Father as Representative of Authority vs. Son as Representative of Submission

 

Father as Representative of Authority vs. Son as Representative of Submission

Core Theme

The eternal arrangement within the Godhead where the Father represents divine authority and the Son represents perfect submission, establishing the foundation for all authority and submission in the universe.

Key Content Overview

This analysis explores the biblical truth of how the co-equal persons of the Trinity voluntarily arranged themselves in roles of authority and submission, not based on inequality but on divine harmony and love, to accomplish God's eternal plan of creation and redemption.

Analysis Item	Father - Representative of Authority	Son - Representative of Submission
Basic Meaning	Acts as head in the Godhead, representing divine authority and governance, being the source and establisher of authority	Submits within the Godhead, representing perfect obedience and humility, being the creator and perfect example of submission
Source of Position	Eternal arrangement within the Godhead, authority position existing from the beginning	Position chosen by the Son Himself, willingly accepting submission, "the Son's position was chosen by Himself"
Core Distinctions	• Issues commands, makes decisions, establishes order • Governs all things through authority • Authority exists from eternity • Eternal position of authority	• Executes obedience, fulfills plans, maintains harmony • Accomplishes God's will through submission • Submission was created by Christ • Willingly chosen eternal submission
Incarnation Examples	• Father sends Son to save mankind • Father's will for Son to become human • Father's plan for salvation through the cross • Father raises Son and exalts Him to highest place	• Son incarnates, willingly accepts commission • Son empties Himself of divine glory, takes servant's form • Son submits unto death, even death on cross • Son exalted by Father through submission, receives the Name
Redemptive Work Examples	• Formulates plan for creating universe • Becomes head of Christ within Godhead • Grants all authority in heaven and earth to Son • Establishes authority order in universe	• Participates in and executes creative work • "The Lord's submission was harder than His creation of heaven and earth" • Must empty all divine glory and power • Must first take servant's form to qualify for submission
Church Life Application	• Establishes spiritual authority order • Appoints elders, pastors as spiritual authorities • Exercises spiritual authority according to God's heart • Authority representatives must have Christ's character	• Learn to submit to spiritual authority • Submit to one another in the church • Show loving trust through submission • Those who receive Christ are filled with submission
Family Relations Application	• Fathers represent authority (husbands as head) • Authority is service, not domination • Authority shows protective love • With authority comes responsibility	• Wives and children learn submission • Submission is willing, not forced • True freedom exists in submission • Submission shows loving trust
Social Order Application	• Government and leaders represent God's authority • Establish social order according to God's will • Exercise of authority requires responsibility • Authority must act according to God's righteousness	• Citizens submit to authority that aligns with God • Faithful submission in service under authority • Pray for kings and all in authority • Submission is Christian witness
Personal Life Application	• Recognize God's sovereignty and authority • Accept authority responsibilities God entrusts • Be faithful in entrusted matters • Use authority according to God's will	• Practice submitting to God's will • Faithful submission under authority • Learn Christ's example of perfect submission • "Christ is the principle of submission"
Core Scriptures	John 14:28 "The Father is greater than I" 1 Cor 11:3 "God is the head of Christ" Eph 1:20-22 "Put all things under his feet" Matt 28:18 "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me"	Phil 2:5-8 "He emptied himself...became obedient unto death" Heb 5:8-9 "learned obedience through what he suffered" John 5:19 "The Son can do nothing of his own accord" John 6:38 "not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me"
Detailed Scripture Explanation	• Phil 2:9-11 God highly exalted Him, gave Him name above every name • 1 Cor 15:27-28 God put all things in subjection under His feet • Heb 1:3 Heir of all things, sits at right hand of Majesty on high	• Rom 1:5 "to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations" • Heb 10:5-7 "I have come to do your will" • Luke 22:42 "not my will, but yours, be done"
Deep Theological Implications	• Authority establishment requires submission's cooperation • "If there is authority without submission, authority cannot be established" • Father becomes representative of authority • Eternal arrangement within Godhead	• Creation of submission is most wonderful thing in universe • "The Lord's submission was harder than His creation of heaven and earth" • Son becomes representative of submission • "Submission within Godhead is most wonderful thing in entire universe"
Harmonious Relationship Principle	• Full harmony within Godhead • Co-equal God willingly arranges Father as head • Authority is not independent, needs submission to be established • Father as authority representative is eternal arrangement	• Co-equal God willingly arranges Son's submission • Son's submission is willing choice • Son becomes representative of submission • Through submission establishes God's authority
Role in Redemption Plan	• Sends Son to incarnate • Glorified through Son's submission • Exalts Son to highest place due to submission • Establishes eternal authority through Son	• Incarnates to undertake redemptive mission • Empties divine glory, takes human form • Submits unto death with willing heart • Through submission becomes source of eternal salvation
Teaching for Believers	• Learn to serve in authority rather than dominate • Purpose of authority is building up, not tearing down • Authority representatives should imitate God's love • Authority and responsibility go together	• "Those filled with Christ are also filled with submission" • Accepting submission means accepting Christ's principle • Submission is not due to position but love • Submission is natural outflow of life
Eternal Significance	God's authority is fully established in universe, every knee bows to Christ, every tongue confesses Him as Lord	Through Christ's submission, God's salvation plan is completely accomplished, principle of submission is established forever

 

Core Points:

1.      Submission was created by Christ - This is the most wonderful thing in the universe, harder than creating heaven and earth

2.      Interdependence of Authority and Submission - Without submission, authority cannot be established

3.      Harmonious Arrangement within Godhead - Co-equal God willingly arranges this order

Practical Significance:

• Christ is the principle of submission; accepting submission means accepting Christ's principle
• Those filled with Christ are necessarily filled with submission
• Today's believers should learn Christ's example of perfect submission
• This truth reveals not only the relationship within the Trinity but establishes spiritual principles of authority and submission applicable to church, family, and personal life

Conclusion:

This truth reveals the profound mystery of the Trinity where perfect equality coexists with functional order. The Father's authority and the Son's submission are both expressions of divine love and harmony. Through Christ's perfect submission, God's authority is established throughout the universe, and the pattern is set for all created beings to follow. This is not about inequality but about the beauty of divine cooperation in accomplishing the eternal plan of salvation.

 

*Please refer to the 2025 June Semi-Annual Summer Training, General Topic: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (Part 3), Part 2: Knowing Christ as Our Model and Taking Him as Our Model