Posted on 09/19/2021 6:05:27 AM PDT by metmom
“Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).
Spirit-filled believers will submit to one another.
To the world, submission implies personal weakness or the coercive dominance of one person by another stronger, more intimidating individual. Such perspectives, however, are unbiblical. The noted expositor Martyn Lloyd-Jones describes submission’s original meaning in a military context, which helps us understand its scriptural definition:
It is the picture of soldiers in a regiment, soldiers in a line under an officer . . . and if he [the soldier] begins to act on his own, and independently of the others, he is guilty of insubordination and will be punished accordingly. Such is the word the Apostle uses; so what he is saying amounts to this—that we who are filled with the Spirit are to behave voluntarily in that way with respect to one another. We are members of the same regiment, we are units in this same great army. We are to do that voluntarily which the soldier is “forced” to do.
In addition to Ephesians 5:21, the New Testament repeatedly expresses the importance of submitting to one another. Philippians 2:3-4 tell us how mutual submission ought to operate: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” And Hebrews 13:17 commands us to submit to our spiritual leaders: “Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”
The only way we can possess any of those traits or exhibit any of that behavior is to be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit. Then we will be able to voluntarily and joyfully submit to the Lord and one another in love, just as the apostle John urges: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and every one who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).
Suggestions for Prayer
Examine your heart and see if your attitude has been a biblically submissive one.
Ask God’s Spirit to reveal and correct any sinful shortcomings you’ve had in that regard.
For Further Study
Read Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Timothy 5:21; James 2:1. List comparisons and contrasts between these verses and what Philippians 2:3-4 says about mutual submission.
Studying God’s Word ping
“Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).
That is a qualifier. A very important qualifier. Don’t submit just to anyone. How do you know they fear the Lord.
What is fear of the Lord? Folks, fear is fear, you can’t redefine it because your itching ears don’t like it.
I have been struggling with submitting to my leaders. I am glad to see this qualifier regarding fellow Christians. Do you think this is in line with Romans 13:1? I’m sick to death hearing I need to submit to Biden and his minions, which I have been told to do by other Christians :( Thoughts?
Scripture tells us 365 times to “Fear not” and Jesus first words when re-engaging with his disciples was often, “Fear not”.
“Fear of Christ” in the New Covenant of grace basically means “reverence” or “honor”, not craving fear. Craving, groveling fear, along with guilt and condemnation are not compatible with the Gospel of the Grace of Christ nor with the Father’s relationship with his children.
“As Jesus is, so are we in the world”. 1 John 4:17. Is Jesus afraid? No. And neither are we to be afraid.
You can’t ignore the Fear with TREMBLING. Fear is fear.
Jesus in Revelation is someone to be feared. Now who should fear him? Everyone.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Our lives on on the balance and we are not in control of the situation. We do not live in that fear but we need visit it often. Only then can we begin to understand God’s mercy and love.
The best book I’ve read on the subject of submission is: SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY, by Watchman Nee.
Mal 3:16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. .......................
I have often wondered what they talked about. Honor and reverence doesn’t cut it. Although honor and reverence are important. When we encounter God’s Holiness it is fear and trembling.
Isa 6:5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”
This is a man encountering the Holiness of God and experiencing fear and trembling.
Again, we do not live in that fear but it is good to visit it for proper perspective. If we can relate to that verse, we should be encouraged, if not?
The best book I’ve read on the subject of submission is: SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY, by Watchman Nee.
Jesus in Revelation Chapts. 6-19 is during the dispensation of the Wrath of the Lamb - Daniel’s 70th week, the seven-year tribulation. We are not, nor never will be appointed to his wrath (1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9).
We are now in the dispensation of grace - the New Covenant of the Gospel of the Grace of Christ - his undeserved favor towards us and we are righteous as a gift (Romans 5:17) and are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).
In scripture, the righteous are afraid. “The righteous are bold as a lion” (Prov. 28:1).
You skip over that fact that:
- the Bible says to not fear 365 times
- all the times Jesus said to not be afraid
- as Jesus is so are we in this world and Jesus is not afraid.
I’ll go with the weight of scripture over your skimpy and misapplied version.
Correction...
In scripture, the righteous are NOT afraid. “The righteous are bold as a lion” (Prov. 28:1).
Correction...
In scripture, the righteous are NOT afraid. “The righteous are bold as a lion” (Prov. 28:1).
It’s clear that if the government requires something that is morally wrong, we need to obey God and not man.
The thing that is difficult is when the issue is not a matter of morality but of convention. I would suggest something like speed limits. Driving speed is not a moral issue as God does not address it in His word.
It’s the other issues that are like doctors who are ordered to do abortions.
But in areas like mask wearing and social distancing and stuff, I don’t have a good answer.
What I have no use for is people who clearly have no interest in God or spiritual things who use Scripture to bludgeon Christians into submission with. In that case they misuse Scripture to shame people into complying with tyranny as the example you give submitting to an illegitimate government.
Do you get the vax just because some government agency says so?
Do you give up the guns the Constitution guarantees you the right to have?
Do we stop meeting as a church because the government decides to close churches down as non-essential?
These are no small issues and submitting to them based on Romans 13 can leave us all deep in bondage if we submit to the evil in positions of authority over us.
Yes, changed my life.
I’m sick to death hearing I need to submit to Biden and his minions, which I have been told to do by other Christians :( Thoughts?
On reflection, it raises questions of who we are submitting to and why (our hearts) There is submission to govt, church leaders, spouses and God. These are quite different. And knowing how creative God is, the answer to each of us is personal and different.
But I would encourage you to have some fun and use the Columbo technique. “ I don’t understand, can you please explain it to me.” You will learn where their heart is or they start to avoid you, both are answers.
Keep asking dumb questions. I call it the Ministry of Dumb Questions.........................
Are you going to address the fear with trembling or ignore it? But you want to be right rather than learn something.
I have already told you, we don’t live it that fear but it is good to visit it and told you why.
Now regarding the submission to those that fear Christ. That is a pretty good test of who to submit to. How do we know someone fears Christ?
And it is MUCH more that honor and reverence.
Did anything stick.............................
Yes, changed my life.
"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." 1 Peter 2:13,14
There are more passages speaking of Christ's submission to the Father, than of Him being without sin (though both are true). Phil 2 describes Jesus, saying, "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." That passages speaks of humility in the form of submission.
If I rebel against human authority, then I am rebelling against God's authority (Romans 13). The exception being when the human authority orders us to violate God's direct authority. I came to realize how often I was judging and exalting myself over human authority. Life changing.
There are more passages speaking of Christ's submission to the Father, than of Him being without sin (though both are true). Phil 2 describes Jesus, saying, "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." That passages speaks of humility in the form of submission.
If I rebel against human authority, then I am rebelling against God's authority (Romans 13). The exception being when the human authority orders us to violate God's direct authority. I came to realize how often I was judging and exalting myself over human authority. Life changing.
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