This is episode 3 of our first series.  Last time we saw how “disciples” were learners, and that mature Followers of Jesus are called not only to learn but also to be the Slaves-of-God.  Slaves of God are actively doing the will of their master.  Today we are going to learn that everyone is a slave, the question is simply whose slave are you?

Born is the USA! I am free!! I am slave to no man!!!

Well, not exactly, actually the Bible says that we are all slaves to something.  There two kinds of people, those who are saved and follow Jesus and those who are not saved and do not follow Jesus.

1st Group As to unsaved people, Romans Chapter 1:18-32; Ephesians 4:17-19; and Romans 7:7-25.  Unsaved people are slaves to sin.  They cannot help themselves.

2nd Group As to believers in Christ, Romans 6:1-23 that once a saved person is free from the penalty of sin, he now has a choice; he can either become a Slave-of-God and do righteousness things, or he go back to being a slave to sin and continue to do sinful things. Paul commands Christians to present their bodies as slaves to righteousness that leads to sanctification.

Paul addresses the question of whether there is a 3rd option Chapter 6 of Romans.  See also Ephesians 4:20-32.  There is no 3rd option.  Because we are slaves, we will always be slaves to something, not free, and we will always drift back to being slaves to sin if we do not actively do righteous actions in order to be the slaves of God.

This is episode 2 of our Bible in 3D Series.  Last time we saw how the Followers-of-Jesus are called to be the Slaves-of-God.  Today we are going to see how being a Slave-of-God is more than being a disciple, because a disciple is a learner, and a slave-of-God is a doer, one who acts.

In the New Testament, the word mathetes is only used in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. Acts 21:16 is the last time in the Bible that the word disciple is used. 

In Acts as a young man new to faith and ministry, Timothy is called a disciple, a learner. Acts 16:1.  See Philippians 1:1; 2:19-24.  Years later after Timothy had been taught by Paul and had grown in the faith, Paul describes Timothy to the Christians in Philippi as a slave (doulos) of Christ Jesus that is in Philippians 1:1. Later in his letter, Philippines 2:19-24, Paul tells the Philippines that he has no one working with him was like Timothy and that they knew of Timothy’s "proven worth" because Timothy has “served” with Paul in the gospel. This would seem to be the trend in the New Testament from disciple or learner to servant/slave of God, one who does the work of God.

Paul addresses brothers in Christ, who are always learning but never doing.  In his first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 3. Paul calls them out. He says that he can’t call them “spiritual” people because like babies they are still taking milk and not solid food. He admonishes them to grow up, move on, and quit acting like babies, children. Children are cared for. They are full time learning. Adults, on the other hand, take care of and teach the children although no doubt continuing to learn more themselves.

The writer of Hebrews makes a similar point to his readers in Chapter 6. He says that recipients of his letter need to leave the elementary doctrine and instructions of Christ and move on to maturity. This is not to suggest or imply that there is deeper or higher wisdom to learn or that we can disregard the elementary doctrine and instructions. No, this is a strong call that with our feet firmly planted on the elementary doctrine and instructions, we need to start serving.  That is, we should become the Slaves-of-God, doing the will of our master.

The Apostle Paul said in his letters that he was a doulos (hereinafter “slave”) of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Galatians 1:10; and Titus 1:1.

Paul tells the Christians in Rome that they had become Slaves-of-God. Romans 6:22.

Paul tells the Christians in Corinth that even though they were freemen of Rome, once they accepted Christ that they were now Slaves-of-Christ. 1 Corinthians 7:22.

Paul tells the Christians in Ephesus that they should be Slaves-of-Christ. Ephesians 6:6.

Paul tells the Christians at Colossae that Epaphras and Tychicus were his Fellow-Slaves in Christ/the Lord. Colossians 1:7, 4:7.

Paul writes to his spiritual son and protégé, Timothy, and admonishes him as to what the Lord’s slave must be like, referring to Timothy.

The Apostle Peter said that he was a Slave-of-Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:1.

Peter admonished Christians in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia that even if they were free within the Roman Empire, yet they were to live as Slaves-of-God.
1 Peter 2:16.

Jude said he was the Slave-of-Jesus Christ (his half-brother). Jude 1

The Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, referred to himself as the Slave-of-God. Revelation 1:1.

In Revelation the blood of the martyrs is referred to as the blood of his slaves.
Revelation 19:3.

An angel of the Lord admonished John in Revelation not to worship him as he was a Fellow-Slave-of-God, along with John and the other brothers in Christ. Revelation 19:10, 22:9.

So our young international friend got it wrong. The Lord does not call the followers of Jesus to be hired servants; he calls us to be slaves.

Join me in the next episode as we look at the difference between being a slave and being a disciple.

Well, it’s time to go to work.

An introduction to the Bible in 3D with Host Andrew.