No Longer a Slave
A King bought you — Don't Bow to a Lesser Master
SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 7:23 NKJV - You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
OBSERVATION:
Paul is bringing the principle of freedom to the Corinthian Church. Some were in servitude to others. However, being in servitude did not mean they were not free.
1 Corinthians 7:21 NKJV - Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.
Paul would encourage the man in servitude to use it to serve Jesus. This seems so foreign to us. No one is in servitude today. We do not have slaves (for good reasons). But we can all be slaves to something or someone.
Bob Dylan wrote a song in 1979 titled Gotta Serve Somebody. The chorus says:
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the Devil, or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody
The point is, who are we going to serve? I am not sure Dylan really understood what he was writing, nor do you or I.
APPLICATION:
Do not become a slave in the physical sense that another person rules you. Paul said to follow me as I follow Christ.
If anyone says “Follow me” without adding “As I follow Christ,” let that be a warning sign! We are never to place ourselves under the inappropriate control or influence of others.
1 Corinthians 7:23 NKJV - You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
OBSERVATION:
Paul is bringing the principle of freedom to the Corinthian Church. Some were in servitude to others. However, being in servitude did not mean they were not free.
1 Corinthians 7:21 NKJV - Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.
Paul would encourage the man in servitude to use it to serve Jesus. This seems so foreign to us. No one is in servitude today. We do not have slaves (for good reasons). But we can all be slaves to something or someone.
Bob Dylan wrote a song in 1979 titled Gotta Serve Somebody. The chorus says:
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the Devil, or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody
The point is, who are we going to serve? I am not sure Dylan really understood what he was writing, nor do you or I.
APPLICATION:
Do not become a slave in the physical sense that another person rules you. Paul said to follow me as I follow Christ.
If anyone says “Follow me” without adding “As I follow Christ,” let that be a warning sign! We are never to place ourselves under the inappropriate control or influence of others.
Do not follow even good men slavishly. Do not say, ‘I am of Paul; I am of Apollos; I am of Calvin; I am of Wesley.’ Did Calvin redeem you? Did Wesley die for you? Who is Calvin and who is Wesley but ministers by whom ye believed as the Lord gave unto you? Do not so surrender yourself to any leadership that you rather follow the man than his Master. I will follow anybody if he goes Christ’s way, but I will follow nobody, by the grace of God, if he does not go in that direction. – Charles Spurgeon
Do not become spiritually enslaved to anyone. As Spurgeon said, “Follow the Master, not the man.” Follow Jesus, not a man. Men will ALWAYS let us down, but God never will. Jesus taught us this:
Matthew 23:8-12 NKJV - "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
The GREATEST leaders are servants, not masters… Paul referred to himself as a bondservant. This was a willing servant, not one forced, but one who loved his master.
Paul understood what it meant that “we were bought with a price.” The price paid to redeem us was more than we could ever pay. It was the body and blood of Jesus, given for you and me!
Live in freedom, for we have been set free. Do not become a slave to ANYONE, but be a servant of Jesus!
John 8:34-36 NKJV - Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank you for the freedom I have in You. I am no longer a slave to sin, for I am a child of God. Thank you for no longer being a slave to anything or anyone. Instead, I can be a servant of the King of kings, the Master of masters, and the Lord of lords, Jesus, my savior!
Matthew 23:8-12 NKJV - "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
The GREATEST leaders are servants, not masters… Paul referred to himself as a bondservant. This was a willing servant, not one forced, but one who loved his master.
Paul understood what it meant that “we were bought with a price.” The price paid to redeem us was more than we could ever pay. It was the body and blood of Jesus, given for you and me!
Live in freedom, for we have been set free. Do not become a slave to ANYONE, but be a servant of Jesus!
John 8:34-36 NKJV - Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank you for the freedom I have in You. I am no longer a slave to sin, for I am a child of God. Thank you for no longer being a slave to anything or anyone. Instead, I can be a servant of the King of kings, the Master of masters, and the Lord of lords, Jesus, my savior!
Because Christ paid the ultimate price to set you free, you owe your allegiance to Him alone — follow the Master, not the man.
Posted in 07 - 1 Corinthians
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