Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
–Ephesians 5:21, New International Version
I think there are two ways we can look at this verse from Ephesians. One way to look at it would be to know that in order to be saved, it should be witnessed by our fellows in Christ. We should proclaim to one another that the Lord Jesus Christ, only son of our Father, is our personal Lord and Saviour. Another way to look at it would be that in submitting to one another, we are actually called to serve one another as Christ served those around him.
allaboutgod.com says the following about being saved: “Salvation is simply a process of confessing and believing. A man must confess that Jesus is Lord, which signifies his realization that Christ must have full rule over his life with all of His righteous requirements. This confession of Christ as Lord also assumes that it is Christ who will work and fulfill His own righteousness within man.” In confessing that Christ is our Lord and Saviour, we should confess to our fellow Christians. confess in public, confess to your husband or wife or family, or fellow members of your congregation. The Lamb of God will hear your words and welcome you home as you open the door of your heart to Him, just as I have.
I am most comfortable with this interpretation of Ephesians 5:21 as this is what speaks to me from this verse, but I feel that it also means that we should serve each other as Jesus has served us. Of course I’m not suggesting that we should go get ourselves nailed to a cross like Jesus did for us in order to have our sins washed away, but we should serve each other by bearing witness to the Lord to each other. By helping each other with the burdens that life gives us, be they household chores or by even simply providing a shoulder to lean on or a sympathetic ear. These are ways that we can serve each other. How you serve is up to you.
Go With God’s Grace And The Perfect Love Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
