did Paul motivate the carnal, immature, grotesquely sinful church at Corinth to live righteously. Once again, reminding them of what the gospel has already done in making them a new person. But it’s time for them to live that new life made possible for them.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
He gave them this verse, this truth, this reminder after having already addressed the problems of disunity, sexual immorality, and unbiblical lawsuits against each other. That was their identity but it is no longer. Paul says then stop acting like it is and live like your new identity given to you how.... through the washing, sanctifying, and justifying work of Jesus Christ.
Additionally Paul calls out another calling.
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
C. We have been called to a new body.
C. We have been called to a new body.
I love this phrasing. We who were once enemies and openly hostile are now one family. The closest of all human relationships. A body that has been unified and made possible only through Him. A uniting that should be so incredible and so unearthly that it causes others to wonder and be amazed at God’s power.
and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
This verse and thought was brought to mind when I was reading these scriptures… “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder...” This verse specify was stated for what purpose? The joining of man and woman together in marriage. A covenant and promise… a commitment to stay true to each other… why… because God has brought them together. Who else has God brought together? Us… the church. So in all honesty, we should view our commitment to the church and it’s people the same way we view our marriage relationship. Why… because God has brought us together and made us all one!
Put it this way.... Christ’s death didn’t just make it possible for enemies and strangers to become friends and family. No Christ’s death demands it!!!!
Why? Why does it demand it? Many reasons… I’ll share with you one and may allow for time for you to also contribute to the thought.
One glaringly large reason is that we were first enemies of each other because of sin, walking in our former way of life. But as Christians, we are no longer bond to sin, and have been freed from it’s permanent power. Reason that we can be free from sin is that we’ve been given a new nature to combat the old. And not just any nature, no Christ’s new nature. And what was Christ’s nature like… a nature that exhibits love even for hostile, reprobate, treasonous people leading Him to die for His very enemies.
Understanding this bears alot then on how we live today. If we still hold onto animosity or hatred towards another is to basically say that Christ’s death didn’t work, it failed to give me a new nature. It failed to make me like Christ. And obviously that simply cannot be true for what we know of our perfect and victorious King.
That’s why knowing chapters 1-3 is so vital to understanding chapter 4. That’s why Paul builds this case for Christ-like living in the gospel and power of Jesus Christ. If we don’t get what He accomplished then we will never walk worthy of that calling.
So how do we walk worthy? How do we live as those that understand what the will of the Lord is? It is amazing as you consider where Paul laid the most ground work for understanding the gospel, in what places he detailed most clearly of what Christ accomplished, namely in Ephesians and Romans, in both of those passages, we see follow a call to “walk worthy” or a command to “present your bodies a living sacrifice”. What kind of work does that entail? One another work. I’ve already shown you how much attention it is given in Ephesians 4, but look at how much it is addressed in Romans.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
III. Modes
III. Modes
As we continue to struggle through understanding what submitting to each other is, we often find more answers when we continue reading the rest of the passage. Because verse 21 is not merely the ending of a section to talk about how we are to walk, but it is also the starting of the next section. It perfectly combines these two sections together. What Paul had in mind as he was describing how we walk worthy by submitting to each other… he takes the rest of this chapter and the beginning of the next to flesh out how submitting to each other looks like in these different relationships. So if we are to understand what it means to submit to one another, it would be helpful to our understanding if we looked at some of these other areas that Paul had in mind for submitting.
Can you guys identify them?
A. Wives submit
A. Wives submit
Qualifiers that are helpful to understand… how are they to submit or be subject (I know it seems we are picking on the wives here and not picking on the men, but we can learn alot of what we are all to do from understanding what you’ve been instructed and created to do)....
So what are those qualifiers? How are they to submit.
-as to the Lord (what does this mean?)
in like manner or because of the Lord
We understand this passage to be a great help in understanding gender roles in a marriage. When speaking of husbands, they are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church… in other words, in the same way… Christ laid down His life for the church in the same way, husbands should lay down their lives for their wives.
So Paul in describing the wives role is telling her how she ought to submit… as she would to the Lord. But it also includes why she should submit. Not because he (her husband) is worthy, but because Christ is worthy and has said so.
-in everything
In his commentary on Ephesians, Harold Hoehner says: “This little phrase [“in everything”] must, however, not be interpreted as if it meant “absolutely everything.” If the husband should demand her to do things contrary to the moral and spiritual principles established by God himself, submission would be wrong (Acts 5:29; cf. 4:19, 20).”
The culture we live in hates this idea of women submission. It’s a curse word. Why....
weakness, men-cruelty, and value
Wives role is highly revered. It’s not weak. 1) because God made it that way, therefore it is glorious and highly beautiful and wonderful. That alone should cause us to marvel and be thankful. 2) Jesus Himself submitted to that role of submission when He willingly submitted to all the the Father asked of Him including death on the cross. Wives step into the same shoes so to speak as Christ when they submit to their husbands. No longer does submitting sound so bad.
Yes wives are called to submit to a sinful man whereas Jesus submitted to perfect God the Father. But as we already stated, when wives submit to husbands they are actually submitting first and foremost to God the Father in the same way Jesus submitted Himself to wicked Pilate as an extension of His submission to the Father.
Ephesians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 21: The Necessary Foundation
Just as the Son is submissive to the Father in function but equal to Him in nature and essence, wives are to be submissive to their husbands, while being completely equal to them in moral and spiritual nature.
B. Husbands submit? Let’s call it love
B. Husbands submit? Let’s call it love
Are husbands called to submit to their wives in the same way wives submit to their husbands. Is that what verse 21 is talking about?
The whole section does deal with various people who are called to submit. But did Paul have the same kind of submitting in mind for husbands than for wives.
The answer is absolutely not. Though many people will often use verse 21 to try to take away gender roles in marriage, Paul did not call for this type of action.
Call anyone tell me why?
First look at created order, look at various scriptures that also teach on gender roles.
Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve;
Look at that also logically from the rest of these relationships we will talk about. Children/parents… masters/slaves… Is Paul saying that parents should submit to their kids in the same way and role that kids submit to their parents. Absolutely not. That would be crazy and foolish. Parents aren’t called to obey their kids. That would be reckless. And rightly so because God designed it that way just as God designed man and female roles in marriage.
So verse 21 is not minimizing or undoing the gender roles of marriage whatsoever. But verses 22 onward display of in different roles submission is demonstrated. The wife demonstrates submission by her willingness to follow her husbands lead, but the husband also displays submission to his wife by.... loving her.
Section on husbands role and responsibility is more than double the section on the wives role. Part of that might have to do with the culture of that day. Much easier to see wives submitting to husbands in that day, but perhaps needed a more theological reason why. But husbands didn’t in that day and culture didn’t love their lives they way they should and practice that element of submission to their wives.
What element of submission does a husbands love convey?
submitting to one another is to align oneself below others in rank, to perceive ourselves as lesser in rank for the benefit of the other
isn’t that exactly what love is? Mentioned these verses before but here they are again...
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
love always implicitly involves submission to someone else’s needs and desires, i.e., putting the other person first and acting in a servant-like manner, with Christ being used as the example in this case.
Paul uses the highest possible standard (Christ) in the verse above and in his section on submission in Ephesians to make his point for husbands. We are to be servant-leaders to our wives in the same vein as Jesus describes Himself: “... whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matt. 20:26-28).
Put another way, it's hard not to submit to someone when you become their slave in a servant manner as described above. And that’s the example Paul gives us in Jesus when he’s instructing husbands on how to love and behave towards their wives.
Things get elevated a bit more when we think about wives loving and serving their husbands for the same reason we love God: “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). In other words, a husband’s love for his wife results in her loving him back.
C. Children submit? Let’s call it obey
C. Children submit? Let’s call it obey
Another word for obey is listen...
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
D. Parents submit? Let’s call it disciple
D. Parents submit? Let’s call it disciple
E. Servants submit? Let’s call it serve
E. Servants submit? Let’s call it serve
F. Masters submit? Let’s call it humble-leading
F. Masters submit? Let’s call it humble-leading
(not-domineering, over-lording, people demeaning)
shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
In this final example, it is evident that all of these people are equals in Christ, and even in those familial or societal roles where there may be rank or hierarchy, each person should submit to one another as if he or she were of lower rank.
This doesn’t undermine the truth that God still does desire order and authority structure. But he doesn’t view it in the same way we do. We typically think those in higher rank are more important. CRUISE SHIP CAPTAIN AND SALARIES. But that’s not true here. Otherwise, we’d be saying that Jesus was inferior to the Father because He submitted Himself to do His Father’s will.
Ephesians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 21: The Necessary Foundation
As Paul went on to explain (Eph. 5:22–6:9), the structural function of the family, like that of the church and of government, requires both authority and submission. But in all interpersonal relationships there is only to be mutual submission. Submission is a general spiritual attitude that is to be true of every believer in all relationships.
And what does that look like, following the lead of a husband as a wife does, loving your wife as Christ loved the church as the husband does, listening and even potentially obeying as the child does, disciplining and instructing as the parent does, serving with Christ exalting, heart motivated, good will intentioned service as a servant does, and humble leading as a master does knowing that God is our master who will judge each man.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
So what might this look like.
Submit to each
… other’s care- allowing other’s into your life… letting them know the details… putting other’s needs before your own… that may mean giving up an entire Saturday to help a friend out (even though you might have a million other things you can and want to do- it’s gloriously rewarding)
… accountability- membership- seek their counsel- watching others example and not being quick to say that’s just not you or being judgmental about them or envious of them… but seeing and being observant of how others live their lives and choosing to see things that are godly that need reproduced in your own. Do we know others well in our churches to even know where they shine brightest for God. Do we even see the actions of others worth emulating. This is a sure fire way to know if you are spending enough time with others.
… judgement- listen and submit yourself to their reproofs (as long as it lines up with scripture), in fact long for their critique, do you intentionally look to discipline, instruct, and disciple. Do you make every conversation a chance for people to grow spiritually. We should.