Me, a Slave?Ephesians 6:5-9

Prayer of Adoration

Blessed are You, O Lord, God of Israel, our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of all things. In Your hand is power and might to exalt and to give strength to all. Therefore, my God, I give You thanks and praise Your glorious name. (1 Chronicles 29:10-13)

No one is Free

To Whom/WhatDo You Serve?

We are Slaves to lawlessness or slaves to righteousness

Romans 6:19 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once

presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members

as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

Slaves to various passions and pleasures

Titus 3:33 For we ourselves were once foolish,

disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating

one another.

Slaves to whatever overcomes us

2 Peter 2:19

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For

whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

Slaves to False gods

Galatians 4:88 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are

not gods.

Slaves to the elementary principles of the world

Galatians 4:3, 93 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary

principles of the world. …9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be

known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary

principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Slaves to Money

Matthew 6:24 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either

he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Slave to the Law

Romans 7:1

7 Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long

as he lives?

Slaves to Sin

John 8:34 34 Jesus answered them,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who

practices sin is a slave to sin.

No longer Slaves to Sin

Romans 6:6 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin

might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer

be enslaved to sin.

In Christ,

You are no longer to be slaves to:

Impurity and lawlessness

Passions and pleasures

The gods of this world

The elementary principles of the world

To the Law

To Sin

But, In Christ

We:

Serve Christ

Serve Righteousness

Serve one another

Not free, yet free Free, yet not free

1 Corinthians 7:22 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free

when called is a bondservant of Christ.

But there is still earthly masters.

There are still bosses, employers, officers, teachers, people in authority over others.

How should Christians under authority respond to those over them?

How should Christians in authority act towards those under them?

Ephesians 6:5–9 (ESV)

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord,

whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is

no partiality with him.

Christian servants

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,

Bondservants (δοῦλος) - slave

Christian servants

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,

earthly masters – “fleshly lords (κύριος)” – Paul intentionally uses the same name for lords as he does for the Lord.

Christian servants

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,

Fear and trembling - not slavish terror, but an anxious eagerness to do your duty, and a fear of displeasing

Christian servants

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,

With a sincere heart – Literally “simple heart”. Means “purity of heart”, “wholehearted” or “without ulterior motives”

Christian servants

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,

As you would Christ – “you obey your earthly lord in the same manner that you’d obey Christ”.

Christian servants

6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

Not by the way of eye-service – “not with the intent to attract attention or be noticed”, “not only when you’re being watched”.

Not as people-pleasers – “men pleasers” “don’t do your work with the intent of simply making people happy”

Christian servants

6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

Obey as a slave of Christ, doing the will of God –“When you serve your earthly lord in this manner, you are ultimately serving your heavenly Lord and doing His will.”

From the heart – literally “from the psyche (ψυχή)” inner person (heart, soul). Opposite of external performance.

Christian servants

7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

Good will – “eagerness, zeal” Serve your earthly lord with the same zeal that you would the Lord.

Christian servants

7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

Your good deeds will be rewarded. Whether your earthly lord acknowledges them isn’t significant. The Lord in heaven is watching and will see that you receive a reward (inheritance).

Christian servants

7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

The criteria for rewards and inheritance is the same for all, whether you are a slave or free. God shows no partiality. Social status is immaterial with God.

Bosses, don’t celebrate just yet.

What about Christian lords?

Paul’s statements to the Christian Slaves were revolutionary. But his following statements to the lords is even more so.

“According to a proverbial statement known to Seneca, ‘all slaves are enemies’, while many masters were tyrants and abusive. In order to deal with their slaves, owners were known to threaten beatings, sexual harassment, or selling male slaves away from the households with the result that they would be parted forever from their loved ones.”

Christian Earthly lords

9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

Do the same – Does not mean that they are to serve the slaves, but “show the same regard to God’s will, and to your servants’ well-being, in your relation to them, as they ought to have in their relation to you.”

Christian Earthly lords

9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

Christian lords, Stop threatening your servants:

Because you both serve the same Lord in heaven.

The standards/criteria set of doing good by the heavenly Lord is the same for the slave, the free and the earthly lords. You will be held accountable.

Not a vertical relationship

Lord in Heaven

Lord in the Flesh

Slave

Lord in Heaven

SlavesLord in the

Flesh

Brothers in Christ

Christian Slaves and Masters are brothers

Philemon 10–16 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless

to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order

that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do

nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,

16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

If both are Christians?

1 Timothy 6:1–2

Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as

worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those

who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the

better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

If the Master isn’t a Christian?

Titus 2:9–10 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not

pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of

God our Savior.

If the Master isn’t a Christian?

1 Peter 2:18–2118 Servants, be subject to your masters with all

respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing,

when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it

if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for

it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called,

because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his

steps.

First Century Slaves

The masters had their faces dead set against these Christian slaves. We can understand that attitude when we remember that these slaves lived lives of singular purity, meekness, honesty, willingness to serve, and obedience in the households of their heathen masters. This was a powerful testimony for the gospel, and brought them under conviction of sin. All this irritated them, and they reacted in a most unpleasant way toward their slaves, whom they would punish without provocation. Yet they did not want to sell these Christian slaves and buy pagan ones, for the Christian slaves served them better. So they just had to make the best of the situation.Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest's word studies from the

Greek New Testament : For the English reader (1 Pe2:18). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Serving two masters

Matthew 6:24 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either

he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Slaves encouraged to be free

1 Corinthians 7:2121 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the

opportunity.)

Christ Became a Servant

Philippians 2:5–8 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality

with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a

servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he

humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Christ Became a Servant to Others

In washing the apostles feet, he not only performed as a

servant, but requested that his followers do the

same.

His Disciples Were servants

Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, …

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

Jude 1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

We are servants

1 Peter 2:16

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as

servants of God.

Closing Prayer

I know that my Redeemer livesAnd that in the end He will stand upon the earth.And after my skin has been destroyed,Yet in my flesh I will see God;Whom I myself will seeAnd behold with my own eyes and not another.How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27)