We read in Luke 2:51-52 that Jesus returned with His parents to Nazareth and was subject to them. As He submitted he increased in wisdom and stature and found favor with God and man. This is a perfect example of God's order. Everybody is to be in submission to somebody.

The apostle Paul spells out part of God's order in,

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God.

Areas of submission: One to another - Wife to husband - Child to parent - to civil authorities - to emplorers - to church authorities

To one another: Note that this is mutual submission. Probably the best example of this is when Jesus washed the dirty feet of His argumentative disciples.

Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Ephesians4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spiri t in the bond of peace.

To Civil Authorities: It's not much of a testimony when Christians wink at the law, whether it be speed laws or tax laws or whatever.


Titus 3:1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

1 Peter 2:13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

Romans 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

To Church Authority: We all have overseers, or are overseers. I believe it is incumbent upon the church leadership to not forget that they are also to be in submission. Many sit back when their sheep are hurting, waiting for a call or the proper show of respect. When the Good Shepherd went searching for the lost sheep, He didn't check to see how submissive he had been. The Shepherd simply went out searching until He found the lost sheep. We are also enjoined to feed the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

To Our Emplorer: It's rather sad to see Christians who don't do a full day's work. Not a very good testimony. Here again, submission works both ways. The employee should give his best to see his employer succeed. The Christian employer is obligated to have the welfare of his employees as one of his utmost concerns.

Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free.

The Child to the Parent: I must confess that in raising my children, I sometimes forgot the admonition to not provoke them to wrath. Certainly discipline is necessary, but to nuture the child in the fear and admonition of the Lord should certainly be our first approach. If we do this first, a lot of punishment will be unnecessary.

Ephesians 6:1 1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

To the older generation: I may be paranoid, but as I get older I sense that some of the younger generation feel that if you're over 50, you've had your day. I hope that is the case and nobody really feels like that.

1 Peter 5:5. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

The Wife to the Husband: Note carefully Paul's description in I Cor.11:3. Greater emphasize is placed on the husband fulfilling his role properly. A wife cannot cannot submit gracefully to someone she cannot respect. A man is to exercize leadership and spiritual priesthood and NOT BE A WIMP. If the man did his duty - the woman would't have to do it for him.

Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleans e it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own b odies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife [see] that she reverence [her] husband.

The key to perfect submission is to be submitted to Christ: ... Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

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Last modified: 08-06-2007
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