THE HEART OF
SUBMISSION
1 Peter 2:13-3:1
Dr. Marc A. Graham, Director
Biblical Counseling Center of Southeast
Michigan
Introduction:
1. Lack of submission is a key
characteristic of sin.
a. The Fall at its core was born in
a refusal to submit to God's rule.
2. Goal of the sermon is to show
that a submissive heart is a key quality of a believer.
A. Read 1 Peter
3:1----
"Wives, in the same way be
submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe
the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of
their wives."
B. The text is directed at
wives married to unsaved husbands, instructing them how they are to
behave in this difficult situation. But there is a broader
application.
1. The problem for the wives is
being under the authority of someone (an unbeliever, in this case)
who will often treat them wrongly, unfairly, harshly.
2. The broader application of the
text is that the principle taught here easily fits any situation
where a believer finds himself under the authority of someone
(saved or unsaved) who is treating them wrongly, unfairly, or
harshly (yes, believers do this, too). The purpose of the text is
to instruct us in how to Biblically handle such a difficult
situation.
3. The instruction that is
given is to continue to "be submissive to authority, even when
being treated wrongly, unfairly, harshly."
a. The Greek verb is hupotasso. It
is a compound word, tasso means "to arrange, to appoint," and
hupo means "under." Put together, the word that is translated
'submissive" in the NIV means "to place under."
b. The verb is the "middle voice"
which means that it is something that you yourself do. You make the
choice, you make the decision to submit to authority. You place
yourself in subjection to authority.
4. A question that has to
be answered: "Is the authority legitimate authority?"
a. Who determines legitimate
authority? Who appoints human authority? God does.
b. The principle is given in Romans 13:1.
Rom. 13:1 Everyone must submit
himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority
except that which God has established. The authorities that exist
have been established by God.
Rom. 13:2 Consequently, he who
rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has
instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on
themselves.
c. God-ordained authorities declared
in the Scriptures.
1) Government/Military/Police/Fire:
Romans 13:3-7.
2) Employers/Institutional Officials
such as professors, teachers, etc.: Ephesians 6:5-8.
3) Church: The Elders (Hebrews
13:17).
4) Parents: Ephesians
6:1-2.
5) Husbands: Ephesians 5:22-24; 1
Cor. 11:3; I Peter 3:1.
5. If the authority is legitimate,
God-ordained authority then we are commanded by God to make the
choice to place ourselves under that authority and stay
there.
a. The authority treating us
wrongly, unfairly or harshly does not free us to choose to get out
from under it.
b. Obeying divinely-constituted
authority is viewed as obedience to God.
1) Romans 13:2---To rebel against
government is to rebel against God.
2) Ephesians
6:5,7---Masters/Employers are to be obeyed as if you were obeying
God.
3) Ephesians 6:1---Children are to
obey parents "in the Lord."
4) Ephesians 5:22---Wives are to
submit to husbands "as to the Lord."
c. The only exception this is if the
authority over us is seeking to force us to do something God has
commanded us not to do, or to prevent us from doing something that
God has commanded us to do.
1) In such a case the highest
authority is God, Himself and we are to make the choice to keep
ourselves under Him. This is not rebellion.
2) Example: 2000 Presidential
Election. Lower courts versus the highest Court (U.S. Supreme
Court). Which was ultimately submitted to?
C. Note the phrase: "in the
same way" (1 Peter 3:1). This throws us back to what he has been
previously stating in chapter 2:13-25.
1. The principle of submission
stated: 1 Peter 2:13a.
a. Make the choice to
submit.
b. Do it for the Lord's
sake.
2. The authorities to be submitted
to identified:
a. Government: 1 Peter
2:13b-14.
b. Masters/Employers: 1 Peter
2:18.
c. Wives to husbands: 1 Peter
3:1.
3. The testimony of submission. 1
Peter 2:15.
a. Humility is
impressive.
b. The best protection of your
testimony/reputation is to simply do what is right no matter
what.
4. The motive of submission. 1 Peter
2:16.
a. "Live as servants of
God."
5. The heart of submission. 1 Peter
2:17.
a. Respect others. timao a verb
which means "to place a price" on something, "to value" something.
Let me show you the kind of heart that developes respect for
others. (See Philippians 2:3) Humility. That's the key. The
opposite is self promotion, selfish ambition.
b. Love other believers (present
active imperative---keep on doing it).
c. Fear God. "Reverence, dread." The
fear of man is a major element that keeps us from obeying Christ.
You think Peter knew something about this? Consider his denial of
Jesus. Compare that with Acts 4:18-19 after the Sanhedrin
threatened Peter and John, and then Peter declared "we're going to
obey God not man."
d. Honor the King. This is timao
again. Folks, let me tell you something. Our government is doing
many wicked things. But it has become fashionable, and I think for
some believers it is even a mark of a little spiritual macho, to
constantly be running down our government. To be "anti-government"
in your mentality is a serious sin in the Word of God.
1) What is the believer's attitude
toward government to be? Respect it as a God-established
institution and fervently pray for those in authority.
6. Commendable submission. 1 Peter
2:18-20.
a. The choice to submit not just
when authority makes it easy and convenient to do so, but also when
authority is making it hard on us.
b. Why is this so pleasing to God?
Because it is clear evidence that the believer is fully committed
to Christ. The proof of this is that the believer continues to
follow Jesus even when it is difficult to do so
7. The example of submission. 1
Peter 2:21-23.
a. He was sinless, yet he was
treated as though He were a vile sinner. In other words, Jesus
followed His Father even when it meant submitting to treatment that
was unjust, unfair, and harsh.
b. When he was verbally abused, he
did not retaliate. When someone in authority over you is letting
you have it and you don't think you deserve what you are getting,
how do you verbally respond?
c. When He suffered, He did not
retaliate. When authority over you mistreats you do you try to
retaliate by undermining the authority or rebelling in some
way?
d. Judgement of authority over us
has not been given to us. God appointed the authority. God will
hold the authority accountable.
8. How God uses submission. 1 Peter
2: 24-25.
a. Our salvation came through Jesus'
submission.
b. If Jesus refused to submit, we
would not be saved and would be on our way to help.
c. Never, never underestimate God's
ability to deal with authority and work out his plan no matter how
others are treating us.
Conclusion:
THE MARK OF A TRUE BELIEVER?
Humility and a submissive heart.
HOW DO YOU ACT WHEN SOMEONE IN
AUTHORITY OVER YOU FAILS? The believer who
loves Jesus will make the choice to submit and follow Jesus even
when it is difficult in our flesh to do so.
The basis of our joy is not an easy
life. Look at what Peter says is the basis of our joy----
1 Peter 1:3-6.
You can experience great difficulty
in life and still know joy and rejoicing if your focus is right.
Submit, even when it is hard and trust God to take care of you and
deal with the authority over you.
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