The Power Of Submission
The following are exerpts from this week’s Restoration Principles, as posted in the members section of our website:
While submission to our husbands is a very challenging and unpopular subject, it’s very clear cut in terms of what the Bible has to say about it, but as women we prefer to change the focus from God’s call for us to submit to our husbands to what a wife is supposed to do if her husband asks her to do something that goes against the word of God, or when he doesn’t love her as Christ loves the church. I know my opinion is VERY controversial and unpopular, but based on what I’ve read and what the above scripture verses say, I believe a wife is called to be obedient and submissive to her husband in EVERYTHING, and “everything” leaves no room for exceptions. When Eve sinned, the sin was accounted to Adam as her husband and the head of her, so IF a husband requires his wife to do something in submission to him that goes against God, he will be the one accounted with the sin. …Personally, I like to think that the Lord protected and delivered Sarah as He did the next time Abraham did the exact same thing to her, and she didn’t have to submit to the horror of being treated in such a shameful and disgraceful manner, but we can’t be sure of that based on what the Bible tells us. If we’re released from the commandment to be obedient and submissive to our husbands under such circumstances (as certainly applied to Sarah), peter wouldn’t have to tell us what he wrote in 1 Peter 3:6 (well worth repeating):
6 It was thus that Sarah obeyed Abraham [following his guidance and acknowledging his headship over her by] calling him lord (master, leader, authority). And you are now her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you [not giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you].Words like “terrify”, “hysterical fears” and “anxieties unnerve you” would seem to acknowledge the expectation of great difficulty in doing whatever it is our husband or our role as wife might require of us. …And if we’re honest, we would all have to confess many areas of disobedience and failure to submit to our husbands or give them the respect and deference God expects, which is what led to our marital problems regardless of whether or not we’re willing to acknowledge that.
The following passages of scripture may be instructive or encouraging as we consider the matter of submission to our husbands, keeping in mind its purpose and the power and authority of Christ and our call as Christian women to glorify Him in ALL that we do.
2 Timothy 2:
3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.
5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him.If we disown him, he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
24 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
2 Timothy 1:
11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.
12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
2 Timothy 3:
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Colossians 2:
2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,
7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.