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Bondman · 04-04-2008, 06:59 AM

PRACTICAL NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY

MESSAGE #40

BONDMAN - DOULOS

There's nothing to be proud about being a 'bondman' - or 'bond-slave', or 'slave', or 'bond-servant', or just 'servant' - depending on how it's translated in your Bible. The Greek word is doulos. Strong gives one meaning for this as:"One who gives himself up to another's will." And also: "Devoted to another to the disregard of one's interests." I love both of these!

DOULOS = SLAVE

But let's not shilly-shally about this one little bit: doulos means slave, pure and simple! A bond-slave in NT times was bought and totally owned by his master, there for no purpose but to be a SLAVE to his master - for life!

A slave, that is, with NO human rights remaining whatsoever - NEVER to be released! In the New Testament Paul's first letter to the Christian church, and in the very first verse... well here's what he called himself:

Romans 1
1 Paul, a bond-slave of Jesus Christ.

I've related here how I CHOSE to become a bond-slave to Jesus as late as 1999, and now will be one forever. But what I didn't realise at that time, and probably you don't realise either, is contained in this mind-bending statement of Paul's:

1 Corinthians 7
22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.

• STATEMENT 1: If you were a bond-slave when you got saved, you're now a man totally FREE in the Lord. How wonderful is THAT for anyone who is not FREE, or who doesn't FEEL like they are free!

• STATEMENT 2: Similarly, if you were (already) a free man when you got saved, you're now Christ's slave!

WHO ARE BOND-SLAVES?

Again you can see the strong contrasts and opposites here between 'slave' and 'freeman'. But it's perfectly and absolutely clear what God is saying overall in this verse: as Christ's man or woman - YOU ARE ALREADY A BOND-SLAVE, a doulos!!!

I had never seen that! I thought Paul was the one who'd just chosen to be a bondman, and so I'd chosen too. But the truth is that if you are a true Christian, you're already a bond-slave to Jesus!!!

JESUS IS YOUR LORD!

Shall I tell you the wonderful thing I see that this does for us all? - God here has made it SO MUCH EASIER for us to acknowledge that Jesus Christ IS Lord over all of our lives... because we ALREADY totally belong to Him as his doulos! WOW!!

BOUGHT WITH A PRICE!

And in case we didn't quite 'get' it, here's the very next verse:

1 Corinthians 7
23 You were bought with a price.

And that's THE GREATEST PRICE
ever paid by ANY MAN,
for ANY THING!!!
GOD HAS BOUGHT YOU!
Paid a MASSIVELY high price for you:
Jesus' SHED BLOOD, and ultimately HIS LIFE!!!

1 Corinthians 6
19b You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price.

God is now adding one more truth here: "You do not belong to yourself any more," He's saying. "YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. YOU ARE MINE! I PAID A VERY GREAT AMOUNT FOR YOU!!"

Dear ones reading here, let's start living it like it really is - which is that WE ARE COMPLETELY and TOTALLY HIS!!!!

Bless you each and every one!

- BM, with his lady-love

QUESTIONS WELCOME!

GOTO: Previous Message

04-04-2008, 06:59 AM	#474 (permalink)
Bondman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Posts: 573 Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 1	PRACTICAL NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY MESSAGE #40 BONDMAN - DOULOS There's nothing to be proud about being a 'bondman' - or 'bond-slave', or 'slave', or 'bond-servant', or just 'servant' - depending on how it's translated in your Bible. The Greek word is doulos. Strong gives one meaning for this as:"One who gives himself up to another's will." And also: "Devoted to another to the disregard of one's interests." I love both of these! DOULOS = SLAVE But let's not shilly-shally about this one little bit: doulos means slave, pure and simple! A bond-slave in NT times was bought and totally owned by his master, there for no purpose but to be a SLAVE to his master - for life! A slave, that is, with NO human rights remaining whatsoever - NEVER to be released! In the New Testament Paul's first letter to the Christian church, and in the very first verse... well here's what he called himself: Romans 1 1 Paul, a bond-slave of Jesus Christ. I've related here how I CHOSE to become a bond-slave to Jesus as late as 1999, and now will be one forever. But what I didn't realise at that time, and probably you don't realise either, is contained in this mind-bending statement of Paul's: 1 Corinthians 7 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. • STATEMENT 1: If you were a bond-slave when you got saved, you're now a man totally FREE in the Lord. How wonderful is THAT for anyone who is not FREE, or who doesn't FEEL like they are free! • STATEMENT 2: Similarly, if you were (already) a free man when you got saved, you're now Christ's slave! WHO ARE BOND-SLAVES? Again you can see the strong contrasts and opposites here between 'slave' and 'freeman'. But it's perfectly and absolutely clear what God is saying overall in this verse: as Christ's man or woman - YOU ARE ALREADY A BOND-SLAVE, a doulos!!! I had never seen that! I thought Paul was the one who'd just chosen to be a bondman, and so I'd chosen too. But the truth is that if you are a true Christian, you're already a bond-slave to Jesus!!! JESUS IS YOUR LORD! Shall I tell you the wonderful thing I see that this does for us all? - God here has made it SO MUCH EASIER for us to acknowledge that Jesus Christ IS Lord over all of our lives... because we ALREADY totally belong to Him as his doulos! WOW!! BOUGHT WITH A PRICE! And in case we didn't quite 'get' it, here's the very next verse: 1 Corinthians 7 23 You were bought with a price. And that's THE GREATEST PRICE ever paid by ANY MAN, for ANY THING!!! GOD HAS BOUGHT YOU! Paid a MASSIVELY high price for you: *Jesus' SHED BLOOD, and ultimately HIS LIFE!!!* 1 Corinthians 6 19b You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. God is now adding one more truth here: "You do not belong to yourself any more," He's saying. "YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. YOU ARE MINE! I PAID A VERY GREAT AMOUNT FOR YOU!!" Dear ones reading here, let's start living it like it really is - which is that WE ARE COMPLETELY and TOTALLY HIS!!!! Bless you each and every one! - BM, with his lady-love QUESTIONS WELCOME! GOTO: Previous Message __________________ –––––––––––––– *» By His grace alone, Jesus is my all in all! «* • Destination: HEAVEN! Last edited by Bondman; 04-04-2008 at 02:15 PM.