5 Examples Of Submission In The Bible [We Must Follow]

There are many examples of biblical submission in the bible we can learn from today as Christians today and this post will look at the 5 major examples of submission in the bible.

The bible in Romans 13:1-7 tells us that we need to submit to governing authorities as God Himself puts them there. Failure to do so means that we are rebelling against God.

As His children, God expects us not to be rebellious but to be submissive to the authorities He put in place be it in church or the secular world as long as what they are telling us doesn’t contradict His word.

There are many biblical examples of people who submitted to God and governing authorities God established at the time and that is what we will discuss today and how relevant they are to us today as Christians.

With that said, let’s look at the 5 major examples of submission in the bible you can learn from and follow in your daily Christian life with references to bible verses in both the old testament and the new testament.

What Is Submission According To The Bible?

According to the bible, submission means to fully yield and to be obedient to a higher authority in this case God. It means living in full submission to God’s word and will for your life.

Biblical submission doesn’t just apply to God it applies to earthly authorities and our earthly masters He’s put in place who look over our lives as the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 13:1-7 which we are expected to do as believers.

Christian submission is all about living a life of total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ just as the early Christians did in the New Testament who obeyed Christ Jesus even at the expense of their lives.

God is the ultimate authority that we as mankind are expected to submit to which is why James 4:7 tells us that we must submit ourselves to God if we want Him to draw us closer to us by obeying whatever He tells us in His word.

If we don’t submit to God, it means we are disobedient and rebellious and will be punished in due time if we continue like that and shows we are children of Satan.

5 Main Examples Of Biblical Submission.

Below are the 5 major examples of biblical submission in the bible of people who submitted to God that remind us how we also must submit to relevant authorities in our time.

Jesus Christ.
Sarah.
King David.
Abraham.
Noah.

1. Jesus Christ.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example of what biblical submission is all about and if I didn’t include Him in this post, then, this post would be incomplete.

As we can see from the life of Jesus Christ, the bible tells us that He submitted to the will of His heavenly Father and He set a godly example for us as to how we should live as Christians or if we profess to be His disciples.

A perfect classic example of Jesus submitting to the will of His Father can be found in Mark 14:36 where He said let your will be done when He was about to be crucified.

In the above verse, we see that Jesus Christ asked whether it was possible for the cup of suffering He was about to drink to be removed but said not His will but His Father’s will be done which He did by dying a painful death on the cross for our sins.

Jesus’ submission to His Heavenly Father demonstrates to us Christians how we should live as well in that we must live in total submission to God and His will for our lives even if it makes our flesh uncomfortable to do.

2. Sarah.

Sarah, the wife of Abraham who was her husband is another example of what biblical submission looks like and Sarah’s example is specifically directed to wives who are commanded to submit to their husbands in Ephesians 5:22, 23 as unto the Lord.

In the Old Testament, we are told that Sarah, the wife of Abraham was obedient and submissive to her husband such that she had to call her lord. This is what you need to do in marriage if you are a wife if you are to have a happy marriage.

1 Peter 3:4-6 goes on to further say that if you are a wife, you are to be like the holy women of old who were unlike the rebellious feministic modern women of today who obeyed and submitted to the headship and authority of their husbands.

Sadly, many wives including those who claim to be Christians due to their Adamic pride and stubbornness have disregarded this verse and treat their husbands with disrespect and contempt especially if they earn more money than their husbands.

But this ought not to be so dear wife if you are reading this and don’t let the horrible lies of feminism deceive you that you don’t need to submit to your husband because if you are not doing you, you are disobeying God’s word.

3. King David.

King David is another Old Testament bible character who submitted to human authority and God. in the cause of King David, we see that he submitted to King Saul even after the Lord rejected Saul from being king.

A practical example of King David submitting to Saul is in 1 Samuel 16:1-24 and in 1 Samuel 17:1-30 where despite being chosen king, he still respected and submitted to King Saul in some aspects.

For example, David was able to sing songs for Saul and do other things for king Saul when commanded to do even if Saul wanted to kill him several times in his life as you read the above verses further.

David went on to say in 1 Samuel 24:5-8 that he cannot kill him as he was the Lord’s anointed and bowed himself to Saul despite him wanting to take his life.

The case of David being submissive and respectful to Saul is a perfect example for us as believers of how we should submit to earthly authorities and our earthly masters even if they are wicked and mistreat us as it will show we are truly God’s children.

4. Abraham.

Abraham is also another bible character in the Old Testament who showed obedience and submission to God’s will and purpose for his life even if it was not easy.

Abraham’s obedience and submission to God can be best seen in Genesis 22:1-14 where Abraham was ordered by the Lord to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of his obedience and faith to God, which he passed with flying colors.

If Abraham wasn’t submissive and obedient to God, he wouldn’t have obeyed God’s commandment of him sacrificing his son on the altar as an obedience test.

Due to his submission, humility, and obedience, God blessed Abraham immensely in that he was a father of many nations and the father of our faith that we look up to as believers today on how our faith in God must be.

As a believer who’s filled with grace and God’s Holy Spirit, you are called to show the same obedience and submission to God’s word as well as the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your Christian life even if it’s hard or are faced with uncertainty.

5. Noah.

Last but not least, Noah is another person in the old testament who obeyed God when he was commanded to build the ark as the Lord was about to destroy the old world that had become so wicked.

The story of Noah obeying God to build the ark can be found in Genesis 6:1-22 and Genesis 7:1 where we are told that Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him concerning the building of the ark and how it was to be built along with its dimensions.

If Noah wasn’t obedient to God, he wouldn’t have built the ark and very likely he would have perished with the wicked people of the old in the flood which is why obeying God is important if you are a believer.

As a result of Noah’s submission and obedience to God, the human race was spared from total destruction as only he and his family survived the flood and all this was because Noah obeyed the Lord.

Noah’s story of him obeying God is another good example for every believer out there as to why they need to obey God in their lives if they are to avoid God’s wrath and judgment which will come on all disobedient children at the end of time.

Closing Remarks.

I hope the above 5 main examples of submission in the bible will help you as well to live a life of obedience our Lord Jesus Christ expects of you if you claim to be His disciple and child. In closing, if this post edified you, let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share before you leave. Godspeed.

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