Submission in the Church

INTRODUCTION

Read 1 Peter 3:8-12

Submission affects every area of life

We are to submit to government

We are to submit to employers

We are to submit in marriage

We are to submit in the church

When Peter says, “To sum up” it’s not the conclusion of the letter

It’s the conclusion of this subject that began in 2:13

When he says “All of you,” that is referring to “all” believers in the church

“All of you” are tthings hose who have been “chosen” (1:1) and “born again” (1:3)

Those who “reside as aliens scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1:1)

Peter begins verse 8 with 5 adjectives that describe what they are to do

All five can be summarized in one word...

I. Behave (v.8)

These 5 adjectives are attitudes that are always to be present in the church

The first is

Be harmonious [homophron, adj. lit. “same think”] (Unity)

It only occurs here in the NT

But another form of the word occurs in Paul’s writings

It is unity of thought

It is not uniformity of thought

There are some nonnegotiable things we must share the same thoughts about:

Our view of God (Triune) (Genesis 1:1)

Our view of Christ (deity) (Hebrews 1)

Our view of the Spirit (deity) (Acts 5)

Our view of Scripture (context of 1 Pet.2-3; 2 Tim.3:16) - sola scriptura

Our view of Salvation (Eph.2:8-9) - sola fide, sola gratia, sola christus, soli deo gloria

Our view of the Gospel (Phil.1:27, “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”)

Our view of each other (Rom.12:5, “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”)

Our view of ourselves (Rom.12:16, “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”)

Be sympathetic [sympathes, adj] (Compassion)

This is “sharing fellow feelings” either joyful or sorrowful (Rom.12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”)

The kindred verb occurs in Hebrews 10:34 (“For you showed sympathy to the prisoners”)

This is what the Samaritan did for the man who was robbed (Lk.10:30-37)

Be brotherly [philadelphos, adj] (Love)

This is brotherly love (Rom.12:9-10; Jn.13:34-35)

This was a reoccurring theme of Peter’s (1:22; 2:17; 4:8; 5:14)

This is a sign we have passed from death to life (1 Jn.3:14; 4:20)

Be kindhearted [eusplanchnos, adj] (Tenderheartedness)

This word referred to the seat of emotions (heart, lungs, liver)

It refers to the heart as the place where the deepest of human emotions occur (sorrow - Jn.16:6; joy - Acts 2:46)

This is a warm and tender attitude (Eph.4:32, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”)

This is an affectionate sensitivity toward the needs of others (1 Jn.3:17, “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”)

Jesus was constantly “moved with compassion” toward others (Mat.20:29-34, two blind men)

Be humble in spirit [tapeinophron, adj] (Humility)

The adjective only occurs here

It means “thinking lowly, esteeming ourselves small” (Rom.12:16, “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”)

This is an appropriate ending to the exhortation to submit

Paul also called for humility in Philippians 2:1-5

Behaving this way also calls for them to...

II. Be Compelled (vv.9-11; Ps.34:12-16)

Do not return evil for evil (v.9a)

Returning evil is “beastlike; it is certainly not the rule for a Christian. Good for evil is Godlike; and ye, who are the children of God, should seek to act as he does: “not rendering evil for evil” (Spurgeon)

We are to never take vengeance (returning, apodidomi, pres.act.part.) (1 Peter 2:20-23; Rom.12:17-21)

We are to wait on the Lord - Prov.20:22, “Do not say, “I will repay evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.”

We are to love and pray for our enemies - Mat.5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

Give blessing for blessing (v.9b) (eulogeo, “speak well,” pres.act.part.) (Rom.12:14; 1 Cor.4:12)

Blessing for cursing (“giving a blessing instead”)

Called for this very purpose (“you might inherit a blessing”) (Mat.5:5, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.”)

Do not speak evil (v.10)

Peter begins here quoting from Psalm 34:12-13

Bridling the tongue is the true religion (Jas.1:26; 3:1-10)

Turn away from evil and do good (v.11a)

Job was this kind of man - Job 1:1 “1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

The psalmist called for this - Ps.34:14, “Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.”

This what it means to fear the Lord - Prov.3:7, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”

Seek and pursue peace (v.11b) (Rom.12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”)

Peter moves from behaving and being compelled to not retaliate and do good concludes to...

III. Be Aware (v.12)

1 Peter: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Having the Right Incentive

Peter’s quote here of Psalm 34:15–16 vividly fixes the reality that ought to motivate believers to live lives pleasing to God. The psalmist’s words describe a sovereign, ruling God (Pss. 90:2; 102:25–27; Dan. 4:35; Eph. 3:11) who sees all (Job 28:24; Prov. 5:21), knows all (Ps. 147:5; Rom. 11:33), holds people accountable for their behavior (Gen. 2:16–17; Rom. 1:20), and threatens punishment for disobedience (Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 6:23). But for Peter, the primary issue here is not judgment but God’s gracious care for His people.

God’s eyes are on the righteous

This is a common OT phrase

It relates to God’s care and watchfulness - Prov.5:21, “For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He watches all his paths.”

Sometimes it relates to God’s judgmental watchfulness - Amos 9:8, “Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom, And I will destroy it from the face of the earth; Nevertheless, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob,” Declares the Lord.”

Peter uses it here to refer to God’s omniscient awareness of every detail of our lives (Ps.139:1-6)

God hears their prayers

“prayers” (deesin) means, entreaties, petition, supplication

It refers to believers crying out for God to meet their needs

Psalm 5:2, “Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray.”

Phil.4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

God is always fully aware of everything in our lives and is ready to “attend to [our] prayer[s]”

God is against those who do evil

This is a contrast

The “face of the LORD” refers to judgment

His “face” also represents a manifestation of HIs anger and displeasure

Psalm 76:6-8, “6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep. 7 You, even You, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? 8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still”

God’s wrath is against those who do evil and those who disobey His Word

This verse is comfort to the righteous and a warning to those who do evil

CONCLUSION

We must remember that our attitude toward one another and our enemies will give support to the gospel or it will take it away

Submission is key in all relationships

We might not get the response we desire but it is better to be obedient to God’s Word

We are to submit to government

We are to submit to employers

We are to submit in marriage

We are to submit to each other in the church

But most importantly, we are to submit to Jesus

Have you given your heart to Him?

He is the only One who can forgive you of all your sin and grant you eternal life

Turn from your sin now and embrace Him as Lord and Savior

Let’s pray