A Test of Christian Submission and Godly Authority
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Opening Illustration – My husband believes in masks. He has taught our children to wear masks. Last year I wasn’t really sure what I believed and so I went along with it. As things have developed, I became more concerned about the lack of effectiveness of wearing masks (even the side of the box says it doesn’t provide any protection), potential harmful effects, and the division they are causing in our society. I have come to see them as a symbol of control through fear. I don’t want to participate in that anymore. And now we have to deal with the vaccine.
I have tried to talk to my husband about it, but he doesn’t share my concern. He thinks that we should do what the health experts say and not question it. He expects me to do the same. I love my husband. He is a kind man. I want to submit to him as the Bible teaches but I don’t feel right about what he wants me to do. What should I do? What does the church say I should do? Must I wear a mask and get vaccinated because my husband wants me to? Would I be under church discipline if I refuse?
1. Christian submission.
a. Unlimited Authority?
i. Son submits to the death. Luke 22:41-42
And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
ii. Church follows Christ’s example. 1 Corinthians 11:1
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
iii. Wives submit to the death? Ephesians 5:24
Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
b. Voluntary Submission?
i. No one takes it from Me! John 10:11-18
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
ii. Be a servant leader! Matthew 20:25–28
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
iii. Husbands, give of yourself. Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
c. The role of conscience in Christian life. Hebrews 10:22; 1 Timothy 1:5
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
2. Biblical view of authority
a. Hierarchy of authority in the family. 1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
i. God the Father
ii. God the Son
iii. Man
iv. Woman
v. Children
b. Purpose of Christian obedience.
i. We are God’s people. 1 Peter 2:9–10
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
ii. We should honor God with our conduct. 1 Peter 2:11–12
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
c. Exercise of obedience.
i. Submit to government by doing good. 1 Peter 2:13–17
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
ii. Submit to masters by doing good even if you suffer. 1 Peter 2:18–25
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
iii. Submit to husbands by doing good. 1 Peter 3:1–6
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
iv. Husbands likewise dwell with them. 1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
d. Suffering under human authority.
i. Suffer for a good cause. 1 Peter 3:13–17
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
ii. Christ suffered to reconcile us to God. 1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
iii. Saved by baptism (pure conscience). 1 Peter 3:21–22
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
iv. Live for God’s will. 1 Peter 4:1-2
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
3. The commandment to Love.
a. Don’t worry about being hated. 1 John 3:13–15
Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
b. Christ’s sacrifice for us is love. 1 John 3:16–17
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
c. Let your actions be motivated by love. 1 John 3:18-23
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
Closing Illustration –
Closing Thought