Submit to One Another

As we begin the message this morning, let’s review our theme verse. Read it with me.

Romans 12:10 CSB

10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Outdo one another in showing honor.

We have looked at several of the “one another’s” in this series. We looked at how we should love one another. We considered how we should instruct one another. We talked last week about being kind to one another.

This week, we are going to talk about an especially difficult Christian discipline. This discipline is challenging because it is unnatural. I should probably say it is supernatural. It is beyond what we do naturally. Naturally, we seek our own interests. We look out for ourselves. We put ourselves first. Much of the battle in our nation right now is based around people thinking of themselves first.

The people who think we need to reopen things and get the economy working again are being accused of not caring if people die. They are being accused of just caring about money, when really, in many cases, they just want to provide for their families. The people who think everyone needs to stay home and lock down everything are being accused of not caring if people lose their jobs. They are being accused of desiring to see government expand and control everything when really they are concerned about the spread of the virus to vulnerable people. I don’t think these accusations are true. I think, in most cases, people are thinking about what is best for themselves and what they are comfortable with. They aren’t thinking about the struggles of their fellow man. They aren’t thinking about how the position they are advocating for effects the community around them. These are generalizations, but I think there is some truth in it.

Brothers and sisters, we cannot allow fear to direct our path, nor can we allow recklessness. We should not be seeking our own interests. We should have a different mentality. We should have a different outlook, not one of compromise, but of mutually beneficial solutions. We should be submitting to one another.

Ephesians 5:21 CSB

21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

Submit to one another.

One of the things we have realized over the last few months is what is really important and what is not. Most things in life, especially the things we fight over, are not nearly as important as we think they are. Submission teaches us to distinguish between genuine issues and stubborn self-will. Submission teaches us to value other people. Submission teaches us to give up our rights for the good of others. Submission is about having the mind of Christ.

The word “submission” is the word

ὑποτάσσομαι (hypotassomai) - obey, obedient, to bring under control

This word was used in a military sense of soldiers submitting to their superiors or slaves submitting to their masters. It is about giving up your rights and will in favor of the rights and will of a superior. Think about the example of Christ. He practiced submission to take a towel and wash his disciple’s feet.

John 13:12–15 CSB

12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.

He submitted to the will of the Father. He became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:8 CSB

8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

Jesus shattered the cultural positions and mentalities about power and control. He valued people, even taking women and children seriously, which was unheard of in his day. Jesus said leadership is found in submission.

Leadership is defined by submission.

Mark 9:35 CSB

35 Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”

This concept flips the whole discussion on its head. Brothers and sisters, if Jesus could submit himself to the needs of the humans he created, how much more should we exercise and practice submission with one another.

We should reject the “I want what I want” mentality. We should reject the “me first” attitude. We should reject the stubborn pride that desires to get our own way. Our happiness should not be dependent upon getting what we want. We don’t have to have our own way. If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will demonstrate humility through submission to one another. If we hold Jesus in his proper place as Lord and Savior, then we will submit to one another. We won’t seek our own interests, but only want is in the best interests of one another.

Contrast this to the world’s way. The world teaches, “Stand up for yourself!” “Make sure you get yours!” “Don’t take anything from anybody!” We will talk about limits of submission later in the message. What we need to understand is a Sprit-filled believer is a submissive believer.

A Spirit-filled believer is a submissive believer.

Sometimes a person who claims Christ becomes aggressive and self-assertive. This is antithetical to a person walking in the Spirit. People who are genuinely filled with the Spirit of God demonstrate humility. If you are in control, you aren’t allowing the Spirit to have control, which means you aren’t being submissive. God has appointed leaders over us and we are to submit to them. If we are being led by the Spirit, we will be submissive to the God ordained authorities.

There are six areas in which God has setup authorities structures for us. I am not going to develop them fully in this message, but I do want you to know what they are. Do your own study on them this week.

1. Submission to God (James 4:7)

James 4:7 CSB

7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

God is the Sovereign Creator of the universe. He created us and redeemed us. We should be submissive to the will of God. In our text verse for this morning, the fear of Christ should be cause for our submission. We honor and reverence Jesus; therefore, we submit to one another.

2. Submission to government authorities (Romans 13:1-2)

Romans 13:1–2 CSB

1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.

This one is tough for me because “‘Merica, that’s why!” For our governmental context, the Constitution of the United States is the law of the land and we should submit ourselves to the founding document. Our representatives take an oath to uphold the Constitution and they should be held to account to do so. My loyalty to my country is found in the Constitution of the United States which is under my loyalty to the kingdom of God.

3. Submission to pastoral leadership (Hebrews 13:17)

Hebrews 13:17 CSB

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

My job is to pastor you, to shepherd you. My job is to teach you how to do the ministry. One day, I will give an account to God for how I led you and you will give an account to God for how you responded to leadership.

4. Submission of wives to husbands and children to parents (Eph 5:22, 6:1)

Ephesians 5:22 CSB

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord,

Ephesians 6:1 CSB

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

Notice how I just keep on moving past this one. :)

5. Submission of employees to employers (Eph 6:5-8)

Ephesians 6:5–8 CSB

5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.

In our context, we don’t own, nor should we own slaves; however, we do have an obligation to submit to our employers. The way we work is evidence of the condition of our heart. Laziness, bad attitudes, and speaking negatively about your boss has no place in a believer’s work life.

6. Mutual submission (Eph 5:21)

Ephesians 5:21 CSB

21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

“Some strong expositors reject this last category, but there are also many that accept it. If there is a legitimate sense in which we are to submit to one another, it does not negate the other God-given areas of authority. Rather, it means that we are to set aside all self-seeking and selfish assertiveness and rather, humbly serve one another in love.”

Before we leave this subject of submission, are there limits to submission? Once we come to faith in Christ, are we just supposed to be a doormat to be walked over? Are we supposed to just roll over to everything? The biblical answer is “no”. There are limits to submission.

Limits to submission

Acts 4:19–20 CSB

19 Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; 20 for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

1. Suppression of the gospel message by human authorities

Peter and John healed a lame man. They were arrested because they were preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Sanhedrin, the religious court, tried to threaten Peter and John into stopping the gospel message. Peter and John humbly stated that it was not an option for them to stop giving the gospel. If human authorities try to prevent and suppress the gospel message, we cannot submit to their authority. In that case, we should continue our gospel witness regardless of the consequence.

Acts 5:29 CSB

29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.

2. Conflict between God’s law and man’s law

Potentially, there are times when God’s law and man’s law are in conflict. In those times, we choose to obey God’s law over man’s law. God is the higher authority to whom we are accountable. One important caveat: we must be sure the law of God and the law of man are truly in conflict and it isn’t just our pride or ideals which are in conflict.

The Old Testament character Daniel faced a situation where God’s law and man’s law were in conflict. Daniel was told he could only pray to the king for 30 days. Obviously, Daniel could not pray to a human king. He decided to accept the consequences of obedience to God over man.

Acts 16:37 CSB

37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to send us away secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out.”

3. Violations of the rule of law

The Romans had laws which governed the treated of the citizens. Paul’s human rights were violated and he pressed the authorities to obey the law. As believers in Jesus, we should be obedient and uphold the laws of the land. When people violate our laws, they should be held to account for their actions, whether it be a person illegally crossing the border or the highest office of our government. Justice should not be perverted.

Submission is not a popular subject these days, but we should be practicing the discipline of submission, especially to one another. Our human nature is not inclined toward submission. We have a natural disposition to resist God and resist each other. However, if we fear Christ, then we can more easily submit to one another.

Are you a submissive person? How does the command to submit make you feel? Does it make you feel angry, defensive, or upset? Are you willing to let go of your pride and will in favor of following leadership? Practice submission and be like your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This week, pay close attention to your reactions when you are dealing with others. If you find yourself being combative and resistant, back off. Ask God to create in you a spirit of submission. Allow the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside out.

Before we close, I am aware this morning that some of you came to worship this morning and you realize your life is not what you hoped it would be. The truth is at one point in time; all of us had lives that were out of control. Without a personal relationship with God, we all stray away from what’s right. We stray right into danger. We are all bent towards sin. We never had to be taught to do wrong. It is just natural for us. Naturally, we are all sinners. Our sin separates us from a holy God. The evil one will try to convince you that you have to deal with your problems on your own. He will try to convince you that you’ve got to get your life straight by your own power. He will try to tell you that after what you have done, God probably doesn’t want you.

At the same time, you are here today and you feel something drawing you towards God. God is drawing you by his goodness and by the Holy Spirit. You are not here by accident. You are here today because God wanted you here today. This is a divine appointment. Today, your life can be changed. You can be forgiven. No longer will you be known by the title of sinner. You will be known as a child of God. Jesus came to earth, lived without sin, and died in our place. Then, he rose from the grave. Why? So that you could have peace with God. So that anyone who calls on his name will be saved, will be forgiven.

There are those of you here today who need God’s grace in your life. You are ready to be made clean. Today, by faith, when you call on Jesus, your sins will be forgiven and you will be made clean. Pray with me,

“Heavenly Father, forgive me for my sins, make me new. I ask Jesus to be my Savior and to be the Lord of my life, first in every way. My life is not my own, I give it to you. Thank you for new life. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, please contact me. If you are listening online, you can contact us through the live chat on the side or you can email me.

Dr. Benjamin Karner - [e-mail]

Pastor Felipe Arias - [e-mail]

Also, if you need prayer or have another need, please contact me.

Close in Prayer.