Submission

1.    To whom do we owe unqualified submission?

“Submit yourselves therefore to God,” James 4:7.

2.    Why are we under obligation to submit to God?

“Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker . . . I have made the earth, and created man upon it . . . There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else,” Isaiah 45:11-22.

Lift up the tempted soul

Now fallen in despair

Direct his thoughts above,

To God Who heareth prayer.

His arm in mighty power

Can bid the demon cower,

And in temptation’s hour

Will an escape prepare.

3.    What constitutes submission to God?

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,” II Corinthians 10:5.

4.    What will be the condition of one who is thus submissive to God?

He will be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,” Colossians 1:9.

5.    What is the will of God?

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,” I Thessalonians 4:3.

“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God,” I Peter 4:1, 2.

6.    What is fulfilled in us when we live not in the flesh?

“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” Romans 8:4.

7.    Then what is the course of one who is submissive to God?

He walks after the Spirit, i.e., brings forth the “fruit of the Spirit,” Galatians 5:22-24, or in other words, fulfills “the righteousness of the law,” which constitutes the will of God, I Peter 4:2.

8.    What should we bring into subjection to God?

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection,” I Corinthians 9:27.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service,” Romans 12:1.

“Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,” II Corinthians 10:5

“Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s,” I Corinthians 6:20.

9.    Which member of the body requires the greatest exertion, together with the grace of God, to bring into subjection?

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

“If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body,” James 3:8, 2.

10.    What is the prayer of one who is submissive to God?
“Thy will be done,” Matthew 6:10.

11.    How was submission exemplified in the life of Christ?

“He [Jesus] humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,” Philippians 2:8.

“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth,” Isaiah 53:7.

Read Matthew 27:26-50, which gives an account of the trial of Jesus before Pilate, and His crucifixion.

12.    To what other authority must we be submissive?

“I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanus, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboreth,” I Corinthians 16:15, 16.

“Obey them that have the rule over you,” Hebrews 13:17.

13.    Why is it well for us to be submissive to church authorities?

“For they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief,” Hebrews 13:17.

14.    What is said about submission to worldly powers and authorities?

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates,” Titus 3:1.

15.    Why are we required to do this?

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God,” Romans 13:1, 2.

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake . . . for so is the will of God,” I Peter 2:13-15.

16.    Does Peter mean we should submit to the ordinances of men, even when these are contrary to the express command of God?

Let Peter himself answer. “We ought to obey God rather than men,” Acts 5:29.

“Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye,” Acts 4:19.

17.    What example have we of obedience or submission to God rather than man?
The three worthies in the fiery furnace. Read the third chapter of Daniel.

18.    Then what is really meant by being subject to worldly rulers and ordinances of men?

“Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor,” Romans 13:7.

“Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king,” I Peter 2:17.

19.    How do we stand related to one another with regard to submission?

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility,” I Peter 5:5.

20.    What seems to be the reason for the requirement?

Submission cultivates humility, a Christian virtue of high value. It is the humble to whom God “giveth grace,” and whom He will in due time exalt, verses 5, 6.

21.    What should be the attitude of a wife toward her husband? “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands,” Colossians 3:18.

22.    What is submission?

“To be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands,” Titus 2:4, 5.

23.    Does this submission permit domination on the part of the husband?
“Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them,” Colossians 3:19. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church,” Ephesians 5:25.

24.    How far should a wife submit to her husband?

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord,” Colossians 3:18.

25.    In what should children be submissive to parents?

“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord,” Colossians 3:20.

26.    What is said about the submission of servants to masters?

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye- service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God,” Colossians 3:22.