SLAVES OF CHRIST, NOT MAN

Eph 6:5-9

The Westminster Confession says the chief end of man is “To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” This summary statement in the Westminster Catechism about the chief end of man is taken by what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”1 Cor 10:31. We come to  the end of the submissive order of Paul’s letter that presents the a proper biblical worldview that brings God the most glory.

From…

Submitting to one another in the body of Christ through the gospel confession. (Eph 5:15-21)

Wives submitting to their own husbands in the beautiful union of covenant marriage. (Eph 5:22-24)

Husbands submission to Christ as godly leaders as an example to the marriage. (Eph5:25-33)

Children submit by living out God’s direction in your life to your parents because it comes with the fullest of life. (Eph 6:1-3)

Father’s submit to Gospel confession and be the example as the head of the home in grace and Christ’s righteousness through the Spirit. (Eph 6:4)

Slaves submit to your master and do all things as unto Christ, your Lord. (Eph 6:5-9)

As we approach this portion of Paul’s letter understand something very important! This would have been “strange” or “out of place” to address slaves as it were the children in the church. Slaves in this time period were seen as: Nothing or tools to be used in one man’s workshop. In both Greek and Roman cultures, most slaves had no legal rights and were treated as commercial possessions. We need to understand! Romans saw work as something beneath them and it was contrary to their self-worth, so someone else should do it for them. We can call this the socialist agenda of our present culture. Have someone else do so that I can benefit from it without lifting a finger to help. It has been told that great majority of Roman Empires were built by the hands of slaves.

One Roman writer divided slaves into three classes during this time. 

The articulate (valuable), who were slaves.

The inarticulate (not worth much), who were animals.

The mute (serve one purpose), which were tools and vehicles.

The Roman Statesman Cato was so bold and ignorant to write “Old slaves should be thrown on a dump, and when a slave is ill do not feed him anything. It is not worth your money. Take sick slaves and throw them away because they are nothing but inefficient tools.” This time period wasn’t so nice for slaves! It has been told that Augustus crucified a slave who accidentally killed his pet. One Roman master threw a slave into a pond of deadly lamprey eels for breaking his goblet. One slave master during this time period greatest pleasure was “listening to the sweet song of his slaves being flogged.” It has been estimated that there were some 60,000,000 slaves in the Roman Empire. The majority of those slaves were found in Rome, Corinth and Ephesus. Even some in the Ephesian church were Masters of slaves, and some in the church were slaves of masters.

I realize there are many dark and terrible stories…. How slaves were treated during this time, but we also need to understand that changes were happening in Rome during this time as well. Slaves under Roman law in the first century could generally count on eventually being set free. Very few slaves ever reached old age as slaves. Slave owners were releasing slaves at such a high rate that Augustus Caesar introduced legal restrictions to curb the trend. But despite his attempts to curb this some 50% of slaves were freed before the age of thirty. Also while the slave remained his master’s possession, he could own property, including other slaves, and completely control his property so that he could invest and save money to purchase his own freedom. They also did more than menial work; they did nearly all the work including oversight, management and most professions. Some slaves were more educated than their owners.

  

We also need to understand! The Scripture Old & New do not condemn slaves, with the exception of what we read in Exodus 21:16 “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.”  Kidnapping for the purpose of making slaves violate God’s Law. Which is what most of what slavery was during the 18^th & 19^th Century leading up to William Wilberforce, an evangelical Christian and a member of Parliament, who fought for the abolition of the African slave trade and against slavery itself until they were both illegal in the British Empire. Roman slavery in the first century was far more humane and civilized than the American/African slavery practices in the country much later.

There is so much more we could look at here about the history of these people and their treatment of slaves and masters. But I don’t want us to lose focus to the importance of this text as Paul addresses slaves and masters. Despite the circumstances, whether they are in a good environment or a bad environment. The summary of this text is that everything you do is to be done through the Spirit for the glory of the gospel confession. You do this for the glory of the Gospel, which is not a means to an end, but in the person of Jesus Christ. 

The text before us this morning uses language of “Bondservant” in the literal translation this word is “Doulos” meaning slave. I do not want us to hung up on this word, but understand if your bible says “Bondservant” or “slave” they are both saying the same thing here in this passage. What Paul is saying by using this word is that “a person who is bound to serve their master.” There is a truth here that encourages the heart of the child of God not to lose faith but to have unshakable faith as you face each day for the glory of God.

What is that encouraging truth? The answer is found in these three verses (v5-v8) “Obey you earthly masters” is indicating and uninterrupted obedience. We are not to obey when we feel like it or when our master/employer is being reasonable. It is obedience because of whom we serve and love through the gospel. Our new lives in Christ are to be exemplified witnesses of the glory of God through Christ and His Gospel. By our submission and service though our lives demonstrate the unshakable faith we have despite our present circumstances. Why? Peter  said it best “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 1 Peter 2:17-19

Is it nice to be treated unfairly, or treated

as if you have no value?

Absolutely not! But in the midst of this our strength comes not from our master, but our Lord, who is Master of our lives. See many new Christian who were slaves during this time thought this new life in Christ freed them from everything including their present master. They would have thought this by what Paul said in the opening chapter of this letter (Eph 1:5-14). But we need to understand again! Their present situation of slavery or employment wasn’t going to change their work status because they were new creations in Christ. This meant that they are free from sins bondage and the chains have been broken in Christ Jesus and now we are free to be an example of the gospel confession. Was a slave supposed to leave and run away from their master as soon as possible after salvation? No! Paul says they were to serve with fear and trembling with a sincere heart, as you would Christ. (v5)

A great example of this is found in a beautiful personal letter to a brother who was not only a pastor of a church, but also a slave master. Turn to the letter written to Philemon Paul writes “For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. Paul's Plea for Onesimus Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.” Philemon 7-12. Paul goes on to say in his letter “no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.” Philemon 16-18

Our responsibility is to serve Christ in whatever we do and to do it for His glory. Our duty at work, at play and in private should be for this reason as a bondservant of Christ. Doing the will of God from a heart that has been transformed by the power of the precious gospel. Serve your master as if you are serving Christ. Application for you! Serving your employer with a transformed heart of adoration to Christ and His glory. Everything we do is to be done out of a heart of adoration and thanksgiving for the glory of God through Christ in the Spirit that lives within us. This is what Paul is saying…..Render all your service and duty unto Christ and not man. (v8) As new creations in Christ, we serve Christ, as we serve someone else who is superior over us in whatever capacity that might be… from Waste Management to Open Heart Surgeon. Our submission to someone who is over us brings glory to God and the gospel confession.

John MacArthur said “In every aspect of human life God’s plan is one of authority and submission, and those two pillars are the bedrock of biblical labor relations. To avoid chaos and anarchy, someone must lead, and others must follow. The mutual submission Paul teaches relation to masters and servants, just as that between husbands and wives and parents and children, is in the context of the God designed roles of authority of husband’s overs wives, parents over children, and masters over servants. But the authority is not based on any inherent superiority of husbands, parents, or masters. They possess their authority as a stewardship from God, to be used for His purpose and according to His principles. Their authority is not total or unrestricted and is to be used only to serve God and to serve those over whom they have been given the authority. Submission therefore is not one-way but mutual.”

Everything we do is to be an extension of God’s grace to us, as we do our very best working and serving others, because everything we are doing is unto the Lord.

“Unto the Lord”…..

I serve my church, all for the glory of His name.

I serve my husband, with love for the glory of His name.

I serve and love my wife and will willing die for her, for the glory of His name.

I obey and love my parents, for the glory of His name.

I work my very best and nothing less, for the glory of His name.

Everything I, we do, is to be done out of a “sincere heart” 

A sincere heart that has an incorruptible love for Christ. 

As Paul closes this letter “Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.” Eph 6:24

A sincere heart that has an unshakable faith in the Gospel.

As the Hebrew writer wrote “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Heb 10:19-23

A sincere heart that has a hatred for evil and desire to do good.

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” Rom 12:9-11

A sincere heart that has a confidence and desire for holiness.

Paul said “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” 2 Cor 1:12

  

We are to serve out of a sincere heart! NOT a…. 

“Fake or eye-service heart” this is work that is diligently performed when the master is present and watching, but neglected when he is not looking or is absent. This is a person who is untrustworthy and undependable and needs to be checked in on because they are never doing their work to their best ability. Don’t be this person in work, in the church or even in your home. “People pleasers heart” someone who will do their very best so long as you get something out of it. And only! If they get something out of it. This primary motive is self-promotion, self-gratification and unfortunately this doesn’t end well because the Lord knows the heart! You can read that for yourself in the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25....Jesus says to slothful one who hid his talent out of fear when the master was away “…But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matt 25:24-28

The child of God is NEVER to serve to please men. (v7)

Why? “Not unto men” Prov 16:3 says “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” Paul gives this stern warning “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Gal 6:7-8. Paul said these to church you serve “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” 2 Cor 9:6-7

We are obligated though the gospel confession and the joy it produces. Whether it’s your skill, time, energy and finances everything we do is be used for His glory and honor as you serve not the church, but the Master of the church. 

The child of God is to do everything “unto the Lord.” 

Everything we do is for His purpose and for His glory whether you’re a slave or a master. 

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” Col 3:23. Everything we do is to be done as a living sacrifice for His glorious name to be exalted on the earth and in the Heavens. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Rom 12:1. 

Everything we do comes from brokenness over our sin and our love for the Savior. 

David wrote “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:14-17

This goes for all us and especially the slave and the master. Whether….. You’re a slave/employee or a master/employer. We are equal in Christ with different responsibilities, and we are to demonstrate the love of Christ to one another and to enjoy Him as we serve out of a sincere heart for His glorious Name. God does not hold one person more special than the next child of God, despite their circumstance, their level of power, or position. (v9)

  

We are free in Christ!

As the Christmas hymn “Oh Holy Night” there is a line that says “Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother. And in His name all oppression shall cease.” In Christ we are equal! When we understand this truth we can serve out of a sincere heart that doesn’t need to please men, but exemplifies Christ and His love for us. Our greatest joy is this! I’m a child of the Master and His name is Jesus Christ. What is the chief end of man? “To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”