A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

Ses s i on 5: Cu l t i vat i ng Our Charac ter : The Outward Di sc i p l i nes 207

his approval, [4] for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrong doer. [5] Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

b. Within Christian marriages in the body, Eph. 5.22 – Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

c. Sisters within the bounds of Christian obedience, 1 Tim. 2.11 – Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.

d. Children to their parents, with special focus on their fathers, 1 Tim. 3.4 – He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive.

e. To every human institution, 1 Pet. 2.13-15 – Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, [14] or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. [15] For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. f. The younger to those who are older, 1 Pet. 5.5 – Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”