RC Slave Notes
These notes have not yet been put into an
"easy to read" format (they are my speaking notes) but, I do believe
that they contain a lot of helpful information if you are studying this
section of Scripture.
ARE YOU SERVING YOUR TRUE MASTER?
In church we hear the following statements all the time…
I’m not my own…I’ve been bought…It’s not my life
ASK YOURSELF…
Q: What do those statements mean? (Do I live in that reality?)
Q: How does my life line up with these statements?
Q: In my day to day experience, whose slave am I?
Q: What does it mean to be a slave?
A Bit About Slavery in Roman Empire…
• Word most often used “under-rower”, then became under submission
• 1/3 of the population were slaves
• ways to become slave =*captured --*sell self --*born into it
• slaves came from all walks of life--some taught children / some managed the owners company / some worked in the field
• slaves were all treated very differently
(celebration of saturnalia-slaves masters switched places so that they could each be grateful for one another)
We have been redeemed…
*Bought out of the slave market—there was a price paid for us
I Cor. 7:22-23-a slave is a slave even while in the market it has not yet
been determined if the owner will be good or not
I Cor. 6:20—we are possessions (3/5 compromise)
I Pet. 1:18-19—what it cost to buy us
*Transferred to a new life
I Pet. 1:18 (out of the futile way of life)
Col. 1:13-14 –given freedom by payment of ransom
*We have a new Master—We are to serve Him! He owns us!
Rom. 6:12-23
• brief overview of vs.1-11
VS.12
• reign-be king / rule / have control
• obey- listen to a command / follow orders
VS.13
• present- to have close at hand / make self available
• instruments--weapons / armor
VS.14
• master-to rule over or have authority over
• We are free from having to keep a bunch of prescribed exercises to obtain righteousness
VS.15
• The natural thought out of vs. 14 is…cool I have no obligations
I can do whatever I want
VS.16
• We make ourselves available to (choose) our master—think about starting the day (each task) as you would if you were a slave
• Our choice of master produces results
• Righteous-one as he ought to be –(everything as it should be)
EX: Gods love / His righteous anger / etc…
VS.17
• Committed is better translated as delivered- “obedient to that form of teaching which delivered you”
• idea behind the word delivered=to put under the authority of another as a criminal put under authority of a guard or of one put under the
care of someone.
• Facts of the verse-1.We have been delivered 2. We have a choice to obey 3. It all originates with Him—He is the reason we have a choice
VS.18
• The idea is not that we simply stay away from sin, but that we submit / obey / serve –our new Master
• Eph. 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
VS.19
• Again we see a choice
• SO NOW!!—This is a lesson that can be applied today!
• Members-your limbs—your physical body—these bodies take orders from us!
• Sanctification-purification / holiness / free from the power is sin
VS.20
• We had no obligation to live right before-
• Rom. 8:12-We have a moral obligation!
VS.21
• What was so good about serving the old master
VS.22
• This verse in contrast to vs.21—results of choices
• Free from sin-we do not have to serve it as a free man does not need to go serve his old master. (although it is still his choice)
• This verse speaks of experiencing our holiness and eternal life
He is speaking to those who already believe-vs.1-11
One may think the point is—you don’t have to sin so why do you?
But the real point is you have a new Master serve Him-rather than just trying not to serve your old Master!
*Our attitude toward our new Master
Luke 17:7-10
• Speaking of responsibility to forgive others
• Has a servant with many responsibilities in view (not just one task)
VS.7
• The slave comes in from other duties-it’s not time to do what he wants, but now he is to check in with the master—
• We think o.k. I’m off the service clock now I get to do what I want.
• The slaves first priority is to serve the Master not self.
• What does this look like daily for me?-
• Do I say “now it’s my time”-without checking with the Master?
VS.8
• Properly dressed=There is an expectation of good service, not just ½ hearted efforts
• The slave does get his needs met
VS.9
• Speaks of…authority / obligation
VS.10
• Unworthy- useless / good for nothing
• ought to have done—to be in debt / owe
• We need to remember our role!!
• He will reward us, but it’s not because He owes us—It’s because He is benevolent!
• WE ARE OBLIGATED TO HIM-HE IS NOT OBLIGATED TO US!
Who are we treat God’s commands as suggestions?
