Submission is a theme which occurs frequently in the Bible; we see the question of submission within the Godhead and submission to secular and church authorities; the subject also comes up in the discussion on marriage. This evening, Garry focussed on the question of our submission to God.
Submitting to God is a necessary part of life. God created everything and therefore everything belongs to Him (Ps 50:1, 10-12); He has the right to demand our submission, but instead asks us (see Matt 23:37, Mark 3:1-5). He calls us to submit, giving us a choice.He longs for us to be in a right relationship with Him, but He will not force us. In Rev 3:20 we see Christ knocking at the door of our hearts; submission comes from love, not because we are forced. Often, the picture is of a lover wooing his beloved (see Job 36:15-16) To submit to Him leads us from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of a table laden with choice food. God wants the best for us, and submission to Him is not because He is a spoil-sport who wants to dominate, but stems from His love for us since He knows what is best for us.
Submission out of love in the context of a loving relationship sets the scene for every other kind of submission, which will be looked at later.
