Being submissive means to yield and comply to the wishes and orders of another, and this idea is captured in the bible in several scriptures. According to the Bible, Jesus was a submissive servant who was willing to obey the mission given to Him by God until the very end of his life. He said “not my will, but thy will be done”. In that same way, the Bible presents a picture of submission as a way to honor God and give up one’s own desires to seek God’s plan in order to lead a life of faithful obedience.
The Bible has many scriptures that speak of submission and prioritize it as the ideal way for a Christian to behave. The apostle Paul writes about the importance of submitting to authority in his letter to the Ephesians. Following his example, he urges followers to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”. This means that one should humbly surrender to the will of God, and in this way, they will show their obedience to Him.
Much of scripture is centered on the idea of submitting to the will of God and the authority that has been given to us. In the book of Exodus, God gives the 10 commandments, which include commandments to respect and honor the Lord’s name, to keep the Sabbath holy, and to “honor your father and mother”. These principals can be seen as part of a biblical way of submissiveness, as honoring and respecting authority is important.
Submission is also emphasized in Ephesians as a way to show humility, “Be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord.” This means that not only should we obey the commands of our fathers, but we should also respect the authority of husbands and partners. We should listen to the decisions made by them and try to find a way to work together to reach a mutual understanding. The Bible calls for submission to be done lovingly and willingly, not out of fear or manipulation.
Finally, submission is a call to parts of the Church to return to the teaching of Jesus. To be submissive means to follow God’s commands and teachings and to put Him first. We must learn to lay our own desires and ambitions at the feet of God and submit ourselves to His perfect will. In this way, we can honor the Lord through our behavior and learn to be a true servant of the Lord.
The Role of community
The Bible speaks about the importance of community in relation to submission. Submission does not just mean following the will of an individual but it also deals with the importance of submitting to the collective community and its rules. The Bible warns us not to submit to every opinion or change in the world, but to stand firm in the faith and in the truth that has been revealed in the Scriptures.
In the Epistles, Paul exhorts those in the church to listen to their pastors, teachers, and elders and to obey their orders, even when those orders may seem difficult and beyond human understanding. This calls on individuals to yield to the collective knowledge and experience of the body of believers and to look to the Bible and prayer as the ultimate source of understanding and guidance.
Submission also means being willing to work with others and respect their opinions. When disagreements arise, it’s important to seek out the wisdom of other believers and work together to come to a resolution. To resolve a conflict among believers it is important to seek out the wisdom of the Lord, pray and ask His guidance in order to come to a resolution that honors God and the people involved.
It is also important to foster unity and cooperation in the community as Jesus and the Apostles did, as this is a sign of submission to and obedience from the body of Christ. Community must therefore serve not only as a setting for submission but also as a place where believers can support each other and work together.
The Role of Prayer
Prayer plays an important role in illustrating Biblical submission as it is the ultimate submission to God. We must surrender our will and our desires in order to reach an understanding of and a yielding to the will of our Lord. By praying and humbling ourselves before God, we can learn His ways and submit to them in full obedience.
The Bible encourages us to pray without ceasing and to pray for each other. This means that we should always be in communication with the Lord and be willing to be guided by Him. Prayer should not be seen as burdensome or tedious but rather as a means of submitting to His will and listening for His voice. Not only does prayer allow one to hear the voice of God, but it also serves as a reminder of one’s dependence upon Him in all matters.
Prayer also serves as a tool to help us submit to God’s authority in the pursuit of His will. In praying, we must learn to be still and know that He is God. We must humbly seek out His guidance and advice and seek to be obedient to His commands. In this way, prayer acts as a tool to guide us in our submission to God.
The Rewards of Submission
In the Bible we are reassured that our submission to God and to one another is rewarded. The Lord promises to bless those who submit to Him in faith and follow His commandments. We are also encouraged to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, and this too will be rewarded with unity and love for one another.
The Bible also promises us that no matter what trials or challenges we face, our submission to God’s will will lead us to a greater understanding of His power and His love for us. We will recognize how He will take care of us and how He will lead us in paths of righteousness. Even when our challenges seem too difficult to bear, we can trust in God and in His plans for us as we submit to Him.
In conclusion, the Bible teaches us that submission is a powerful tool that allows us to honor God and to follow His will. It is important to recognize the authority of our fathers, husbands and wives, and to humbly surrender to their wishes and commands. Although submission can seem difficult at times, we are assured that our submission to God will be rewarded and will lead us to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Him.
Submission and Humility
The Bible emphasizes the importance of submission alongside the concept of humility. True submission must come from a place of humility as we are taught by Jesus, who humbly served others and willingly accepted the Father’s will. Humility will not only bring us closer to the will of God but also closer to understanding ourselves and our own place in the world.
In order to be humble, one must be aware of their own sinfulness and need for forgiveness. The Bible tells us that only when we humble ourselves can we receive the grace and mercy of God. In the same way, we should be aware of our own limitations and allow the power of God to help us accept and submit to His will. Submission is not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of faith and trust in the Lord our God.
The Bible also speaks about the importance of serving others humbly. We are called to serve one another out of love and not out of obligation or pressure. We should always remember that in submission we should act out of love, not fear. Submission should not be seen as oppression but rather as the humbling of oneself before God and others.
In the end, only when we practice submission and humility together can we truly get a full understanding of what it means to be a servant of the Lord. Only by yielding ourselves to His will and serving others out of love can we look to the Bible for guidance and rejoice in knowing that our obedience will be rewarded.
Submission and Holiness
Submission and holiness are closely connected concepts in the Bible. The Bible instructs us to be holy, as the Lord is holy, and to live in accordance with His commandments and way of life. We are to strive for holiness and to seek purity both in our thoughts and in our actions.
In James 4:7-8, we are instructed to “submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” To be truly holy, we must learn to humble ourselves and to submit to God’s will, in order to draw near to Him. By yielding to God, we can trust that His plans for us will lead us down the path to holiness.
The Bible also tells us that our submission should be done for righteousness’ sake. We should submit to God because it is right and good, not because it is a requirement or expectation. We must humble ourselves and willingly accept His authority and seek His will above all else. Our submission should always be aimed towards pleasing the Lord and not on gaining favor or accolades from those around us.
Finally, as we practice submission and holiness, we will be blessed with favor from the Lord. He will protect us and give us strength to overcome the temptations of the world and turn to Him instead. His favor and grace will be a reminder that our submission to Him was worth it in the end.
