A Slave For Christ Part 1 Series

Do you understand that our disgusts for slavery based on the African American experience should aid us in our relationship with Christ? When slavery was prominent in America, the slaves referred to Christ as their true Master, not the man who owned them in this world. Many were the slaves who died prematurely knowing that they were finally being set free to their true Master, Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to think about today. Does the life you’re living exemplify the life of a slave? If you’re truly a slave for Christ, does your life show this? Are you seen as His slave? Turn with me to Philippians 2:5-8 to meet the most well known slave in the history of the world, Jesus Christ.

II. Jesus The Slave

Philippians 2:5-8 reads “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 bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

In order for us to fully grasp what is said here, we need to understand the term “bond-servant” or “servant” as translated in your bible. The Greek word for servant is “doulos.” It literally means slave. It appears approximately seventy-five times in the singular form. If the term in the New Testament meant “slave” we must consider why it was translated as “servant” or “bond-servant.” Earlier I gave an illustration of the life of a slave and I asked you if you would trade your present life and become a slave. Most would not agree to do so. Well consider how it would come across if most references to Christ used the word slave and in choosing to serve Christ you were being asked to become a slave. Just the word itself repels us enough to waver in our commitment level. I personally believe that the choice to use the word servant versus slave was deliberate, especially in the King James Version of the Bible. Remember King James was a King who had slaves. It would be hard for him to see himself as a slave versus a “servant”. But if we are to truly understand what Christ did when He came to earth and what our responses should be to Him, we must accept the fact that He came here as a slave and those who accept Him are asked to become the same. Jesus said the following in Matthew 20:28: “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Jesus said that He came to be a slave and to give His life as a ransom for many. His death on the cross was a slave’s death. The term ransom means that He gave His life to purchase ours. He purchased us with His own blood.

In the verses we read in Philippians, Paul gives a clear example of what Christ did for us. Paul states that Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient. What is the first thing that a slave must learn to do? A slave must learn humility and to be obedient. During slavery times a slave’s life depended on how the accomplished these two things. Our Christ, the one involved greatly in the creation of all things, humbled Himself and became obedient to God. Jesus’ obedience led Him to the cross. How many times have you heard someone say that they will follow someone up to a “certain point” meaning that there are some limitations on how far their “obedience” would go? This was not the case with Jesus. Jesus was obedient even to death. This same type of obedience was leveled on slaves. Slaves had no choice and were expected to be obedient in everything they were told to do. There were no options to say “no” as they had no choice in any matter. If they were ever disobedient, the punishment was severe. Jesus became obedient to the point of death, even the death on a cross.