God calls believers to submit in many ways. To submit is to obey someone with a meek, willing, and joyful attitude. Submissive believers are those who obey God, and His appointed authorities in their lives, with a ready mind and joyful heart!
1. Submission is in God's nature.
-
The Son and the Spirit are both submitted to the Father (John 5:19, John 14:31, John 16:13-14), and they are both still equally God (John 10:30).
-
To say that submission to authority is ungodly is against the very nature of God. Therefore, being submitted to authority is how we honor God and represent Him well.
2. First, we are commanded to submit to God (James 4:7, 1 Peter 1:14-16). Before all others, we must obey God (Acts 5:29).
-
Remember that by submitting to anyone else that God says to submit to, you are ultimately submitting to God. To resist a God-appointed authority in your life is to resist God Himself (Romans 13:2).
-
By practicing submission, we will grow our faith/trust in God (1 Peter 3:5). By submitting to God's commands, even when it's uncomfortable, you are proving that you trust in the wisdom of God's Word.
3. Submit to authorities because doing so is honorable conduct that will draw others closer to God, as they see your conduct (1 Peter 2:12-13).
4. Submit to authorities because doing so is following Christ's example. Jesus submitted to authorities even when they abused Him (1 Peter 2:20-24).
5. Submit to authorities even if they mistreat you (1 Peter 2:18).
-
Submitting and showing respect even when you are mistreated is form of good conduct that pleases God and follows Christ's example (1 Peter 2:20-21).
-
A harsh boss, a harsh husband, a harsh government...no matter the authority in one's life, we are to submit.
6. Believers, respect and obey your governing authorities. Pay your taxes, obey your governing laws, and obey officials like police officers, etc.) (1 Peter 2:13-17).
-
The leaders and politicians that are in power are appointed by God (Romans 13:1-7). You will not have to worry about your government if you are submissive and live a quiet life (not known for or marked by any clamor (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
7. Children, honor and obey your parents (Ephesians 6:1-3).
-
If you still depend on your parents for housing and food, and are unmarried, no matter your age, you are still under their authority. Biblically, you are to be released from your parents' authority only after you are married, unless of course your parents choose, while you're still single, to release you to live on your own (Genesis 2:24).
-
As a grown adult, honoring your parents means not sinning against them, never speaking evil of them, to honor their name, and supporting them financially if they reach an age/point where they cannot provide for themselves (1 Timothy 5:3-4).
8. Wives, obey your husbands in everything, like you would obey Christ (Ephesians 5:22-24).
-
As a wife, your husband is your head (leader) (Ephesians 5:23).
-
The man in a household must be the leader because:
-
Men were created to be heads/leaders (1 Corinthians 11:3).
-
Women were created to help (support) their husbands, not lead them (1 Corinthians 11:9, Genesis 2:18).
-
In the Word, women are under their husband's authority (Numbers 5:29).
-
Women fall to sin and deception more easily when they are not submissive (1 Timothy 2:11-14).
-
It is considered a mark of a sinful people when the women are the predominant leadership (Isaiah 3:9-12).
-
-
Only disobey your husband (or any authority for that matter) when he asks something that would cause you to disobey God.
7. Employees, obey your employers with diligence and sincerity, and at all times (not only when they're looking) (Ephesians 6:5-8). Serve your boss like you would serve Christ.
8. Believers, submit to each other's requests (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5b).
-
If a fellow believer asks you for help with something, hosts a gathering or fellowship, etc...show up!
9. Believers, honor and submit to the elders/pastors/leaders of your church (1 Peter 5:5a, 1 Timothy 5:17-18, Hebrews 13:17).
-
Honoring leaders also means giving to them financially, speaking reverently to them, listening well, etc.
-
All believers are to honor/submit in this way, but the younger or less mature believers should be especially attentive to do so.
-
-
When your leaders ask you to read something, give to something, listen to something, do a certain task, form a certain habit, meet for any reason, help with something, go somewhere, etc...take action.
-
Leaders are responsible to serve as examples to believers (1 Peter 5:3), not to lord authority over them. They will be judged more strictly for how they used their authority (James 3:1). Authority is meant to be used to strengthen believers, not to hurt them (2 Corinthians 10:8).