Andrew Isbell
June 27, 2021
Note: The transcript below is automatically generated and will contain errors.
Transcript:
It’s good to be with everybody this morning this morning. We’re going to talk about.
This morning. We’re going to talk about truth, which is what we always try to talk about. We’re going to begin in that vein with the verse from Ephesians Ephesians 4 and 4.
Ephesians 4 beginning in verse 4
there is one body and one Spirit just as you recall 21 hope that belongs to your call one Lord One Faith one baptism one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all
there is only one truth. It is each student’s responsibility to overcome any personal prejudices wants desires and allow love of God to rule their search for the truth.
Some topics are difficult to tackle not because the teachings are not clear that the wording is not clear in the Bible. But because we and others have developed deeply ingrained prejudices or feelings about the topics.
Sometimes the answers we find in the scriptures. Don’t match our own current beliefs. Sometimes they don’t match the beliefs of the society that we were raised in sometimes they don’t match the beliefs of our friends who we gather with and Surround ourselves with and we need to look at things this way.
One we’re not here to justify ourselves.
To we’re here to learn that and live the truth.
There is a small word that causes many to stumble in many to roll eyes.
And that’s the word we’re going to talk about this morning.
That falls in the vein of what has become hasn’t always been but as become a hard Truth for people to accept and understand and this word in English is the word submission or subjection. The Bible uses it many times and it has a simple meaning it was often attacked in this age the Greek word.
And I’m not a Greek scholar, but the Greek word is hoopla toso which means to place or rank under 2 subject to obey.
It covers both volunteering and voluntary submission.
And unfortunately the political and social movements of this Century especially have made the concept of submission something to look down upon something that is evil something that is to be overcome.
It’s also amazing the number of misconceptions and untruths that are taught around the subject of submission, which is a fairly simple simply worded and simply practice subject in the scriptures. Again. It’s not for a lack of scriptures Peter and Paul both spend a great deal of space teaching the concept Jesus Christ is our example in this area as he is in all things and we’re going to begin by looking at this topic.
Akin 1st, Peter
So we’ll turn the 1st Peter.
beginning in Chapter 2 and verse 21
2:21 of First Peter
For to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin neither was deceit found in his mouth when he was reviled. He did not revile in return when he suffered. He did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree. We might die to sin and live to righteousness by his wounds. You have been healed.
For you were straying like sheep, but are now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.
So at first glance when you read this this selection of scriptures a little out of context because I didn’t lead into it.
Your first thought maybe this passage doesn’t appear to be about submission at all.
This is about Christ making sacrifices about Christ bearing our sins about Christ dying on the cross. This is not a verse about submission.
But Peter here talks about Jesus as our example.
Talks about Jesus having Authority and when we look at the surrounding text in Peter, I think we’ll find that. This is most definitely a selection about submission.
When you look at Jesus Christ and his authority we find in in Peter.
and first Peter 3
first Peter 3 and verse 22
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels authorities and Powers having been subjected to him.
We see that Christ has authority over all of these things.
We see that all things are subject to Christ again and Hebrews 2.
Hebrews 2
beginning in verse 5 for was not to angels that God’s eject the world to come which we are speaking has been testified somewhere. What is man that you are mindful of him or the son of man that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the Angels you have crowned him with Glory and Honor putting everything in subjection under his feet.
So Jesus Christ has authority over all these things but we find that even he is subject First Corinthians 15.
1st Corinthians 15
beginning in verse 27
for God has put all things in subjection under his feet, but when it says all things are put in subjection, it is plain that is expected to put all things that he is accepted who put all things in subjection under him when all things are subjected to him. Then the son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him that God may be all in all.
again in John
six and John 6
beginning of verse 37
we see this all that the father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me. I will never cast out again. We see here all that. The father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me. I will not cast out for I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
and then again in Philippians
2 and verse 5
have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Jesus Christ.
Who though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.
Jesus Christ was
a person
who did not exalt himself Beyond where he was but became obedient and so we have this idea that obedience is a bad thing.
That some one having authority over us is a bad thing and that you can’t be a person of Honor. You can’t be honorable if you are subject to someone else.
It’s a it’s a it’s a modern idea. It’s not an old idea a lot of times in the old in the old world your honor came from your ability to serve.
In the modern world, it comes from your complete lack of servitude and Independence.
Was Jesus submission fun or easy? I think if we know the story of Christ, you know that it was not it was difficult. It was hard.
Yet he trusted the one he has subjected himself to.
Was his submission without burden or pain?
Think we know we know the story of Christ that it was not.
And then ask yourself this question was his submission without death.
Right. Did he have to die in this world?
Was his life about avoiding dying.
Was submission was death and pain more important to Christ than obedience and love.
so let us back up and look at Peter’s letter to see the context of the scripture that we read at the beginning and let’s look at First Peter again in the light of this look at First Peter again, and in in Chapter 2 again beginning in verse 18
It starts servants be subject to your masters with all respect.
T’ not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
For this is a gracious thing when mindful of God one indoor Sorrows while suffering unjustly for what credit is it when you send in our beaten for it you endure but if when you do good in suffer for it you endure this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
For to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example so that you may follow in his steps.
Now we see some context ear about submitting.
We see some context here about Christ’s death and his example and enduring and suffering.
And we see some contacts in here about being in subjection.
Some of your depending on the version of the scriptures that you’re reading in the translation the term servants may be translated slaves bondservants stole one in the same. As far as is the scriptures are concern that these that these were to submit to their masters. They were to submit their masters will so that no disrespect.
T’ is reflected on the gospel 1st. Timothy 6 1 through 2.
1st Timothy 6
and 1 through 2
Let all who are under a yoke as Bond servants regard their own masters is worthy of all honor so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
Then it goes on to warn them those who have believing Masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers rather. They must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
So in a knowledge is the fact that some of these people are not going to be Servants of Christians.
Right not be treated. Well not be honored as brothers.
But it doesn’t change the direction the direction is to submit.
Was it limited again to those Masters who treated them fairly?
Was there fairness in submission? No?
They look at Christ’s example. Was there any fairness in his submission?
I don’t think there was the way we judge fairness.
Fairness is no part of it.
It’s to a person’s credit.
Whenever they endure these horse and the reasonable circumstances, even if they have to.
Rebellious servant isn’t keeping God in mind.
again, if we look at Titus
Titus 2
and nine Bond servants are to be submissive to their own masters and everything there to be well pleasing not argumentative not pilfering but showing all good faith. So that in everything they may Adorn the doctrine of God our savior.
quietly enduring mistreatment for what is right is something that God takes note of
put another way love of God over love of self is something that God expects of us.
The Old Testament is full of stories.
Full of true historical accounts of God’s people putting God’s will ahead of their own and suffering great things because of it.
It was given the fact that God is ultimately in charge of what’s in the Bible.
It’s a it’s a it should be a great interest to us that these are the stories that get included.
people suffering for him
People submitting to his will even when it’s not to their own personal benefit and suffering because of it are stories that God wants us to know.
Again, there were some it to their masters Masters. However, we’re not the ultimate rulers of their domain either the Masters also were subject Ephesians 6 & 9
Ephesians 6 and 9
Masters do the same to them and stop your threatening knowing that he you is both our master and yours in heaven and that there is no partiality with him.
So again the servants to be in subjection to their masters, but the Masters were not the top of the list here. There was instruction given to them as well.
About how they were supposed to act toward those that were in their charge.
slaves work for Masters Bond servants work for masters
some hired themselves some were put under them but in the end.
It doesn’t matter if the master is good or bad the properly submissive serve it recognizes that he’s not submitting to his master, but that he’s submitting to his master’s master.
Back up in that same section Ephesians 6 5 through 8 Bond servants. Obey your Earthly masters with fear and trembling with a sincere heart Ephesians. Again Ephesians 6 5 through 8 Bond servants. Obey your Earthly masters with fear and trembling with the sincere heart as you would Christ not by the way of eyeservice as people Pleasers, but his bond Servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.
Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man knowing that whatever good anyone does. This will be receive back from the Lord whether he is a bond servant or is free.
Point there is no matter who you’re in subjection to.
Through God’s command. Your service is ultimately always to the master.
To the real master, which is God.
people say well I want to
be in submission, but I’m mad about it.
Right. So I’m going to do what it takes to meet the threshold of it looking like I’m in submission, but not really not of my heart. Am I really in submission in this particular situation, but grudgingly. It says here really clearly not to not to submit by the way of I service not to be a people pleaser, but as a bondservant of Christ
East
the master will answer to Christ for his actions the servant will answer to Christ for his actions.
In this country today, you say well, there’s not real application to this because slavery is illegal here and agreed.
But we often Place ourselves in service. Just like people did then and when we do Place ourselves in service, then we have a responsibility to be respectful and to be in subjection to those that we place ourselves in the service of whether that be an employer or a group. Remember no matter who we serve we’re really serving God God and His law always comes first.
And we need to remember this principle is the principle that we have with the bond servant in the in the slave and the servant violation by the master of his charge doesn’t authorize violation by the servant in his charge. Sometimes we adapt to a rebellious mindset because we’ve been forced to not submit in one area.
And in that particular area because we couldn’t submit because God’s will is always first.
So we have to submit to the Masters Master before we worry on submitting to the master. But because there’s an area where we can’t submit we get into this attitude of well, I’ve broken this thing now, I’m rebelling I rebelled in this one area so I can Robel in any area. I want it’s not what God has to tell us if you do that you destroy submission all together.
If you have an employer or if you’re in a situation where you have a master is violating God’s will who’s trying to have you violate God’s will then of course God’s will comes first.
And you have to obey God’s will.
But you have to give an account for what you do that’s not in violation of God’s will.
in Genesis 69
and Genesis 16 and 9.
It says I’m sorry back up to eight and he said hi are serving this area where you have come from or where are you going? And she said I am fleeing for my mistress Sarai the angel of the Lord said to her return to your mistress and submit to her. The angel are also said to her I will surely multiply your Offspring so they cannot be numbered for the multitude in the angel of the Lord.
She was being mistreated. She ran off God told her to go back and submit you may decide that in our situation here in this country. You want to go somewhere else, but if you’ve agreed to submit then submit and submit with the heart of a Christian.
This is not a however are only relationship that require submission.
We also need to submit to government in Titus.
Chapter 3 and verse 2 to speak evil of no one to avoid corals to be gentle show perfect courtesy toward all people for we ourselves were once foolish disobedient a lot of stray. I’m sorry backup remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities to be obedient to be ready for every good work to speak evil of no one to avoid quarreling to be gentle and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
We’re to be in submission to our rulers. This is not an optional thing. This is not something you can take your leave or submission to government reflects directly. Just like our submission to our Master governments are in the same position that sometimes they do what is wise and our eyes and sometimes they do what’s foolish in our eyes and sometimes they do what they say what we think they should do and sometimes they don’t but ours are submissions shouldn’t be tied to our judgment on the thing they do outside of when we are are required to violate God’s will
Obviously, that’s the exception because all of the authority that we accept is the authority through God.
So if my Master’s Master directs me to do otherwise, then that’s my true Master outside of that though. The authority has been given.
In the Quran The Authority should be obeyed.
Daniel is a good example and you can see that in the in the in the Book of Daniel in chapter six. He was an exempt early exemplary in his service to the king to his King.
And because he was doing such a good job. He was sought to be undermined and was only whenever he was asked to violate God’s will his Masters Masters. Well that he rebelled.
His course, what he had to do is take a punishment, which was to be thrown in the Lion’s Den.
note in this case of Daniel is a very apropos for what we deal with today that
love is our purpose not survival.
Daniel did what he did rebelled where he rebelled out of love for the Lord.
Not in order to survive actually his Rebellion.
Trended toward him not surviving getting thrown into a pit with a bunch of lions is not a good survival move in this world.
So his Focus was not on Survival as Focus was on love and serving God.
We can disagree with the law if we want to disagree with the law.
If the government requires us to violate God’s law then we have to serve God first look at Romans.
Romans 13
1:2 therefore whoever resists the authorities resist what God has appointed and those who resist will incur judgment.
But rules are not a terror to Good Conduct, but too bad. Would you have no fear of the one who’s an authority then do what is good and you’ll receive his approval for he is God’s servant for your good but if you do wrong be afraid for he is not bear The Sword in vain. He’s the servant of God on the Avenger who carries out God’s Wrath on the wrongdoer.
Sometimes we have a government.
Who orders us to go against the Lord?
When we end up in that situation, obviously the scripture teaches we obey God.
Again, we find ourselves in a situation where the authority also is under subjection to God and what those rulers do how those rulers obey God.
They’ll be judged for that as well.
The government that was in place in the first century was not a pro Christian government much of what they wanted done was bad.
So bad for Christians was bad governance. In other ways was selfish and full of evil. It’s not like that. They had a perfect government in place at that time. And then since then things have broken down and now our governments are worse than they were then that was a bad time and a bad place to live as far as many of the things were created by the government specifically against Christians.
So we looked at these first two things and I think we’re starting to hone in and see beginning to see what submissions all about.
But doesn’t end here it continues.
Peter talked about submission of government submission to Masters how Christ gave us an example in First Peter 3
and then
I want to look at First Peter 3 1 through 7 now.
First Peter 3 1 through 7.
This section starts out the exact same way likewise wives be subject to your own husband so that even if some do not obey the word they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives when they see respectful and pure and conduct. You know that you’re joining B. Do not let your adorning be the external braiding of hair and putting on a gold jewelry or the clothing you wear. But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of gentle and quiet Spirit, which is in God’s sight is very precious.
Reaches for this is how the holy woman who hoped in God used to Adorn themselves by submitting to their own husband’s as Sara obeyed Abraham calling him Lord and you are her children if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
Likewise husband’s live with your wives and understanding way showing honor to the woman as a weaker vessel since they are heirs with you of the grace of life so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Submission of the wife to her husband is no different from the submission of citizen to a government or saved a master like the citizen or slave the why submission reflects upon God and her service to God.
Titus 2 and 5
Titus 2
and five
to be self-controlled pure working at home kind and submissive to their own husbands women to love their husbands and children to be self-controlled pure working at home kind and submissive to their own husband’s that the word of God may be may not be reviled.
Again, we find here just like we found the other two places that husbands are not the ultimate Authority and that Christ is the head of every man First Corinthians 11 and 3.
a wife serves Christ through her husband
through her what how she acts
Again, we find here that the master has a master.
The Authority has an authority we see at the end of that selection. We just read in Titus. I mean in Peter we see command given to the husband.
There’s no one who’s not under Authority.
save God
husbands are not the ultimate Authority just as governments and not the ultimate Authority just as Masters not the ultimate Authority just as Elders or not the ultimate Authority.
What if my so you say what if you want to do something? It’s got all the answers the same God is the ultimate Authority.
But again, this is not tied to some sort of a reciprocal agreement.
Can’t use the scent of another person as an excuse for your sin say well. My husband’s not honoring me. He’s not loving me. And so I want to do whatever I want to do and it’s objections out the door because the deal got broken. So how it works your deals not with your husband.
The command to submit its not from the husband the command to submit is not from the government. The command to submit is not from the eldership. The command is submits from God. God didn’t break the deal.
Again, there’s no amount of fairness and submission. It’s not a thing about scale weights on it. It’s not described that way anywhere in the scriptures certainly wasn’t described that way for Jesus Christ what you got what he had coming to him.
Right that his deal was a fair and good deal.
If someone else doesn’t do their part.
That’s between them and God they’re going to answer to God on that completely and all by themselves. If you allow someone else’s Behavior to not let you do what you’re supposed to do that you’re going to answer.
To God for it’s not going to be an excuse It’s never given us an excuse It’s never given as a carve-out of my government doesn’t treat me right then. I’ll have to obey it.
If my master doesn’t treat me right then it ought to be him or her.
If I if my husband is a dreamer, I don’t obey him.
In the same way children must be subject to the parents again Ephesians 6.
Beginning in verse 1 children. Obey your parents in the Lord for this is right honor your father and mother. This is the first commandment with a promise that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land fathers. Do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
It couldn’t be more clear. It’s the same setup. Children. Obey your parents be in submission to your parents right y in the Lord.
Children in the same situation they have to submit does it mean that if they have really good parents then they submit if their parents are bad and not the greatest parents and they don’t need to submit. No commands the command.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right honor your father and mother.
Then it may go well with you and you may live long in the land.
But again, we find that the authority has an authority because then we see fathers do not provoke your children to anger.
God reminds us every time that he gives Authority.
The reminds us that all authority is under Authority.
In every case whether it be Master government husband and wife parents and children.
Eldership and congregation he reminds us that the authority is under Authority as well. Everyone’s under Authority.
Doesn’t matter.
Whether or not this submission is is in relation to someone who is a Christian and who’s doing what they need to do.
Or not at the end of the day. It comes down to this. You won’t answer to God for the Disobedience of another you will answer to God for the Disobedience of yourself. You want to answer to God for someone to being a bad Authority. You will answer to God for you not being in subjection.
If there were if someone requires you to violate the father’s will then you must refrain remain faithful to your father’s father.
You have to always go to the source.
They require you to violate God’s will then you can’t do that.
But them requiring you to violate God’s will in one area doesn’t for you in others then violating God’s will in one area doesn’t for you from submission.
It’s nothing in here that frees you from God’s command related to any of these things.
Which brings me to the last relationship?
That I’ll dress this morning.
which is
this idea that in this I think is is even harder for us to to acknowledge in the country you live in for the same reasons that some of these other ones have broken down as far as the family and and the the marriage and the government.
The Lord does not teach that we are equal in authority.
The Lord’s the Lord does teach that we’re equal in value.
These not teach that we’re going Authority.
And we have a lot of people that believe that everyone should be equal in authority.
But that’s nowhere in the scripture in 1st Timothy 2 and 11.
Let us woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man or that she is to remain quiet for Adam was formed first then Eve and Adam was not deceived but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. It’s she will be saved through childbearing if they continue in faith and love and Holiness with self-control.
It’s two reasons given here.
You don’t have to agree with them you should.
Because the reasons are given by God.
But the reasons are the reasons that he gave.
One is Adam was formed first then Eve.
And the second is Adam was not deceived but the woman was deceived.
But the reality is that there is a submission that set up here.
A submissiveness this setup here and Authority that set up here.
And that a woman cannot teach a man, but it doesn’t mean that they could cannot teach.
Older women need to teach younger women and Titus 2 and 3 through 5.
I need to teach the children. That’s what it’s talking about here when it talks about being saved through childbearing.
Older women have a distinct authority to teach the younger women.
And sometimes it doesn’t go on.
Think that may be one of the biggest lacks in the church. Today is older women teaching the younger women separately and apart.
and because of this issue of authority we find that women cannot teach in these teaching positions in the church when men are present First Corinthians 14
1st Corinthians
14
and 34
As in all churches of the Saints women should keep silent the churches for the not permitted to speak but should be in submission as law also says if there is anything they desire to learn let them ask their husbands at home for this shameful for women to speak in the church, or was it from you that the word of God came are we are the only ones is reached.
Again, it comes down to this. This isn’t a suggestion.
But a fern commandment of Lord, we live in a world right now that is in Rebellion against God.
Even in a country such as ours, which I’m very grateful to live in we seek a quality based on rights.
We forget that those riots were supposed to be even by our own construction.
Even through our own Constitution given by God, not a God, but thee God.
For some reason many many rebel against the notion that subjection and Authority or not good.
Our are good and then no one should be subject to anyone based on sex service government the church.
We have forgotten that without God and the Bible there was no hope of equality.
I challenge anyone to show me how you get to equal value of all men and women without the Bible.
You will not get there.
You will not get to equal value of men and women without the Bible. There’s no other source from which that comes.
And if you cannot claim equal value because of the Bible.
Then it’s really odd that you want to sit and claim equal value because of the Bible and then claim it as no authority to set authorities in subjection in marriage the family the church the workplace and government.
The world hates Authority and subjection but these are the building blocks of God’s plan for this world and Leadership.
God wants people to be led.
The devil wants people to be lost.
When we tear down Authority and subjection we tear down any hope of leadership.
And following God’s plan and we tear down our ability to love God.
Destroy subjection and Yusuf destroy God’s organization and playing the reality is everyone is in subjection. So the idea that subjection to an authority somehow lessons your value. Does it make any sense? Because everyone in the world is in subjection to someone else
in many cases many others
the world hates submission because Christians
The world hates submission, but Christians should most definitely not.
We should embrace it.
Because it’s our strength.
As the rest of the world rejects it Christians should embrace it. It’s both our it’s both are charged. It’s our Command it is who it is part of who we are and part of how God set up the world. There’s no way that Christians should turn their back on the idea of submission and accept what the world has to say about subjection and submission and Authority that it is bad and wrong and that where it exists. It means to be stomped out if you end up there.
end up leaving God behind
Well, that’s my lesson for this morning. If anyone if I’ve said anything that anyone disagrees with or they feel like I was off based, please you’ll be my friend come to me and correct me so that I can correct myself. I haven’t spoken a lot about
how do we save this morning? Although I have spoken a lot about how to be saved because one of the things we have to do.
The path to Salvation is about subjection. It’s about realizing what we’ve done that we need God to get to heaven that we need Jesus Christ that we’ve heard the word. We believe it and we know that we have sinned and we know that we need to be forgiven of that sin. We know we need to repent to be baptized and to be added to Lord’s Church to be in subjection to him for the rest of our lives and throughout eternity.
It’s what we should desire is Christians, nothing more nothing less but to be in complete subjection to the Lord to love him with all of our heart soul mind and strength.
Call anyone who wants to be?
Needs to help with the church. Anyway wants and needs our assistance and being baptized or needs our assistance in prayer or anything else to come and let us know as we sing Our closing song.