Spirit-Filled Submission

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Southeast Christian Church

Nov 4, 2021

Not only does Paul subvert the old operating system for families under Christ, he introduces a new view of human dignity. While the world fights for authority and power under a hierarchy arbitrarily created by man, Paul levels the pyramid so that all people are equal. He shows that all people have dignity, all are loved, and all are subject to one master — Jesus.

Paul introduces a life of Spirit-filled submission. Rather than submitting to an oppressive, biased, selfish, earthly authority, we are invited to submit to a loving, patient, kind, gentle, and gracious God. When we submit to God through the power of the Spirit, we operate out of love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and grace.

Galatians 3:26-28 puts it this way: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (NIV). We are all one in Christ, living in submission to the same God who shows no partiality between us.

Now, we may not have slaves like they did in the first century, but we are still humans who are trying to operate out of an old system that places other people above and below ourselves. Who do you place below you? Who do you see as unworthy of God’s gifts? Who do you treat with less kindness, grace, love, or gentleness? Maybe it’s someone who hurt you, addicts, homeless people, the LGBTQ community, someone of a different political party, people who live in a certain part of town, or people of a certain race.

When we live in submission to God, we give no distinction between who deserves grace and who doesn’t because we are all undeserving, and yet, Jesus gave himself out of his deep love for us. When we live in submission to a Lord like that, we can’t help but treat people with the same love.

Reflection/Discussion Questions: Who are you struggling to treat with kindness, grace, love and gentleness? Why?

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Purpose

Investing in Others

Spiritual Disciplines

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