Submission

Read.....1 Peter 2:13 THRU 3:17

I. Define "submit"

A. Submission is commonplace and necessary for society to function:

1. Children to parents

2. Students to teachers & Teachers to principals & Principals to School Administrators

3. Employees to supervisors & Supervisors to executives & Executives to Board of Directors

4. Soldiers to officers & each officer to the one above him

5. City government to County; County to State; State to Federal

6. Citizens to Policemen & Policemen to their superiors & their superiors to the police chief & the police chief to the mayor

7. Wife to Husband

8. Members of the Lord's church to Elders

9. Man to God

B. Submission is not an act performed on someone.

1. You do not force a person into submission.

2. Submission is something someone willingly does.

3. One submits. It is active, not passive.

C. Some people think of submission as "taming" someone. Making them "knuckle under" to your demands. This is not the case at all.

1. A slave can be beaten into obedience.

a. If they wanted to keep their lives, they had to obey.

b. God told them to not only obey, but to submit.

2. Jesus is our example

a. He willingly went to the cross

b. He wasn't forced against His will by God

c. He didn't WANT to go..... but was willing to submit His will to God's .... He willingly went

3. Our submission to God is the same

a. There are some things we don't LIKE to do

b. We are to willingly let His will be ours

II. Submission is an attitude of yielding to a higher power, or to someone with more authority.

A. We determine in our own mind to do whatever we are asked or told to do by the one to whom we submit.

B. Example: your boss. He is the person who sets the rules for your workplace. Even if you don't agree with him, you are obligated to submit to his will. If he asks you todo something which is illegal or immoral, you must obey God rather than man. However, If he asks you to do something foolish which you consider a very poor business decision, you have the right to question his decision, but you must submit to his wishes if you can't change his mind. If not, it would be considered insubordination.

C. Submission has nothing to do with the goodness or righteousness of the one to whom we submit.

III. Those in authority are given that authority by God.

A. Governments

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

(Rom 13:1-5) Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

B. Employers

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.

C. Wives

3:1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. And let not your adornment be merely external-- braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands. Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

IV. Christ is our perfect example of submission.

1 Pet 2:20ff.....For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

V. True submission requires humility.

1 Pet. 3:To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;

2:13....Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake

2:15....For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men

2:19....For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose,

3:8.....To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

3:17....For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.