JULY 20, 2014
DUTIES OF SUBMISSION (PART I)
INTRODUCTION:
1. Paul began the practical portion of the letter by beseeching believers to walk worthy of their Christian calling. This would mean that they walk in lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forebearing one another in love, for sake of maintaining a spirit of unity and peace in the church. This is the atmosphere in which the church can enjoy the blessings and gifts of the Holy Spirit, until it comes unto the perfect man in full conformity to Christ.
2. Mutual responsibilities have been the consistent emphasis of this section of the epistle. The phrase “one another” appears over and over again. In keeping with that emphasis, in our present passage the Apostle exhorts Christians in the duties of submission one to another.
3. He begins with the general exhortation, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God,” (Verse 21) before breaking the subject down into particular relations. This is important, because we shall see that Christian submission is the duty, not only of inferiors in a relationship, but of the superiors as well. All Christians are servants, and therefore have a servant’s heart of submission.
I. GENERALLY SPEAKING, THERE IS A MUTUAL CONDESCENSION WHICH CHRISTIANS SUBSCRIBE TO IN THEIR VARIOUS RELATIONSHIPS. (VERSE 21)
A. THERE IS A CONNECTION TO THE PRECEDING DUTIES.
1. It is the Holy Spirit who inspires believers to sing to and encourage one another. (Verse 18)
2. It is the Holy Spirit who gives believers a heart of submission.
B. SUBMISSION IS NOT ONE-SIDED IN ANY OF OUR CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS.
1. This is evident in Christian marriage as we shall see. Husbands have headship in the home just as Christ is Head of the church, but Christ as Lord of the church made Himself the Servant of the church.
2. This is also evident in the parent-child relationship. There is no question which is the authority figure, yet the parent is not to act as a tyrant, but to lovingly provide for and teach his children. He is to be an example to his children of strength and love.
3. None can deny that pastors are given a place of oversight as rulers over the flock, but they are not to act as lords over the church, but rather as stewards of Christ and servants to the people of God.
C. ALL BELIEVERS ARE TO PRACTICE SUBMISSION TO ONE ANOTHER SO AS TO HAVE GOD’S APPROVAL. “…in the fear of God.”
1. Christian submission is done out of reverence for God and His Word.
2. This duty is performed not for fear of wrath, but for conscience sake. (Rom. 13:5)
3. Submission is the attitude in which servitude raises believers to the highest place in the sphere of true religion. (Matt. 20:27)
D. THE GENERAL EXHORTATION IS TO MUTUAL CONDESCENSION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF SPECIFIC DUTIES RESPECTING SUBMISSION.
1. A submissive spirit is required not only of wives, children, and servants, but of husbands, parents, and masters as well.
2. In each case the duty of the inferior party has a corresponding duty on the part of the superior party.
3. This is not to say that the duty of submission is conditional or merely reciprocal. There is only one condition: “In the fear of God…as unto the Lord.”
II. SPECIFICALLY, THE FIRST MENTIONED IS THE DUTY OF WIVES TO SUBMIT TO THEIR HUSBANDS IN THE LORD. (VERSES 22-24)
A. THE DUTY OF THE WIFE EXPLAINED. (VERSE 22)
1. The duty to be performed is unique and special. “Wives…unto…husbands.”
a) Not as children to parents, and certainly not as servant to master. The wife is a helpmeet and a partner to the husband. As the church to Christ, her submission is to one with whom she is in union as one, and who sees her as the object of his special love. (Gen. 2:18, 24)
b) Wives submit to their own husbands. This emphasizes that she has a rightful claim to his love, provision, protection, and faithfulness. He belongs to her, and she to him in a unique and special way.
2. The motive of the wife’s submission is high and worthy. “As unto the Lord.”
a) “As” does not speak of equality, but more properly, it speaks of motive.
b) Submission to any divinely appointed authority is, in fact, submission to God Himself. (Rom. 13:1, 2; Eph. 6:5)
3. This duty takes in all other duties respecting her relationship with her husband. Just as the husbands duty to love his wife comprehends all other duties to her, so her submission to him embraces all the rest.
B. BIBLICAL REASONS WHY WIVES ARE TO SUBMIT TO THEIR HUSBANDS. (VERSE 23)
1. The fact of the husband’s headship is established in the order of creation (I Tim. 2:13; I Cor. 11, 8, 9), and also in the divine ordinance. (Col. 3:18; Tit. 2:5)
2. The divine appointment of man’s headship is most practical. The woman’s natural frame makes it so. (I Pet. 3:7) Paul points out that she was first in the transgression. (I Tim. 2:14)
3. The resemblance to Christ authority over the church is the reason here given. “…even as Christ is the head of the church.”
a) A picture that was beautifully set forth in the garden. (Gen. 2:18-25)
b) A picture that Satan would destroy any way he can.
4. The husband is to be the “savior” of his wife, as her protector and provider, just as Christ is the Savior of the body.
a) Our society seems bent on masculizing its women, and feminizing its men.
b) It is nonetheless man’s instinctive duty and his honor to care for and protect his own.
C. THE CONCLUSION WHICH IS DRAWN FROM THIS REASONING. (VERSE 24)
1. The manner of the wife’s subjection to her husband is seen. “As the church is subject unto Christ.”
2. The extent to which this subjection is to be practical. “In all things…” This includes all things lawful; all things that may be done in good conscience; all things consistent with duty to God.
III. THE CORRESPONDING DUTY OF THE HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE. (VERSE 25)
A. THE HUSBAND’S SPECIAL AND ABIDING LOVE MAKES WIFELY SUBMISSION A PLEASANT DUTY.
1. Once we were brought into loving union with Christ, His commandments were no longer grievous. (I John 5:3)
2. Christ Who loves us and cares for us requires nothing of us that is not in our best interest.
3. The husband’s model is Christ, Who loved and gave Himself for His bride, the church.
B. THE WIFE IS THE OBJECT OF THE HUSBAND’S PARTICULAR AND DISCRIMINATING LOVE.
1. As the church is to Christ, the wife is the husband’s chosen bride. He picked her out for himself, and for her he forsakes all others.
2. Wives should have no problem honoring a husband who patterns his headship after Christ, and loves his bride as Christ loves the church.
C. THE MEASURE AND GROUND OF THIS LOVE IS SEEN IN CHRIST’S LOVE FOR THE CHURCH, FOR WHOSE REDEMPTION HE DIED.
1. This the Apostle enlarges upon through the end of chapter 5 (Verses 25-33) showing how the marriage union between a husband and wife is analogous to the union between Christ and the church.
2. This we will consider in our next lesson, before continuing with Part II of Duties of Submission.
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