 |
 |
|
THE GIFT OF SUBMISSION Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ephesians 5:15-6:9 January 10th, 2010
Ephesians 5:15-6:9 [15]Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, [16]making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. [17]Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. [18]And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, [19]addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, [20]giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, [21]submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. [22]Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23]For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. [24]Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. [25]Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26]that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27]so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [28]In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29]For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, [30]because we are members of his body. [31]"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." [32]This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. [33]However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. [6:1]Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. [2]"Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), [3]"that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." [4]Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. [5]Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, [6]not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, [7]rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, [8]knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. [9]Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (ESV) What do you think or feel when you hear – SUBMIT? Or – You need to Obey? Do what you are told? Follow the Leader’s authority? Why this is hard for us! - Culture - Sinful Nature - Experience - It Applies to Us 21: “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” § Context Before 21 o Verses 15 – “Watch How you walk” o Don’t be drunk but be filled with the Spirit § Context After 21 o Wives Submit to husbands as church to Christ o Children obey your parents o Servants submit to your masters 2 MAIN PHRASES 1. Implied Command – “Submitting to One Another” 2. Motive – “Out of Reverence or Christ” SUBMITTING TO ONE ANOTHER Mutual Submission Or Submission to Your Authority? I believe this passage is not teaching mutual submission in such a way that it removes the concept of authority and headship. It does call for a mutual love and care for one another. But I think Grudem gives a good paraphrase of this verse: “Be subject [or submissive] to others in the Church who are in the positions of authority over you.” Why do I believe this? Use of the word “submit” – always when used it refers to authority. Context of the passage ahead. This passage is saying: The result of the Spirit’s working and filling in your life will be submission (gladly putting yourself under) to the authorities in your life: Wives to their husbands Children to their parents Employees to their employers Other Passages: Members to their elders and pastors Citizens to their governors I like Tedd Tripp’s Definition in His book Instructing a Child’s Heart: Submission is enjoying the strength and honor of Serving one’s Lord by serving the authority he put in place. This is a “set up” passage and a “set up” sermon so before I go any further I want to step back and up and set a theological context for this coming passage. THEOLOGICAL PARENTHESIS I write this with the knowledge that we breathe the air of egalitarianism. This is the view that there is no differences and no hierarchy that is God-made between husbands and wives. Not only this, our human and sinful nature rebels against the idea of submission. I took a portion of this from Wayne Grudem in the book “Foundations for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.” 1. Men and Women are created equal in dignity and value. Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. His Spirit Comes on Man and Woman: Acts 2:17-18 "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. Men and Women are Baptized Acts 2:41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (ESV) Spirit is Given to Both 1 Cor 12:7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (ESV) Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (ESV) 1 Peter 3:7 – They are “since they are heirs with you of the grace of life” 2. Different Roles Have been given to Husbands and Wives, Parents and Children, Masters and Servants Male Headship in the Home “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church” 1 Corinthians 11:3 [3]But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. (ESV) Titus 2:4-5 [4]and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, [5]to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (ESV) EVIDENCE OF THIS MALE HEADSHIP Order of Creation: 1 Tim 2:12-13 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; (ESV) Adam is considered the representative and not Eve. Adam and New Adam Woman came from Man: Genesis 2:23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Humans are Called Man Genesis 5:1-2 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. (ESV) God Held Adam Accountable Genesis 3:9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" (ESV) Adam was given the job and instructions: Genesis 2:15-17 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (ESV) God Made Woman to Be Her Husbands’ Helper: Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." (ESV) The Curse said it will be hard: Gen 3:16 To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." Mystery of Christ and the Church Eph 5:31-32 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (ESV) What is it? Man’s Responsibility to Provide and Protect – Woman’s to take care of the home and to nurture children. 3. The Equality and Differences in Man and Women Reflect that of the Godhead (Trinity) 1 Corinthians 11:3 [3]But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. (ESV) John 12:49 [49]For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment--what to say and what to speak. (ESV) John 4:34 [34]Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (ESV) John 6:38 [38]For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. (ESV) 1 Corinthians 15:28 [28]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. (ESV) This means the idea of headship and submission never had a beginning – the Godhead never had a beginning. This does not mean tyranny or servility. 4. The Equality and Differences Come from a Good God and They are Good Faith in God – in the Lord – is crucial to understanding that headship and submission are good things from the Lord. His plan is good, wise, loving, fair, beautiful… We must enjoy and thank God for them. Not the abuses – but what God has intended. Genesis 1:31 [31]And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (ESV) Psalm 40:8 [8]I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." OUT OF REVERENCE FOR CHRIST This leads us to a conclusion of this sermon. But we will be back. He gives the motive. Submit out of reverence for Christ. Don’t submit primarily because your husband is worthy or your parents or your boss. Submit because you rest in the goodness of God’s plan. Submit because it is a way of make a statement of your trust in God and His Wisdom. Submit because you love to show off the glory of God.
|
