I'm Just A Slave!

We say that the love of Christ controls us, but why is this so? If we are free in Christ then how can we be controlled? The apostle Paul would have us to believe this is the case because of an ownership issue. The word Christian, which is what we call ourselves, would even seem to affirm this truth all the more. There are those who say that Christian means “Christ like,” and yet others would say it means “follower of Christ.” While both of these definitions of Christian are good definitions, I would put forth that Christian is best defined as “slave of Christ.”

We know that the Greek word for Christian is Χριστιανός, or chistianos. In my study of this word I have come to the conclusion that it is actually from two roots. First it comes from Χριστός, Christos, which is the anointed one, the Son of God, the Messiah. Ianos is of Latin origin and carries with it the connotation of being owned by the one whose name precedes it. So if you are owned are you not a slave? This definition of the words is supported throughout scripture with the many references to us being bondservants are slaves to Christ and righteousness, but none is more influential than what we see here in Romans.

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 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. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:16-23

As we present ourselves as instruments of righteousness, we are really selling ourselves to God. The Word of God states that we were bought with a price. 1 Corinthians 7:23 If we are owned by God, then his ownership of us means that we must obey him. Interestingly enough God owning us happens by an act of our free will when we decide believe God, and trust in Him alone. So what I am saying here is this. Once we have presented ourselves as instruments of righteousness to God, we can walk in that knowing and realizing that he owns us. If we will walk in this truth, then we will begin to see progression in our holiness, and see the fruit of our sanctification – eternal life.

Lord Jesus,
Help me to see that I am just a slave to righteousness and to you. Help me always to remember that walking in holiness is an issue of ownership, and because you own me I will obey you. Yet I am weak and unable to follow you perfectly, and because of that I cry out to you to fill me with your Holy Spirit that I might be able to manifest holiness in my life. In Your name I pray, Amen.