A Mini Bible Study on Submission

All Bible verses in this Mini Bible Study are from King James Bible.

The word submission usually makes us feel uncomfortable. And sadly, in this present day, many Christians have followed the worldly idea that submission is oppressive.

Jesus Christ demonstrated the perfect example of submission to the Heavenly Father when he said,

“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.“ – Luke 22:42

I have never really covered the topic of submission before because I don’t feel like I’m the best example. I do remember when I first got married, I shared with a close (single) friend about the struggle of submitting to my husband.

She was in shock to hear me confess of this struggle because I did not have a spirit of rebellion, nor have I ever been a boisterous person in fighting to have my own way about things. But, this was indeed a newfound challenge for me in my newly married life.

I think for most of us, we do not genuinely understand the whole meaning or concept behind the word “submission.”

We scoff at the word “submission” as if it means that we are of a lesser value, not equal or less important than the one to whom we are submitting…

However, when we come to a red traffic light, we seem to have no problem submitting to a short delay to our destination for our own safety and protection.

When it comes to the doctor treating a serious illness, we have no problem submitting to a treatment that will help us with our ailment.

When our dentist gives us a painful numbing shot before working on a tooth, we seem to have no struggle in yielding our mouth wide open to make sure that all runs well for enduring the procedure ahead.

And, submitting to the law keeps us out of jail; therefore, you won’t see me out robbing a bank today, even if I have a huge debt to pay. Haha!

There are many reasons why we actively submit to others, mainly being the position in which they hold. They are not more important than we are, but they hold a certain position or authority in which they carry out their job or task.

Without someone holding the position as CEO of a company, there would be indeed chaos. No organization can thrive sufficiently and prosper without good leaders. And if the workers do not submit to the tasks needed, the business would soon crumble.

Submissiveness has its place for every single one of us living here on this earth…

It doesn’t make any one of us more important or more worthy than the next person; however, submission does require relenting of our own will in order for the well-being of any orderly means.

For the single lady….

Submitting to God’s will is the key to obtaining the best, blessed life for the season in which you are living.

As a single Christian lady, you may be desiring to find Mister Right– right now! It’s easy to get on a hurried mission to hunt that man down!

Learning to submit your life right now to God will be key to having a happier marriage later on. Remember, God’s timing is perfect and always right on time! He makes no mistakes!

Submit and stay in God’s will today…tomorrow….and the next day…and so forth…and you will find yourself in God’s perfect will when the perfect man for you comes along.

Submitting to God’s will means waiting on Him to open the right doors at the right time. Rushing in to get married means choosing your own path, and possibly the wrong man, which could mean a frustrating life down the road.

We have Biblical examples of ladies in the Bible who were submissive to God’s will. Mary and Esther were first introduced to us as single ladies. They found their ultimate calling by first submitting to God’s will and to those in authority over them.

First Corinthians 7:32 (b) says, “He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:”

You, single lady, have such a wonderful opportunity to build a special relationship with God. You have one main focus in pleasing the Lord God! Submit to His will!

For the married lady…

Submission for the married lady is submitting to the role that her husband has in their home. He is to be the head of the home (the leader).

“But… you don’t understand how my husband is!“

How can we argue with God’s Word and His plan for the home? Biblical principles are NOT outdated. Our God is a God who does NOT change.

Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the LORD, I change not;”

Here are a few Bible verses that plainly reveal to you and I the position of our husband:

“Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.” – First Corinthians 11:9

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” – Ephesians 5:22

“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.” – Ephesians 5:23

“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” – Ephesians 5:24

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” – Colossians 3:18

We often think of Sarah in the Bible as an example of a submissive wife.  This tells me, though, that Abraham must have been a gentle, loving man to his wife.

Submission comes much easier to a woman who feels loved and cherished by her husband.

Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

And First Peter 3:7 says, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

With leadership comes great responsibility. The husband will take on the heavy burden of important decisions to make for the home.

It’s also a protective role that a husband has in leading his wife and family, but they are partners together in everything. It’s not meant to take away from the woman’s value or identity.

Chaos is created in a home when two people are trying to lead, just as it would in a real-life business aspect, as I mentioned earlier. And yet, I think there is a potential to have a “heaven on earth” marriage when everyone follows their roles in the right manner as God has given to us.

(That’s not to say any marriage on earth is perfect. There is no perfect marriage because we are all sinners.)

I admit it’s not an easy task yielding to some of my husband’s decisions. I have failed to do so in a meek manner at times. 

In a well-balanced, spirit-filled relationship, both husband and wife will pray over important decisions and discuss things together, and then the husband will make the final decision as the leader of the home.

The Bible also does not excuse a wife from submission when she has a husband that is not a Christian.

I Peter 3:1 says, “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;”

Our submissive spirit speaks volumes! Especially to those husbands who may not be Christians or who do not follow and read the Word of God.

For the youth…

For the youth, your best example is JESUS. Although he was the Son of God, in the flesh, He still submitted himself under his parents’ authority.

Luke 2:51 says, “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.”

Here are a few Bible verses that reveal to you and I God’s view on children and submission:

“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.” Ephesians 6:1-3

Side note: When the Bible says, “that it may be well with thee” – That is God’s BLESSINGS on your life for obedience and submission to your parents.

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” – First Timothy 4:12

Side note: Being young is not an excuse to act haphazardly. In our youthful days, we should submit ourselves to being an example to others in our speech and behavior.

“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” – Hebrews 12:9

Side note: I believe training our children to be in subjection is a key ingredient to them also reverencing the elderly and those in the authority, and especially yielding to the Heavenly Father in their adulthood.

“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.” – I Peter 5:5

For every Christian….

Each one of us has a responsibility in submission no matter who we are – single, married, old, young, man, woman, child, rich, poor, leader, CEO, etc.

Here are a few Bible verses that reveal to you and I our personal responsibility in submitting to others:

“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.“– Romans 13:1

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” – Ephesians 5:21

Side note: We are to be careful not to be stumbling blocks to our Christian brothers and sisters in Christ.  (See First Corinthians 8:6-12 )

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,“ – Titus 3:1

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” – Hebrews 13:17

We cannot be submissive on our own…

We cannot consistently have a submissive attitude and yielding spirit on our own. Our flesh wants to have its own way. We need the Holy Spirit working within us.

Romans 8:7 to 9 says, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. ”

We need to build our relationship with God by reading His Word on a daily basis and by asking in humility that the Holy Spirit fill and control us.

Here are some helpful Bible verses about submitting to God:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.“ – James 4:7

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” – James 4:8

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” – I Peter 5:6

Finally, we need to be wise in our submission…

It’s not God’s will that we submit to a person who is telling us to do something that goes against what His Word tells us to do or not do.

We do need to be wise and use diligent wisdom from God in the area of submission. For example, if I had a boss who told me to go rob a bank, then, of course, this is not an area in which I should submit.

Acts 5:29 (b) says, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Our order of submission is first unto God and then to those who are in the position under which we should submit, according to biblical principles.

Ending note:  Although this was considered a mini Bible study on the topic of submission, there are still many areas that can be more thoroughly covered and studied. I hope; however, that this will be a help to those of you in the ministry who are putting together some lessons on the subject and to those of you who are new Christians and still growing in the Lord.

Keep walking in faith,

Rhonda White

P.S. Here’s a video that I think is helpful on the topic of submission…