Slaves...The word carries a connotation of wrong, harm, and unjust, inhumane treatment. Yet this word is used over 150 times in the New Testimate and is used most often in connection with our relationship with our Master Jesus Christ. The Bible is full of "slave talk." We are not just servants but slaves of Christ. Unfortunatly, the english Bible often translates the greek word "doulos" into "servant" But the real, clear, unabmigious meaning is slave. The translation into servant weakens the meaning of the word and its implcation on our lives with Christ.

I just finished listening to a message by John McArthur about our being slaves of Christ. It opened my eyes to a new understanding of what Christ expects of me and the kind of relationship I have with him. It added a whole new meaning to “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20). It also changed the way I read  Luke 14:27-35 and Matt 16:24-25 and Phil 2:5-7 and many other passages about Christ being my Lord

What does being a slave to Christ look like? It requires obedience! He is our Master! Our Lord! Our owner, our redeemer and I am His slave! The beauty of this is that we will never, ever find a Master more benevolant, kind and generous as our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Check out these Scriptures but instead of "servant" or "bond-servant" (a non-existant word with no true greek equivalent ) I have put in the proper translation of the greek word doulos.

• “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,” (Romans 1:1)
• "No one can be a slave of two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be a slave of God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24)
• “not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, being a slave of the Lord;” (Romans 12:10-11 - continue reading to see what other characteristics we should embrace)
• “With good will be a slave, as to the Lord, and not to men,” (Ephesians 6:7)
• “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you are a slave.” (Colossians 3:24)
• “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, and being made in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:5-7)
  
  

This puts a whole new picture on our obedience as not just a thing that good Christians do but rather a requirement made by our Master, our LORD! Now I more fully understand  what Jesus meant in Luke 6:46 when he says "Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

I hope you will take the time to read the transcript of a similar message by clicking here. I also hope that we will have the reponse of the slave in Luke 17 - "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’"” (Luke 17:10)

Take some time today to think about what being a slave of Christ really means. Take some time to think about your life and ask yourself if you are eagerly obeying your Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, who has bought you and redeemed you from sin to Himself.
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Things to think about:
1) How is your being a slave affect your your relationship to your Lord? Is your relationship too casual-like or is it one of a slave being willfully and eagerly obedient to his Master who has purchased you with His own blood?
2) Look for the Biblical references to slave, bond-servant, servant and begin reading them in the new light of our being slaves of Christ.
3) Think about what the reward and blessings of Christ will be when He returns to find His slaves faithful to what he has called them to do.
4) Read John 15 and soak in the truth that we are not only slaves of Christ but friends - a slave that has been brought into a special, unique relationship with His Master (compare this with the short book of Philemon too)

"Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.” (Luke 12:36-37)

What is the Gospel?
Let this primer be just the starting point of your growing in the knowledge of the gospel. Also, consider memorizing these Scripture verses and “let the word of Christ richly dwell within you …” (Colossians 3:16).
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Note: much of this content was taken from www.9Marks.org.
1) God is both our sovereign creator and righteous judge. God therefore has the right of ownership over us by virtue of creating us, and he has the right to punish or reward us by virtue of his justice. And because God is both our Creator and Judge, therefore, we are doubly accountable to Him for all our behavior - word, thought, and deed. (Nehemiah 9:6; Ps 98:9).

2) Man was created by God, in God's image, to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But man sinned against God by disobeying His holy law. Man therefore separated himself from God's holy and satisfying presence, and incurred His wrathful displeasure. (Gen 1:27; Rom 1:18, 3:23)

3) Jesus Christ's life and death was the substitute payment for the penalty that we deserved for our sin. His life and death is God's only provision for the forgiveness of man's sin and the appeasement of God's wrath against sin. (Isa 53:6; John 3:36; Acts 4:12)

4) God calls us to Himself enabling us to hear and understand the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14; Romans 8:30; 1 Peter 2:9)

5) God graciously grants those who He calls the free gift of repentance and belief (2 Timothy 2:25; Acts 11:18; John 15:16; Acts 16:14)

6) We are called to respond to this good news in repentance and belief - turning away from our sin and self-sufficiency toward God, and trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ as the substitute penalty that we deserved for our sin. (Mark 1:15; Luke 24:46-47)

7) A Changed life is the mark of genuine salvation and is evidenced by the regenerating work of God in our lives (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Titus 3:5; 2Cor 5:17; Eph 4:22-24)

• Repentance -  1 John 3:9 (Note: some translations use the word “continue” which is better translated “continues” or “practices” as in repeatedly practicing sinning. This Scripture is not advocating absolute perfection but rather the fact that a genuine believer will not go on trying to sin.)
• Growth - 1 Peter 2:2
• Obedience - 1 John 2:3-6; John 8:31-32
• Fruit - John 15:8, Galatians 5:22-25
• Love - John 13:35

8) All true Christians will persevere - A true believer can never lose their salvation and will persevere to the end. (John 6:38-40; John 10:27-29; 1Peter 1:3-9)

Just a heads up to those of you who want to add a comment to the blog...the comments are a little goofy. First click on the link to "comments" under the text. It will look like the page reloaded but nothing really changed. Then click on the same spot again which is now called "Submit your comment." That will allow you to post a comment.

~Happy Posting! =)

In The Beginning...
This is the beginning of the blog for YEFC as a whole and for the Youth Group too. This category in the blog is where I will post news and musings about the youth group, devotionals, book reviews and links to other blogs. The web is a tool that is ever increasing in it's use and usability. My hope and prayer is that this is a place were we can talk together about the Word and the world around us. Please feel free to post comments, join in on discussion threads about any particular topic.

~For the sake of the gospel (1 Cor 9:23)