Submission to Authorities

[Christsfreeservant]

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.” (Colossians 3:18-25 ESV)​

When a man and a woman unite together in what is to be a Christian marriage, according to the Scriptures, the man is supposed to leave his parents, hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh, united as one, not to be divided. That is God’s design and purpose for marriage which the Lord had me write about recently in a document called, “A Godly Marriage,” which can be read at the link at the end of this writing (1).

And to “hold fast” to his wife is to be glued to her, to cleave to her (stick to; cling to; stand by her). And he is to promise to love and to cherish her, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep himself only unto her, for as long as they both shall live. And the wife is to promise the same to her husband. And both are to put this into daily practice in their married lives.

[Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7; 2 Peter 2:13-19; 1 Corinthians 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; Ephesians 5:1-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Titus 2:3-5; Matthew 5:28; Matthew 15:19-20; Matthew 19:9; Mark 7:20-22; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:13-21]

Now, with regard to the subject of obedience to other humans, whether they are our husbands, bosses, government heads, the police, pastors/elders, or parents (if we are children under their supervision), all obedience is subject first to God and to the teachings of the Scriptures and to his moral principles and his commandments for us in holy living. So we are never to submit to sin of any kind, never to compromise truth and righteousness, never to do what is immoral, and never to deny Jesus Christ and the truth of his word.

And if you are a husband, a father, a boss (earthly master), a pastor/elder, or a person whose job it is to uphold the law of the land, if you are a Christian, then you should not be harsh with those under your care, but you are to love them as God/Christ loves us. And you are not to be domineering, but you are to lead by example. And you should not be a bully or a tyrant, but you should love as Jesus loved and gave himself up for us so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. So love as you want to be loved.

And whatever we do or whoever we serve under, we are to work as though we are working for the Lord, and we should do all as is fitting (proper) in the Lord. So, we do not ever have to submit to evil or to compromise our faith and practice and our witness for the Lord in order to be in submission to those who are over us. And Jesus, and his disciples, and Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel all serve as wonderful examples of how to put this into practice in our daily lives, being willing to die for the truth of God.

And then we are to place those in authority over us in the hands of the Lord, trusting the Lord to work in their lives according to his will and purposes. And then we should pray for them and for wisdom and guidance from the Lord each day to know just how best to minister to those in authority over us and how best to love them without compromising truth and righteousness, and without disobeying our Lord and sinning against him.

[Matt 4:17; Matt 7:21-23; Matt 11:20-21; Matt 12:41; Matt 21:28-31; Mk 1:14-15; Lu 5:32; Lu 9:23-26; Lu 13:1-5; Lu 15:2-7; Lu 24:45-47; Jn 3:17-21; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 8:31-32,51; Jn 10:27-30; Jn 14:15-24; Jn 15:1-11]

In Harmony

An Original Work / September 2, 2012
Based off Ro. 12:9-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-17

Love each other truly.
Cling to what is good.
Hate all that is evil.
Never lack in zeal.
Serve the Lord with fervor.
Joyful in hope be;
Patient in affliction;
Praying faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people
Who are found in need.
Do not be conceited.
Sympathetic be.
Love, and show compassion
In humility.
Keep your tongue from evil.
Peaceful you must be.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;
Listens to their prayers.
But He’s against evil –
Is His to avenge.
Do not fear what they fear.
Suffer patiently.
In your hearts, make Christ Lord.
Serve Him faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

(1) A Godly Marriage

 

[AlexB23]

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.” (Colossians 3:18-25 ESV)​

When a man and a woman unite together in what is to be a Christian marriage, according to the Scriptures, the man is supposed to leave his parents, hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh, united as one, not to be divided. That is God’s design and purpose for marriage which the Lord had me write about recently in a document called, “A Godly Marriage,” which can be read at the link at the end of this writing (1).

And to “hold fast” to his wife is to be glued to her, to cleave to her (stick to; cling to; stand by her). And he is to promise to love and to cherish her, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep himself only unto her, for as long as they both shall live. And the wife is to promise the same to her husband. And both are to put this into daily practice in their married lives.

[Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7; 2 Peter 2:13-19; 1 Corinthians 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; Ephesians 5:1-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Titus 2:3-5; Matthew 5:28; Matthew 15:19-20; Matthew 19:9; Mark 7:20-22; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:13-21]

Now, with regard to the subject of obedience to other humans, whether they are our husbands, bosses, government heads, the police, pastors/elders, or parents (if we are children under their supervision), all obedience is subject first to God and to the teachings of the Scriptures and to his moral principles and his commandments for us in holy living. So we are never to submit to sin of any kind, never to compromise truth and righteousness, never to do what is immoral, and never to deny Jesus Christ and the truth of his word.

And if you are a husband, a father, a boss (earthly master), a pastor/elder, or a person whose job it is to uphold the law of the land, if you are a Christian, then you should not be harsh with those under your care, but you are to love them as God/Christ loves us. And you are not to be domineering, but you are to lead by example. And you should not be a bully or a tyrant, but you should love as Jesus loved and gave himself up for us so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. So love as you want to be loved.

And whatever we do or whoever we serve under, we are to work as though we are working for the Lord, and we should do all as is fitting (proper) in the Lord. So, we do not ever have to submit to evil or to compromise our faith and practice and our witness for the Lord in order to be in submission to those who are over us. And Jesus, and his disciples, and Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel all serve as wonderful examples of how to put this into practice in our daily lives, being willing to die for the truth of God.

And then we are to place those in authority over us in the hands of the Lord, trusting the Lord to work in their lives according to his will and purposes. And then we should pray for them and for wisdom and guidance from the Lord each day to know just how best to minister to those in authority over us and how best to love them without compromising truth and righteousness, and without disobeying our Lord and sinning against him.

[Matt 4:17; Matt 7:21-23; Matt 11:20-21; Matt 12:41; Matt 21:28-31; Mk 1:14-15; Lu 5:32; Lu 9:23-26; Lu 13:1-5; Lu 15:2-7; Lu 24:45-47; Jn 3:17-21; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 8:31-32,51; Jn 10:27-30; Jn 14:15-24; Jn 15:1-11]

In Harmony

An Original Work / September 2, 2012
Based off Ro. 12:9-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-17

Love each other truly.
Cling to what is good.
Hate all that is evil.
Never lack in zeal.
Serve the Lord with fervor.
Joyful in hope be;
Patient in affliction;
Praying faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

Share with all God’s people
Who are found in need.
Do not be conceited.
Sympathetic be.
Love, and show compassion
In humility.
Keep your tongue from evil.
Peaceful you must be.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

God sees who are righteous;
Listens to their prayers.
But He’s against evil –
Is His to avenge.
Do not fear what they fear.
Suffer patiently.
In your hearts, make Christ Lord.
Serve Him faithfully.
Honor one another.
Live in harmony.

(1) A Godly Marriage

Whew, I made a post about this a long time ago, so I like this one. Here are some more verses that talk about the topic of authority, along with a devotional that uses a Star Trek analogy.


Ephesians 6:1-3 (NIV): "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise— ‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’"

Hebrews 13:17 (NIV): "Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you."

Titus 3:1-2 (NIV): "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone."

Preventing our Insubordination (May 16, 2024 devotional):

Ephesians, Hebrews & Titus - Bible on Obedience to Authority + Star Trek Analogy

Hello folks. Sometimes, we may feel like straying from the path, whether at home or at work. So, here are three passages from the Bible that can help us remember that God commanded us to listen to those in authority, as well as a Star Trek analogy. The scripture analysis is below the video...

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