Slaves of God

Church Family: The Bible uses various metaphors to describe our relationship as Christians with the One True God. Every metaphor communicates different realities about our relationship with Him. One of the most abundant metaphors in the New Testament is that of God as our master and His people as slaves. In Christ we have been made slaves of God. Most English translations avoid using the word “slave” for obvious reasons. But race or ethnicity has absolutely nothing to do with being a “slave” of Jesus Christ. So, what does it mean for a Christian to be a slave of God?

To be a slave of God is to be owned by God. We were purchased by Jesus Christ from the auction block of death not with money but with His blood. The Apostle Peter says that we were “ransomed” with the precious blood of Christ not with anything perishable like gold or silver (1 Peter 1:18-19). Our purchase price was more than anything that this world could pay. The price had to be the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God incarnate.

Because we have been bought by Christ we are God's (1 Cor. 3:23). Which makes us heirs of God, fellow heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:16-18). We are not our own, because of the price that Christ paid for us, we are God’s (1 Cor. 6:19-20). When God redeemed us out of our slavery to sin, we became slaves of righteousness (Rom. 6:18). We have been set free not to do as we please, whenever we want. We have been set free to live holy lives. God did not purchase us to be autonomous. We are owned by a loving God, the Master of our soul, mind, body, heart, spirit, emotions, talents, and abilities. All of who we are is to daily glorify God, our Master (1 Cor. 10:31).

We do have another option. Instead of being a slave of God we can remain as a slave to sin. The Bible says that these are the only two possibilities in this world. Either you are living as a slave to sin or as a slave to God (Rom. 6:16-23). If you choose sin as your master you are not free to do what you want. That is lie that sin tells you but never delivers. It is a delusion. You are not your own lord and master, sin is. Having sin as your master always leads to impurity, lawlessness and death.

So here is the great paradox:
If you are “free” from God, you are “enslaved” to sin.
If you are “enslaved” to God, you are “free” in His righteousness!

The freest people on earth are those who live as slaves of God, the One who gives us the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23). Enjoy being enslaved to God in Christ Jesus.

See you Sunday, slaves of God, Steve