Slave vs Servant

Ephesians 6:5-6 NET

Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ, not like those who do their work only when someone is watching – as people-pleasers – but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.

What is the difference in being called a slave and being called a servant? The difference is that we are slaves to Christ and we are to be servants to others. We are not slaves to people nor should we be slaves to this world, but to Christ!

When a slave serves his master's friends, he is not their slave but their servant. Our master is Jesus and we are to serve our fellow Christians as well as the lost!

1 Corinthians 7:22-23 NET

For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ’s slave. You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men.

Romans 6:14-23 NET

For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not! Do you not know that if you present yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to, and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.
So what benefit did you then reap from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life. For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Luke 16:13 NET

No servant 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 (possessions; worldly things).”

We all know that having things, money, possessions, etc., is not evil nor is it wrong, but when we are slaves to this world and the things in it, then we begin to love things more than God and He is a jealous (zealous) God! We are to serve Him, not the things of this world. We can possess things and not allow things to possess us!

Exodus 20:5 NET

You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me

Jealous is defined in the NET as being "the same word often translated "zeal" or "zealous." The word describes a passionate intensity to protect or defend something that is jeopardized." I love the next part. "God's zeal or jealousy is to protect his people or his institutions or his honor. Yahweh's honor is bound up with the life of his people.

So we are to honor God by being enslaved to Christ, serving God and others.

Half Truths!

Romans 3:23
     for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We are all familiar with this scripture.  We should be, simply because many, Christian and non-christian, like to spit this scripture in the face of those who are pointing out a sin in another; not to condemn or judge, but to inform with love and kindness.  This scripture has been jammed down the throats of so many in a, "you sin and fall short of God's glory, so don't talk to me about my sin," kind of attitude.  This scripture is a true statement, but it is becoming a half truth.

Now, a half truth is defined as a deceptive statement that includes some element of truth.  You may think, is she saying this scripture is deceptive?  I will explain why that is not what I am saying.  Romans 3:23 is not deceptive, however the use of it, the way many people phrase it and use it, is the deception.

They are only giving part of the truth.  Yes we all have sinned[Grk. hamartanō to miss the mark, to err, be mistaken, miss/wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong, to wander form the law of God, violate God's law] and fall short[Grk. hystereō come short; fail; want; lack; devoid of; be inferior in excellence/worth] of the glory[Grk. doxa opinion, judgment, view, majesty: belonging to God, the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity] of God[Grk. theos Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit].

However, I and possibly many, rarely hear someone quote the scripture that follows (vs. 24):

      But they are justified[dikaioō declared righteous Grk "being justified"] freely by his[God's] grace[Grk. eleeo el-eh-eh'-o to be compassionate (by word or deed, especially, by divine grace):--have compassion (pity on), have (obtain, receive, show) mercy (on)] through the redemption[antilutron an-til'-oo-tron  a redemption-price:--ransom; apolutrosis ap-ol-oo'-tro-sis(the act) ransom in full, deliverance, redemption] that is in Christ Jesus.

I love the Greek definition of justified in this passage.  Its usage is that we are "being justified."  We are being made right!  We are being perfected by grace through Christ! It is a process! Yes, I slip up.  I will make mistakes! But God!  Don't you love the "but God"s in life?! But God is making me new everyday!  Working in me! Molding me to be who I am supposed to be in Christ!  He is perfecting me! Not that I am perfected, but I am being perfected!  To be perfected (not perfect) we must give our lives as a sacrifice to God!  When we give God all of us, then He can make us and mold into who He desires us to be, but we must be willing!

So why would I not want this for others?  Why would I keep my mouth shut about what God is doing in me and not want others to know they can experience this too?!

I am not ignorant of my slip ups and mistakes.  I simply choose not to dwell on them!  

One other thing.  When a mistake has been done in the past, don't keep bringing it up!  God has already, if asked, forgiven and forgotten it, and if I have been forgiven of  it and have turned away from it and am no longer making that mistake, then do not keep spitting it back in my face.  This goes especially for all believers.  If someone has done something in the past and you know they are no longer doing it, don't bring it up!  But if they are struggling with it presently, don't condemn them! Encourage them! Show them that Christ loves them and doesn't expect them to be perfect in order to come to know him!  

This might be a shocker to the religious crowd, but NEWS FLASH: God can't perfect you if you are already perfect in your eyes!  He doesn't expect people to walk into church with ZERO problems!  We all have problems! That is what the church is supposed to be for!  To reach out to the poor, the sick, the hurting, the addict, the prostitute, the homosexual, the single mom struggling to get by!  These people are already hurting!  Don't keep spitting in their face saying "clean yourself up, then you can come to church!"  This is sinful! This is why so many don't want to go to church, because they think they have to be sinless to be accepted by God!  No!  You accept God, then He works in you: cleansing you of all unrighteousness!  Change is required, but it doesn't happen over night or at the alter one Sunday morning.  It is a life changing process!

But don't be discouraged! 

Philippians 4:13 I am able to do(can do) all things(this includes living a sinless life) through the one(Christ Jesus) who strengthens me.

[Bold bracketed] info: http://www.blueletterbible.org, http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html



Introduction: Bible Study Blog

When I was younger, I don't think I fully grasped what it meant to be a believer and follower of Christ. I didn't read the Bible with the intention of getting insight into God's word. I would read it, but I didn't understand it and to understand something you have to study, correct? Well I didn't know how to study the Bible [I was never good at studying in school either =/, but I got by and finished school 3rd in my class. But as a Christian, I don't want to simply "get by" or just "get to heaven". That cannot be my one and only purpose in this life. Yes, I am excited at the thought of spending eternity with my Lord, but if we get so focused on only getting to heaven, we will miss the now, and there are so many people in the now who do not have a relationship with Jesus!]

In recent years I've come to realize how important it is to read God's word, and not simply read it, but understand it! You can read something and know what it says, but not fully understand what it means.  I want to be able to read God's word and be able to grasp at what God is telling me through it and get a glimpse of who He is. I don't want what I read to be just words on a page, because I know in my heart and Spirit that they are so much more than that!

The purpose of this Blog Bible Study is not only to get information and insight into God's word (Holy Spirit inspired) out to the public, but it is also to help me grow in my walk with the Lord. I pray in some way He can speak through me to you and it bring encouragement, insight, faith, peace, and understanding to you, as well as me.

Feedback and comments are welcome. However, since this is a Christian, family friendly blog, I would appreciate it if all commentators will use respectful and appropriate language (whether your comment is for or against my posts). Also, I would ask that there be no bullying, crude, or unkind remarks made to fellow commentators. Any comments violating this request will be removed. I want opinions of others, but I want it done in a godly manner. If you do not believe in God, I still ask this simple courtesy toward others and myself.

Titus 3:2 NET
They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people.

Thank you! :)