A life of Submission, A life of Joy

A Christian life can be said to begin with submission. When we learned of Christ, we knew that in order to follow Jesus we must first reject ourselves as the master of our life and be even willing to lay down our life for the Gospel (Matt 16:24.25) if need be, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”. Such a dictum I hope you have already embraced! Indeed, the Good Book speaks about a Christian life revolving around the subjects of submission, honouring one another, humility before others, having a good conscience and endurance in the context of the myriads of God ordained relationships on this side of heaven. At the same time, the Bible also speaks of a life of Joy. Jesus categorically proclaims that the reason for his coming is that those who would believe in him would have life that is characterized by abundance in him (Jn 10:10). This does not refer to material endowment but one of joy, no matter what, in the presence of God our father through Jesus his Son and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is what the Apostle Paul means when he says “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” in Phil 4:13. Indeed, submission to God that is empowered by love and by extension to one another in the context of God ordained relationships, is obedience to God and together with Joy, are two sides of the same coin in this side and the other side of heaven.

The difference is that in the other side of heaven the obedience to God would be voluntary in nature and characterized by Love on one hand and being accepted and praised by God (aka Glorified, Rom 8:28, 2 Cor 4:17) on the other. Here in this side of heaven where our flesh is still sinful, our obedience as exhibited in our relationships to God and man is imperfect and involuntary in nature, though sanctified by the blood of Christ, assisted by the Holy Spirit and encouraged by the example of Christ and accompanied by Joy. A joy that is interwoven with sorrow (2 Cor 6:10) albeit one that is increasing as we rely on God as he gives grace to those who rely on him while resisting the proud (James 4:10).

Just like on the other side of heaven where there is a hierarchy and associated relationships as were hinted in the Parables in relation to the reward of Grace to faithful service and described in the book of Revelation. Similarly, there is also God ordained hierarchy and associated relationships on this side of heaven on earth where we are to exercise submissions. It would be quite logical as we learn from the scripture that what is earthly approximates that of heavenly. We can perhaps classify the relationships into four categories as given to us in the Scriptures. We begin with the submission, service and preference for one another at the most basic level. This is seen in the following verses, namely; “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Eph 5:21), “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Phil 2:3,4), “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another” (Rom 12:1), “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister” (Matt 20:25-26). As such Eph 5:21 is articulating a fundamental principle that Christians are to submit one to another, to defer to others when there is opportunity for service or giving honour. The Apostle Paul does not teach domestic or ecclesiastical egalitarianism that invalidates submission or headship. In fact, if he wanted to do so, he would have done that in subsequent verses about relationship between husband and wife, parent and children in the same Chapter. But we didn’t see this and instead the Apostle Paul teaches submission of marital nature immediately in the following verse. This is the second category of submission. We have submission in the context of familial nature given in, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord” (Eph 5:22), “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives” (1 Pet 3:1), and “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Eph 6:1-3). The third category of Submission is that in relationship with the Government of the world. This is seen in the following verses, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Rom 13:1), and “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme” (1 Peter 2:13). The final category of submission is that to God ordained ordinance, namely to Church, Society and Vocational Calling, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5), “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” (1 Peter 2:18) and “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;” (Eph 6:5).

From the four categories of submission as given to us in the Scriptures, we can see that there is hierarchy and chain of Command that is part of God ordained relationships, not so much to counter the effect of sin but rather something that is right and proper in God’s sight as they also operate in the heavenly realm as much as Apostle Paul provides a parallel in submission between the Church to Christ and the wife to the Husband. Given such, a Life of Joy can only be experienced here in this life through a life of submission or obedience when we seek to do so in the light of the scriptures and when we rely on God and the holy Spirit’s empowerment as well as being encouraged by our Exemplar, our Lord Jesus who “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phi 2:8). Perhaps this joyful experience is exemplified in the utterance of the Psalmist, with a hint of heaven, as found in Psalm 16:11; “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” A life of Submission and a life of Joy is concomitant, you can’t have Joy without Submission first to God and then to his ordained relationships. As we persevere for God’s Glory under the light momentary affliction (2 Cor. 4:17a), God’s grace and Joy would envelope us till we are finally accepted by God and hear his gracious words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matt 25:21) and thus be glorified on the other side of heaven for ages to come.

“We discern the freshness and purity of the morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it will not always be so. Someday, God willing, we shall get in. When human souls have become as perfect in voluntary obedience as the inanimate creation is in its lifeless obedience, then they will put on its glory or rather that greater glory of which Nature is only the first sketch.”

C.S. Lewis from the Sermon, “The Weight of Glory”.

[An abridged version is published in the pastoral voice of First Evangelical Reformed Church weekly bulletin, www.ferc.org.sg, dated 18^th June 2017]