Submission

Whether you are a man or a woman, submission can be a challenging posture to adopt. But it is completely necessary as it pertains to marriage. God does not need our permission nor our help to accomplish his will, but he does command our submission. Further, it is demonstrated within the Godhead and serves as a strong paradigm for how submission in marriage results in peace. As the Son is in submission to the Father, so is the Holy Spirit also, with the Son, in submission to the Father.

While Christ (not man) commanded wives to submit to their husbands, husbands at the same time are commanded to fully submit to Christ. The husband while in submission to Christ is also called to love his wife as Christ loved the church. As we discussed in our time together on Day 1, love is self-giving and honoring. Yet it is still more as it involves humility and sacrifice. When a husband is a Christ-believing follower his headship over his wife is most effectual when he is in complete obedience and full submission to Christ. As Christ (the Bridegroom) is the head of the church (his bride), he humbly laid his life down willingly and freely. As a husband loves his wife sacrificially it is a representation of his submission to Christ.

Had Adam and Eve both adopted postures of complete submission in the Garden of Eden there would have been no fall. By the grace of God, however, husbands and wives have been given a second chance because of Jesus’ complete submission to the Father. As such, when spouses understand that submission is not about control, it will be neither abhorred nor abused.