Belonging to God

Years ago I went to a conference at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside and pastor John MacArthur preached a sermon on the Greek word "doulos."  He noted the vast majority of times we read the word "servant" in the the New Testament, doulos is the word being translated--a word best translated as "slave."  MacArthur believed the word "slave" better connected with our modern understanding of English and thus was a better translation.  Having been purchased by the blood of Jesus and born again by faith in Him identifying as a slave emphasises we are not our own.

People can negatively colour their view of God as our Father because of a poor relationship with their own father, and a similar error can be made concerning the grave abuses associated with slavery.  In stark contrast to common examples of slavery that involve kidnapping or the forced sale of human beings (crimes punished by death under law), the Law of Moses outlined slavery for a set time as a provision to pay off debts.  Under Law it was not a master who decided if a slave could remain in the household permanently but the slave out of love for his master and family given him.  Exodus 21:5-6 reads, "But if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' ⁶ then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever."  This choice to become a bondslave was the decision of the slave and this legal, binding union was publicly affirmed by the courts.

Many times in his letters Paul referred to himself as a willing bondslave of Jesus Christ, and this reality impacted the way he lived and spoke to others.  In the midst of a storm, Paul addressed the men aboard the ship in Acts 27:23-25:  "For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, ²⁴ saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' ²⁵ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me."  Being a slave of God, Paul knew he belonged to Him.  This meant he had been accepted, was cared for personally and would never be forgotten.  He was God's valued property, for God had purchased him body and soul.  Paul knew and served the LORD, and because he belonged to God was courageous to look death in the face without fear, and encouraged others to take heart.

The life of a Christian relates to God in other ways besides being a slave:  we are called the children of God, His inheritance and the sheep of His pasture.  We are like soldiers who have chosen to enlist to serve under His command, God's ambassadors who diffuse His fragrance of life to this world filled with death.  Christians are individual members of Body of Christ the church united in Jesus Who is our Head.  The church is compared to a bride that is betrothed to Christ.  John wrote in Revelation 1:5-6:  "...Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, ⁶ and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."  Because of faith in Jesus Christ we belong to God, are loved, washed from our sins and are made kings and priests unto Him.  Having received Him, we are willing slaves having been enraptured in God's love for us, confident all He has promised He is able to perform.