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Submission
Scripture: 1 Peter Chapter 2&3
Series: Christian Discipline
Introduction:
Joke: An Indian and an American went fishing. The American kept the lid of his worm box tightly shut. Every time he took a worm he kept the lid tightly shut. The Indian on the other hand kept the lid of his worm box open and he had no worry about the worms escaping. Finally, the American asked the Indian, “Why don’t you close the lid.” The Indian said that it is easy. You have American worms, I have Indian worms. If one of my worms gets higher than the other, others will pull him down.
We are never submissive and we always rebel against the person above us.
Title: Submission Series: Christian Discipline Scripture: 1 Peter: 2&3
Today we are going to see what is biblical submission? To whom are we to submit to in the Lord?
Submission meaning: Voluntary attitude of giving in, putting others first, to obey. The act of submitting to the authority of another person.
To whom are we to submit to?
The Bible clearly points out at least 6 different aspects where we need to submit to.
• Submit to God. James 4:7 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• Submit to Church Leaders. Hebrews 13:17 17Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
• Submit to one another. Ephesians 5:21 21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
You are very good at this, but I would like to concentrate on 3 other aspects of submission.
1. Submit to the government.
1 Peter 2:13-14 13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
Even though our citizenship is in heaven we are to still accept the authority of our government. See what Jesus said about paying taxes. We are supposed to respect our government, its policies, vote, pay taxes to the government, pray for the government and the list goes on.
Peter wrote this epistle while the church was in persecution and a year or 2 before the great persecution under the Roman Emperor Nero in 64 AD. Nero was one of the most notorious rulers of all time and he was the person who did the maximum damage to Christians in all time. He did not only want to kill Christians, he wanted to make them suffer first. During his reign there was a big fire that destroyed a great part of the city. It is said that Nero started the fire as he brought huge properties after the fire. When the rumour spread that Nero started the fire he had to find a scapegoat, so he blamed the Christians for the fire and persecuted them. Peter and Paul both were died during this period.
I would like share with you one more hobby of Nero to show how evil he was. Nero was a great chariot racer. He built race tracks and raced all day. Soon Nero decided to race even at night but there was no electricity for visibility. It is said that Nero came with a very wicked plan. During the day Nero would send his solders to find Christians in the city. They would cover these Christians in pitch and tie them to the poles around the race track. As the sun set, these Christians were set on fire and became human torches.
Now, In spite of these persecutions Peter is saying to submit to the government authorities and kings. No matter who bad our Chief Minister or Prime Minister is we feel, it is much easier to submit to them than to the government of Nero. 1 Peter 3:13-14 13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. Peter says the government is to punish the wrong and commend the right; however, there are exceptions where the government is corrupt like in the time or Nero. Still as children of God we are to submit to the government authorities.
Why should we submit to the authority of the government?
Romans 13:1-7 1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Tips for Submitting to the Government.
• Pay Taxes.
• Pay Revenue.
• Respect Leaders.
• Honour Leaders.
• Obey Rules.
• Vote.
• Pray for the Government.
Exception to this rule: However there are exceptions. We should not compromise our beliefs in our submission to the government. Acts 5:27-29 27Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood." 29Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!
2. An employee should submit to his employer. 1 Peter 2:18-20 18Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
Bible is not supporting slavery. Here Peter is talking about servants in the houses who received salary. In those days all the people the Romans conquered were bought as slaves in Rome. Slavery was not based on race. Slaves or servants not only did have bad jobs but also held high jobs such as doctors, teachers, musicians, secretaries etc. All work in Rome was done by slaves and the Romans never worked.
Now, when the church grew both the slave and his master came to church. In other words the employee and the employer came to church. In church they were consider as of equal status before God and many slaves took advantage of Christian masters and refused to work. Nowadays too if Christians come to know they have a Christian boss people take advantage which is not godly.
God was us to submit to our employers. Some have good employers or bosses and some have bad ones. Sometimes we may be shouted upon or put fault on for not mistake of ours. Are we to shout back at our boss? No, we are to endure it and if we do God will be pleased. On the other hand if we do a mistake and are fired from our job, God is not pleased as that is the punishment for our mistake. 1 Peter 2:19-20 19For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
Why should we suffer unjust suffering?
Look at Jesus the Bible says. It was the Father’s will that Christ suffered on the cross. The suffering of Christ was not justified, he did not wrong. 1 Peter 2:21-25 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Christ’s suffering is not justified. Christ suffered unnecessarily, wrongly, silently, and purposefully all because of you and me. Jesus suffered for no bad reasons of his therefore we identify with Christ when we face sufferings.
3. Submission in family.
• Wife to husband.
• Husband to wife.
• Children to parents.
• All to older people.
Wife and husband
I would say husband and wife are to be submissive to each other. 1 Peter 3:1-5 1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands.
When Peter addresses women he is addressing to the women in the Roman society. A Roman woman had no right of her own. Before marriage she had to practice the religion of her father. After marriage she had to practice the religion of her husband without question if she likes it or not. When Christianity started many people joined the church. If a husband came his wife automatically came to church as per the rule. But there were many women who independently from their houses accepted Christ whereas their children and husband was still a nonbeliever. Now these women enjoyed God’s presence in church, enjoyed position and power in church, and God did consider both men and woman equal. Now Jesus was first in her life and her husband came second. When such women went home she used to place Jesus first in her life above her husband. They started preaching to the husbands and rebelling. So Peter addresses these women and says to them to be submissive to their husbands. That is the context here, now please read 1 Peter 3:1-5.
Now, between husband and wife I feel it is a give and take policy. Since they are one body they share everything equally.
• Love. Both love each other.
• Respect. Both have to respect each other.
• Food is equally consumed.
• Money. Both have equal access to money.
• Raising Children. Both have equal responsibility to raise children.
Why separate submission? I feel both have to submit (accountable) to each other. Submission has to be mutual.
1 Peter 3:7 7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
A husband cannot love, respect his wife without submitting to her.
A wife has to submit to her husband in the Lord. This does not mean that the husbands can do anything and demand respect and submission. First, the husband should have a life of respect. He must earn respect through his conduct and love for his wife. When the wife sees the unconditional love and the respect you give to her she will automatically submit to you. There is a saying “when you give respect give unconditionally, when you gain respect earn it.” Husband has to earn the respect from his wife, not expect her to respect you.
Tips for the Husband.
• Do not abuse your wife.
• Do not belittle her in front of others/children.
• Consider her as a weaker vessel physically.
• Love her – Show your love - Talk, spend time.
• Freely respect her.
• Submit to her.
Tips for the Wife.
• Love him.
• Admire him.
• Encourage him.
• Support for the right.
Then your wife will definitely respect you and submit to you.
Children are to be submissive to their parents. Ephesians 6:1-3 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.
You have to submit to your parents however bad or cruel your parents are (if at all).
Tips for Children.
• Let the parents know what you do.
• Let the parents know who your friends are.
• Let the parents know how you spend the money they gave you.
• Let the parents know who your talk on your mobile phones.
• Do not take decisions on your own, always consult your parents.
• Let them know that you love and care for them.
If you are a parent I have a word for you. Ephesians 6:4 4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Exasperate means to make very angry or impatient, annoy greatly. Do not annoy your children for fun so that they become rebellious towards you. Love your children and bring them up in the instruction of the Lord.
Tips for Parents
• Love them.
• Spend time with them.
• Never compare.
• Never show partiality.
• Punish with a loving heart.
• Lead by example.
Submit to Older people
1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.
We are to respect older people and submit to them even if they are sometimes rash towards us.
Conclusion: Our submission basically comes from our submission to God first. James 4:7 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Hebrews 12:9 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
We are to submit ourselves to:
• Lord.
• Family.
• Church authority.
• One another.
• Government.
• Employer.
Let us be submissive like Jesus Christ who was submissive to the will of the Father and endured the cross.
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