October 28, 2007

 

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

Obedience and Submission

 

Introduction: The Bible teaches that man ought to be submissive and obedient to God. Peter said to the Jewish Sanhedrin, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29.) Jesus once asked, “Why do you call me, Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46.) “Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21.)

 

Our society and homes and even churches are going further away from the spirit of obedience. This is the age of disobedience and self-will. The Bible refers to some as “the children of disobedience.” (Eph. 2:2.) Peter described Christians as “obedient children, not behaving as you once did in ignorance.” (1 Peter 1:14.)

 

Samuel told King Saul these famous words: “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than to sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams; for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23.)

 

How free is man? In theology, religious people have long debated the freewill of man and the sovereignty of God. We could call it “the freewill and the not-so-free-will of man.” Strong points can be made on both sides of the question: How free is the will of man? If the subject under discussion is the obedience of man to God and submission to one another, then we are not free to do just anything we desire. We are free to do good—all the good that you want. We are free to be obedient to God and to all that are in authority. But we not free to disobey, or to have an attitude or spirit of disobedience. Parents and teachers all know the attitude that I am talking about. Children know how to exercise their wills against you.

 

If man is not free to choose to be obedient, then he cannot lovingly submit to the will of God. God’s sovereign will in the absolute sense would not even allow man the choice. For this reason I believe in the freewill of man. Man is free to choose what he will do. Obedience is genuine and valid because of that freedom. Otherwise, obedience or disobedience means nothing. Is our submission to one another, or the lack of it, also an act of God and not our own? (Eph. 5:21.) Why would Paul need to write to admonish the Ephesians to submit to one another if they did not have a choice? I believe also in the freewill of man because, from man’s viewpoint and experience, it seems (appears to us) that we are free to choose. I can make one decision and then change my mind about it. Is God that indecisive? Our obedience or disobedience is a matter of our will. Obedience and the freewill of man are linked together in the Bible.

 

Meaning of true freedom. One of the great lessons of life is that we are most free when we accept responsibility for our actions and restrain our behavior. A person who goes his own way and refuses to submit to anyone or any authority is bound with many shackles. Many never learn that lesson.

 

The Lord said to Saul of Tarsus, “It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.” (Acts 9:5.) Peter wrote: “As free and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be subject to your masters.” (1 Peter 2:16-18.) “For brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in this one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another.” (Gal. 5:13-15.)

 

Dr. Albert Schweitzer wrote: “As we stand in the world, bound with a thousand bonds, we gradually can shake off the effects of its powerful shackles only if we achieve inward freedom, knowing that, come what may, worldly chains will have no power over us.”

 

Aristotle wrote: “Men are qualified for civil liberties in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their appetites. Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be place somewhere, and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the constitution of things that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.”

 

Reinhold Niebuhr said: “Man is most free in the realization that he is not free.”

 

Paul and Silas were in prison in Philippi for preaching the Gospel. But they were singing and praising God at midnight. But their backs were bleeding and their hands and feet were bound. The jailor who stood outside did not know the Christ. He was the real prisoner. He asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30.) The most important freedom is inward freedom; if one is only free politically and physically one is not really free. Jesus said, “If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36.)

 

Free people are free to submit to others. Jesus was free; yet he chose the path of obedience and submission. So should we.

 

Illustrations of Obedience

 

1—The Obedience of Jesus Christ. One of the most remarkable passages speaks of the obedience of Jesus: “Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” (Heb. 5:8.) Whatever else this verse may include, we should learn from it that obedience is not just for children. It is for everyone—for parents, father, mothers, those who are themselves in authority, even for Jesus Christ. Being an adult does not mean that you are free to do whatever you desire. Paul explained the obedience of Jesus to God on this basis. He wrote, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:8.) “He that sent is with me; the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” (John 8:29.)

 

2—The Faithfulness of God. Jeremiah wrote, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23.) The Bible does not speak of the obedience of God, because that would imply that he was obedient to another’s will. But instead, it speaks of his faithfulness. God can be trusted; he has moral fidelity. When he makes a promise, God keeps it. Our salvation is based upon the faithfulness of God.

Psalm 89 is known for extolling the faithfulness of God. “I will sing of the stedfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.” (v. 1) The Psalmist contrasted the faithfulness of God to the disobedience of his children. See verse 30-33. Even if his children are unfaithful, God will not remove David from his stedfast love or be false to his faithfulness.

 

The Hebrew writer likewise spoke of the faithfulness of God. God made a promise to Abraham concerning blessing all nations. Since God cannot swear by no one greater, he swore by himself and confirmed it with an oath. When God promises that he will do something, it is unchangeable for God cannot lie. This gives to man a strong hope. (Heb. 6:13-20.) The first part of Hebrews 6 tells about some who fell away from their faithfulness. (Heb. 6:1-12.) But God will not and cannot be unrighteous in keeping his promises.

 

3—The Obedience of Angels. The Bible reveals that some angels disobeyed God. (2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6.) But generally angels are depicted in the Bible as being obedient to the will of God. Jude also wrote about Michael the archangel who watched carefully what he said even against the Devil. (Jude 9.) In contrast, men often speak carelessly about those in authority, but Michael did not. Angels are described as “ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who are heirs of salvation.” (Heb. 1:14.) In most places where angels are depicted in the Bible, there are faithful to God.

 

4—The Story of Man’s Disobedience. All parents know the following story. An infant is born and the parent has almost total control over their child. If handled lovingly the young child is submissive and obedient. Something happens as they reach the adolescent years. They begin to exercise their own will. Some reject all restraints and do harmful things to themselves. They find out the truth that Aristotle spoke: “Their passions forge their fetters.” Fortunately, most young adults understand what is happening and mature; others do not. As adults, we have a choice to willingly submit to the will of God or to reject it. Jesus said, “Except ye are converted and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3.) The disciples were disputing over who is the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus used a little child to teach them. Jesus taught that the greatest in his Kingdom is not one who exalts himself and imposes his will over others, but rather one who is humble and submissive. It is one who serves others.

 

This sad history of disobedience began with Adam and Eve in the Garden. They were given the right to eat of all the trees of the Garden, except one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. By this act of disobedience, Adam brought condemnation upon the whole human race. (Rom. 5:12-21.) Our own struggle with disobedience is set against the background of this larger picture of how sin entered into God’s creation. Our redemption is based upon the obedience of Jesus Christ. (Rom. 5:19.) This secures our salvation and changes our hearts. We can repent of our rebellion against God and become submissive children of God. We will never be completely obedient to everything that God desires of us, but we can change our hearts and desire to do only those things that please Him.

 

5—The Disobedience of the Devil. The name, Satan, means adversary. (Matt. 16:23.) Satan has set himself up as the adversary of God. That is a big mistake for anyone to announce this as his intention. Anyone who purposefully disobeys God will lose that confrontation. Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey him. (Heb. 5:9.) God spared not the angels that sinned. (2 Peter 2:4.) He that believes not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16.) The most disobedient beings in the Bible are the Devil and his demons. Satan is not going to change his mind about his rebellion, even though he is going to be destroyed. Man can make a decision to submit to God’s will.