My recent studies have been about slave versus servant and if our sin is something we are in control of; can I choose to sin or not to sin? Is our sinning because we are slaves to Satan or does Satan just take advantage of us because we are slaves to sin?
The Bible is clear in that we are all by nature slaves of sin, we have lost our self-control. We are slaves to sin, does this mean we are slaves to Satan? When I look at who Satan is; the ruler of the world (
John 12:31), the god of this age (
2 Corinthians 4:4). We all begin life being part of the world so could I not say that if Christ is not my master, then Satan is my master.
First let me talk about the difference between slave and servant. You probable believe, like I do, that it is better to be a servant than to be a slave but, in a way they seem to be kind of the same. Even as I was studying the New Testament passages in my Ultimate Bible Study Suite that had slave or servant in them, the original Greek word was most often the same word, "doulos". However, that same Greek word is sometimes translated to the English word "slave" and sometimes "servant" depending on which Bible translation you read. I saw some translations that pretty mush always translate that word as slave. I personally prefer the translations that translate to both.
From the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Main Entry:
1slave 
Pronunciation:
sl
v
Function:
noun
Etymology: Middle English
sclave "slave," from early French
esclave (same meaning), derived from Latin
Sclavus "Slav"
1 : a person who is owned by another person and can be sold at the owner's will
2 : a person who has lost self-control and is controlled by something or someone else <a
slave to bad habits>
3 : a person who performs difficult or boring work
: DRUDGE
Main Entry:
ser·vant
Pronunciation:
s
r-vnt
Function:
noun
Etymology: Middle English
servant "servant," from early French
servant (same meaning), from a form of
servir "to serve," from Latin
servire "to be a slave, serve," from
servus "slave, servant" --related to
SERF --see
Word History at
SLAVE
: one that serves others;
especially : a person hired to perform household or personal services
Definition of
bond servant
: one bound to service without wages;
also : slave
Definition of
sin
1a : an offense against religious or moral law
b : an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible
<it's a sin to waste food>c : an often serious shortcoming
: fault
2a : transgression of the law of God b : a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God
I have had a hard time understanding this but as so often happens, I woke up very early with the picture of my understanding clearer this morning.
These two English words, slave and servant, are really the same. It is just a way to show different degrees of harshness or kindness between a person and their master. A master lays out what a slave's responsibilities are and the punishments for disobedience. When we call someone a slave, the degree of harshness on that slave by their master is at it's worst. The ownership of that slave is verbally expressed to that slave and to others. Punishments are carried out to the letter and at times even when they are undeserved. The master does whatever he wants to that slave and the slave is forced to obey. This is Satan's way.
I look at someone who is a servant in a better place or condition than a slave, but the more I think about it, it all boils down to the relationship between a slave and his or her master.
God is the creator of everything and everyone including the heavenly creatures. He is the master of all and by rights, we are His servants, His slaves. God has given us His laws and the punishment for disobedience which is death. What master has ever paid the punishment himself for his servant. God has done this through His son, Jesus. We all are disobedient, worthy of death and Jesus has died in our place. On the third day He arose from the dead and now He sits at the right hand of the Father.
Jesus is not just sitting there. Father God has made Jesus master and He is the best master anyone could ever dream of having. He works with us, the work He gives us to do; that is if you will accept Him as master.
Matthew 11:28-30 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
John 8:34 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
John 15:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Matthew 25:23 Common English Bible (CEB)
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.’ (This translation translated the same Greek word, "doulos", to the English word "servant". Other translations have translated it to "slave".)
Romans 8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Deliverance from Bondage
8 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Our Victory in Christ
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
