Power from Submission Philippians 2

This past Wednesday I am listening to a podcast. The subject being discussed is “Reassurance and Validation.” During the podcast the hosts discuss our human need to be reassured. We need to hear something to remove our doubts and fears. We also need to be validated. We need to know that we have value, and we need to know that we are valued by others. As I am listening to this podcast I think about what are some reasons that people have doubts and fears. What are some reasons that people do not feel that they have value to others and value to themselves? The preacher/teacher in me causes me to search my mind for passages in the scriptures that possibly address these two issues. I think about how the use of the passage in Ephesians 5:22-24 are often used in a way that makes women feel less valued. The use of this passage is often used to invalidate the value of women compared to men. In this article I want to both reassure and validate all people; and especially those of us that call ourselves Christian. We will examine Philippians 2 written by the apostle Paul to the saints in Christ Jesus that live in the Roman province of Philippi (Phil. 1:1, NASB).

We start by reciting Ephesians 5:22-24 because as stated above it is often used to invalidate women compared to men. It is used in ways to cause doubts and fears in the minds of girls and women. It says, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything” (NASB). It is often the case that when people use this verse that they fail to consider the preceding verse (v. 21) and the verses that follow. These highlight that all people in a higher ranking are obligated to take care of those that are charged to their care. The word “subject” (submit) applies to everyone concerned. These verses are written to reassure and validate all the members in the church regardless of their roles in the body. With this in mind let us take a look at our text Philippians 2. We will see that when one submits oneself they are putting themselves in a position to gain power.

When Paul writes his letter to the Philippians, he is in a Roman prison. Paul is thinking about two possibilities for his life. It is possible that he will be executed. It is also possible that he will be released from prison. Paul is thinking about how he has suffered for the sake of the Gospel. His imprisonment has motivated others to preach the gospel. He writes, “Most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but also from good will” Phil. 1:14-15, NASB). Paul uses his own experiences to encourage the church to be unified as one body. He uses Christ as the example to follow. If they will submit themselves one to another they will experience power that will enable them to be the church that Jesus calls them to be.

Paul writes saying that they can reassure and validate each other. In verse 1-2 He tells the church what their goals should be. In verses 3-4 Paul tells the church what they need to do to attain its goals. Paul writes that Christ gives us the perfect example of how one gains power from being in submission.

Paul begins by saying that we must have the same attitude that Christ had. Christ was equal to God. However, Christ did not make it His goal to maintain His equality with God. Instead, He emptied Himself by taking on the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men (v. 6-7). “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (v. 8).

Before one can submit to another he and she must humble themselves. The word “humble’ means that one has in mind the attitude of Christ as it relates to how one thinks of themselves. It means to have a lowliness of mind. The word “humble” is here used in the active voice, meaning that having the right attitude and having a lowliness of mind comes from our own initiative. Of course we need the aid of the Holy Spirit, but we must decide for ourselves and make every effort to be obedient to God. Although the members of the church are in fact equal just as Christ was equal to God, each member must seek to serve the needs of the other members.

When we humble ourselves we eliminate competition. When we humble ourselves we seek what is best for the other members. Together, we will not seek to satisfy our own desires at the expense of the needs of others. We do not always have things according to our desires. For example, when Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane it is evident that Jesus does not want to die. Although He knew that death was His destiny, He still had no desire to die. He prays, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Lk. 22:42, NASB). On the other hand the disciples James and John come to Jesus asking for special privileges and positions Mk. 10:35-37). Jesus challenges them. He ask them, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized” (Mk. 10:38, NASB)? Although they too will suffer, their suffering is no guarantee that they will get what they want.

When Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane He does not get what He wants. However, getting what He wants is not the goal. The goal is to do the will of the Father. Jesus makes this point when He makes Himself equal to God (Jn. 5:18) and states that His ultimate will is to do the will of the Father. Jesus says, “‘I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (Jn. 5:30, NASB). Jesus tells His disciples that are competing for privileges and positions that greatness comes from submitting oneself to the position of a servant to meet the needs of others (Lk. 22:24-29).

Paul writes to the church at Philippi telling them that in His life Jesus submits Himself to the will of the Father. He becomes obedient to the will of the Father. It is the will of the Father that He dies on the cross for the sins of the world. Power comes from submission. Because Jesus obeyed the will of the Father, “God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11, NASB).

In the Bible the word submission is never used to invalidate the worth of a person. It is never used to cause doubts and fear. Rather, the word submit is used to inform us that we gain power when we submit to a higher authority. When we submit to the Father, He gives us power, reassurance and validation.