Submit Yourselves One to Another in the Fear of God by Victor Torres Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Introduction About 4 months ago, I taught a study called I and the Father are one. It is about the unity or oneness of the Father and His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In that study, I said these: The only way true unity is achieved is by the body s total subjection to the head. The Father, who is the Head, says and does everything through Christ, His body. Christ did not seek His own will (Joh 5:30, Joh 6:38), but lived His life in the flesh for the sole purpose of glorifying His Father (Psa 40:8, Joh 17:4). Christ did not say or do anything that the Father did not want Him to say or do (Joh 4:34). Our Lord recognized His Father as the only true God (Joh 17:3) and everything that He has as coming from the Father (Joh 7:16, Mat 11:27, Dan 7:14) Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. It is the same oneness that our Lord wants to see from us, His elect. Joh 17:11 And now I am in the world no longer, but these are in the world, and I come to You, Holy Father. Keep them in Your name, those whom You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are. 1Co 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. Grace and truth comes through Jesus Christ It will be the focus of this paper to expound on how we, the members of His body, go about having the same judgment. First, let's look at the purpose of judgment: Isa 26:9 My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
So the purpose of judgment is to set us right, to teach us righteousness. 1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. So judgment and chastening are the same, and it is done so that we should not be condemned with the world. Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Tit 2:12 Teaching (chastening) us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; The verses above tells us that the very function of the grace of God is to judge us or chasten us. But where is this grace found? Joh 1:16 (LITV) And out of His fullness we all received, and grace on top of grace. Joh 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. So out of His fulness we receive this abounding grace (Joh 1:16, Rom 5:20, 21). And what is His fulness? Eph 1:22 23 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. There it is! His body is where we receive His abounding grace, His judgment (Jer 9:24), His chastening so that we would deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and we would live soberly, righteously and godly in this present evil age. If we are given to see and believe this truth, then we would also be given the will and to do His good pleasure (Php 2:13), which is: Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Isa 50:10 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. But aren't we told that we should not exercise dominion over each others faith? 2Co 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. Yes we are told not to dominate each others' faith, but this does NOT contradict the admonition to submit ourselves to one another. It complements it. This means that if we believe something different from what a brother believes, we
should not try to push this belief to that brother, but instead we should seek a multitude of counselors to establish a matter. 1Pe 5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 1Pe 5:2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 1Pe 5:3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. Here's the example shown by the early believers led by Paul and Barnabas of seeking a multitude of counselors to establish a matter. Act 15:1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." Act 15:2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. These men had a disagreement with Paul and Barnabas whether circumcision should be a requirement for salvation. Since they can't settle the matter among themselves, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some of the others to seek a multitude of counselors in Jerusalem. I want you to notice two things. First, Paul and Barnabas did not try to dominate the faith of those who opposed them. Second, they considered the apostles and elders as their multitude of counselors. Act 15:3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. What a great example of being helpers of each others joy! The story continues that when they reached Jerusalem, some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees were insisting that the law of Moses should be kept especially the law of circumcision. Act 15:6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. This verse should remind us of the many admonition in the book of Proverbs to seek a multitude of counselors. Pro 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Pro 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of
counsellors they are established. Pro 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war (spiritual warfare): and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. After much debate (which means the apostles and elders listened to both sides), Peter stood up to declare their judgment. Act 15:7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. Act 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, Act 15:9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Act 15:10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? Act 15:11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." And what was their reaction? Did the members who believed that the Gentiles need to keep the law of Moses insist on their own understanding? Act 15:12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. That's right, they submitted themselves to the elders and apostles. They were persuaded by those they esteemed (Heb 13:17 CLV). They agreed to their judgment. Here's James affirming the judgment and testimony of Peter, Paul and Barnabas by quoting scriptures from the book of Amos: Act 15:13 After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. Act 15:14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. Act 15:15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, Act 15:16 "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, Act 15:17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things Act 15:18 known from of old.' Act 15:19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, That's another way the elders of the flock are good examples, they do not think
above what is written. 1Co 4:6 And these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that you might learn in us not to think above that which is written, so that no one of you may be puffed up against one another. I am not saying that only the apostles and elders have the truth, the manifold wisdom of God is revealed through the church (Eph 3:10). What I'm saying is that when the apostles and elders are united on what is the correct discernment of a Scripture, it is not good to continue arguing because in effect, you are questioning people whom God Himself appointed. 1Co 12:28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Eph 4:10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) Eph 4:11 And he (Christ) gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, Why did Christ give us apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers? Eph 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, These godly men are given to us for building up the body of Christ, not to destroy it (2Co 10:8). 2Co 13:10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. Questioning them and their discernment is in effect questioning the sovereignty of God who placed them and every member in the body as it has pleased Him: 1Co 12:18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him. If you want to really appreciate the gravity of questioning godly leaders whom God placed Himself, you should read the story of Korah and the 250 men of reknown who questioned Moses and Aaron in Numbers 16.
Questioning those who labor among the flock is directly denying these admonitions: 1Th 5:12 And, brothers, we beseech you to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and who admonish you, 1Th 5:13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 1Ti 5:17 Let elders who have presided ideally be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who are toiling in word and teaching, Discussion Notes Mitch and Victor: To clarify what questioning the leaders and teachers mean, after a topic has been discussed at length and a consensus has been reached by the whole church (guided by the leadership) on what is the mature discernment of the word, continuing to contradict this discernment is what we are referring to as questioning the leadership. Tom: Before we question teachers, we need to look at our hearts what the motivation behind what we are doing. Is it to elevate ourselves, or do we think false doctrine is being taught? Victor: An example of one who just wanted to elevate himself is Diotrephes. 3Jn 1:9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, did not receive us. Mike: The example in Acts 15 makes it clear that everyone had their say. Then we see that the apostles and elders considered the matter and they were esteemed enough to consider the matter as the leaders. This is something that I wish that we as a body of believers do, if we have something against someone, go to them first, and follow the steps of Mat 18:15-17, don't go to the church first. Cheryl: The head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. I have seen the power of submission, I thank God that I'm not a man and I thank God for the teachers because I know you tremble at the power that God gave you and I respect that. 1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Victor: Thank you, to your point, we are all women spiritually, Christ is our husband. Our submission to each other should be based in the fear of God, because we hear the voice of the True Shepherd in each other.
Joh 10:4 And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him. For they know his voice. Joh 10:5 And they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. Des: Order and asking questions privately with the elders is important. When we start disputing in the forum and somebody new see it, this might offend them. If everyone is openly arguing, there's confusion, it's important to have that essence of calm in the body. We can ask our questions, but we must do it in a peaceful and quiet manner, otherwise it will become unruly and this will not be a good impression for those who are new to the body. We are called to have peace and to show love, so when you do things you must do it in a peaceful way. 1Co 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love. Php 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, Mitch: So when we are writing or saying something to the body, we should ask ourselves first if we are seeking more unity and peace in the body. And is the way we are doing this the best way to promote that? And that should weed out all the things that we might say that don't promote unity and peace. Eph 4:2 with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, Eph 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Des: Amen Mitch, that is the key, are you trying to go about it the right way and with the right intention. If you're not trying to promote unity and you go on and on, then you are trying to break up the body. There is no part in the body for disunity, we have to be with one mind. That's the essence of why we come to these studies, so that we can be of one mind, the mind of Christ. Pro 6:16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: Pro 6:17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, Pro 6:18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, Pro 6:19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Bettie: I just want to bring out that even the elders had that order because James got up and spoke afterwards. 1Co 14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. Mitch: The singleness of mind is very powerful witness to those who are new in the faith.
Mike: I really appreciate what Desmond is saying and Ecc 5:1 and 2 is a good witness to this. Not being rash with your mouth is how you keep your foot, or guard your steps. If your walk is hasty and you haven't thought things out, you're going to say in your heart, these guys are all wrong, and I'm right. You have no regard for your leaders, you have no appreciation for the fact that God had appointed them and placed them where they are. Ecc 5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they do not know that they are doing evil. Ecc 5:2 Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be hasty to say a word before God. For God is in Heaven, and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. Sanctify and cleanse us with your word If we look at the verses following Eph 5:21, it should be abundantly clear that the verse is an admonition to the members of the body of Christ, the church. Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. So we are told Christ is the head and savior of the body, the church. Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, This purifying and cleansing process must begin at the household of God. 1Pe 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? It must be vigilantly done by Christ through every member of His body. He continues to live in His elect (Gal 2:20, Mat 28:20) and continues to sanctify and cleanse His body with the washing of water by the word. To what end? Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Those members who continue to argue the mature discernment of the word must be chastened (Pro 16:5, Rom 2:8). If they won't accept this correction, they
must be cast out for the benefit of the whole church (1Co 11:32, Heb 12:10) Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. The scriptures are written so that not everyone who reads them can understand what they are saying (Isa 28:9, Isa 28:13). Our Lord preached to huge crowds but He only spoke to them in parables to blind them. He only explained these parables to His disciples (Mat 13:11, Mar 4:34) Luk 8:9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, Luk 8:10 he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' It is certainly evil to commit physical adultery and to physically look after a woman to lust after her. But there is a hidden spiritual message in Mat 5:27 and 28: Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Rev 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. The things sacrificed unto idols that Jezebel (which typifies Babylon) seduce Christ's servants with are false doctrines which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats (doctrines), which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. When a doctrine has been rejected by the apostles and elders, that means they have found it non-profitable for the building up of the body (Rom 12:5, 1Co 12:26). When a member insists on discussing this false doctrine, this member is now disputing discernment (Rom 14:1) and offending the whole body (1Co 12:12, 1Co 12:26) and must be cast out. Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that
thy whole body should be cast into hell. This will be seen by the world as unloving because they don't know that it is Christ in us doing it Himself. Rev 2:22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, Rev 2:23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches (all the 7 churches is one church, the body) will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. Take heed to yourselves Before we judge a member of a body, we should make sure to cast the beam out of our own eyes first (Mat 7:5) Luk 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. We need to make sure we're not condemning ourselves by doing the very thing that we are about to judge a brother with. Rom 1:32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Rom 2:1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. What are we told when we are the one being judged? Mat 5:23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, Mat 5:24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Mat 5:25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Mat 5:26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. We must be quick to repent when we are shown the error of our ways through the scriptures. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (Jas 4:6) and unless we humble ourselves like a little child, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Mat 18:4).
Jas 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that the friendship of the world (the church world, I have chosen you out of the world - Joh 15:19) is enmity with God? Therefore whoever desires to be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! This casting out process is a painful process that must be done for the benefit of the whole body. Mat 18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. Mat 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. If we don't go through this purifying process, the leaven or false doctrine of this offending member will leaven the whole lump. If this happens, it is the same as despising these little ones, God's elect. Mat 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven means that these little ones sits in the heavens with Christ (Eph 2:6, 7) and has been given a holy calling before the world began (2Ti 1:9) to be kings and priests unto God (Rev 5:10) Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. This process must be done with meekness with the intent of gaining the brother (Gal 6:1-3). If the brother hears you, you have gained the love and gratitude of a wise brother. Pro 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Pro 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. If the brother doesn't hear you but instead continue to argue, it is a sign that the Lord has given him a proud spirit at this time (Exo 4:21).
Pro 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. Rom 9:18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will, He hardens. It is also possible that because of pride, a member who is being corrected doesn't see anything wrong in what they're doing (Joh 12:40). Pro 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. If we discern that this is what is happening, it is time to take one or two more brothers, ideally ones who are mature in the faith to counsel the offending brother. Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he still doesn't listen to these brothers, then it's time to tell the matter to the church. Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Involving the whole church will foster unity and if the brother doesn't hear the whole church, the resulting rejection of the offending member will teach a powerful lesson not to repeat the same transgression. We must remember that in every step of this process, that it is God who is orchestrating all of this for the good of the body (Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28). We must remember that He has written the outcome before we were even born (Psa 139:16, Rom 9:11-13). Mat 18:18 Verily, I am saying to you, Whatsoever you should be binding on the earth shall be those things having been bound in the heavens, and whatsoever you should be loosing on the earth shall be those loose in heaven." Here is a graphic Old Testament type of this last step: let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Deu 13:6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; Deu 13:7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end
of the earth; Deu 13:8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: Deu 13:9 But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. Deu 13:10 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Deu 13:11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you. We will be the one body having the same judgment as our Head. Rev 2:23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. References/Further reading I and the Father are One Naboth and His Vineyard Why Christ Cleansed a Physical Temple How to Properly Function as a Body Contrast Holy Spirit's Function with Teachers Can We Leave Babylon and Still be Part of Christ's Body Do Ministers have Rule Over Us? Godly Love Restrains Division What Who and Where is Jesus Christ? Revelations 5:11-14