A1
Ephesians 6:5-8
B1
Ephesians 6:5-8 NKJV Bondservants,
be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh,
with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; (6) not
with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ,
doing the will of God from the heart, (7) with goodwill doing
service, as to the Lord, and not to men, (8) knowing that whatever
good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he
is a slave or free.
B2
Does God like slavery?
C1
Often atheists will make a
statement
as “Slavery remains a modern day travesty - a travesty with the
Bible and the Koran on the wrong side of the issue. You would never
think that owning people as slaves is immoral if you rely on the
Bible or the Koran as your source of morality. If you need the Bible
or Koran to tell you something as obvious as owning people as slaves
is immoral, then you would never think that because neither the Bible
nor the Koran says a word against slavery.”
C2
Two types are spoken of in the Bible
D1
Voluntary—because of debt, etc.
D2
Involuntary—because of war, etc.
E1
Old Testament
F1
Cities that are not in the land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 20)
G1
Offer peace. If they agree, they will serve you.
G2
Offer peace. If they reject, the men die and the others are spoils of
war to enjoy, thus the people were to be treated kindly (see
Jamieson, Fausset, Brown commentary).
F2
Cities in the land of Canaan. (Deuteronomy 20) All must die, because
they have sinned so much, that God has judged them, and Israel was to
carry out the sentence.
E2
New Testament. The saints lived in the Roman culture and were under
Roman laws.
F1
1 Corinthians 7:21-23 GW Were
you a slave when you were called? That shouldn't bother you. However,
if you have a chance to become free, take it. (22) If the Lord called
you when you were a slave, you are the Lord's free person. In the
same way, if you were free when you were called, you are Christ's
slave. (23) You were bought for a price. Don't become anyone's
slaves.
F2
Ephesians 6:5 GW Slaves,
obey your earthly masters with proper respect. Be as sincere as you
are when you obey Christ.
C3
Old Testament rules for slaves (Jews could not be considered
property)
D1
If one is a thief (to serve until restitution is paid in full):
Exodus 22:2-3 NKJV If
the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies,
there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. (3) If the sun has risen
on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full
restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
D2
If one sells himself because of debt (as in indentured servant):
Leviticus 25:39-41 NKJV 'And
if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells
himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave. (40) As
a hired servant and a sojourner he shall be with you, and shall serve
you until the Year of Jubilee. (41) And then he shall depart from
you—he and his children with him—and shall return to his own
family. He shall return to the possession of his fathers.
AND Deuteronomy 15:12-15 NKJV "If
your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and
serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go
free from you. (13) And when you send him away free from you, you
shall not let him go away empty-handed; (14) you shall supply him
liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your
winepress. From what the LORD has blessed you with, you shall give to
him. (15) You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of
Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you
this thing today.
D3
War (possibly until they die): 2 Samuel 12:29-31 NKJV So
David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought
against it, and took it. (30) Then he took their king's crown from
his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stones. And
it was set on David's head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city
in great abundance. (31) And he brought out the people who were in
it, and put them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and
made them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities
of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to
Jerusalem.
D4
Master causes injury to slave (injured and dies, the slave owner will
be given the death penalty. Injured and lives, slave owner loses a
worker. My understanding is that if injured, the slave is to be set
free, see verses 26-27): Exodus 21:20-21 NKJV "And
if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies
under his hand, he shall surely be punished. (21) Notwithstanding, if
he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is
his property.
D5
Master abuses slave (Slave goes free): Exodus 21:26-27 GNB "If
someone hits his male or female slave in the eye and puts it out, he
is to free the slave as payment for the eye. (27) If he knocks out a
tooth, he is to free the slave as payment for the tooth.
D6
If slave runs away (Do not return them to their master): Deuteronomy
23:15-16 GNB "If
slaves run away from their owners and come to you for protection, do
not send them back. (16) They may live in any of your towns that they
choose, and you are not to treat them harshly.
D7
Slave traders are to receive the death penalty. Exodus
21:16 NKJV
He
who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall
surely be put to death.
C4
New Testament rules for slaves
D1
1 Corinthians 7:21-23 GW Were
you a slave when you were called? That shouldn't bother you. However,
if you have a chance to become free, take it. (22) If the Lord called
you when you were a slave, you are the Lord's free person. In the
same way, if you were free when you were called, you are Christ's
slave. (23) You were bought for a price. Don't become anyone's
slaves.
D2
Ephesians 6:5 GW Slaves,
obey your earthly masters with proper respect. Be as sincere as you
are when you obey Christ.
D3
Paul’s appeal to Philemon to free Onesimus from slavery. Philemon
1:8-21 GW Christ
makes me bold enough to order you to do the right thing. (9) However,
I would prefer to make an appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an
old man and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, (10) appeal to you for
my child Onesimus [Useful]. I became his spiritual father here in
prison. (11) Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful to
both of us. (12) I am sending him back to you. This is like sending
you a part of myself. (13) I wanted to keep him here with me. Then he
could have served me in your place while I am in prison for spreading
the Good News. (14) Yet, I didn't want to do anything without your
consent. I want you to do this favor for me out of your own free will
without feeling forced to do it. (15) Maybe Onesimus was gone for a
while so that you could have him back forever- (16) no longer as a
slave but better than a slave-as a dear brother. He is especially
dear to me, but even more so to you, both as a person and as a
Christian. (17) If you think of me as your partner, welcome him as
you would welcome me. (18) If he wronged you in any way or owes you
anything, charge it to me. (19) I, Paul, promise to pay it back. I'm
writing this with my own hand. I won't even mention that you owe me
your life. (20) So, because we're brothers in the Lord, do something
for me. Give me some comfort because of Christ. (21) I am confident
as I write to you that you will do this. And I know that you will do
even more than I ask.
C4
William Wilberforce (1759-1833)
D1
Fought to abolish slavery in the British Empire due to Christian
principles.
D2
Two links for studying him.
C5
A few more verses
D1
The Bible recognizes that slavery is part of the Roman government and
society, but Christians who are slaves, free, or masters are to think
and act like this: Ephesians 6:5-9 NLT - Slaves,
obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them
sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time,
not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will
of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were
working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord
will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves
or free. Masters,
treat your slaves in the same way. Don't threaten them; remember, you
both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.
D2
If you can become free, do so: 1 Corinthians 7:21 NLT - Are
you a slave? Don't let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be
free, take it.
D3
In God’s view those who are slaves are free and those who are free
are slaves: 1 Corinthians 7:21-22 NLT - Are
you a slave? Don't let that worry you--but if you get a chance to be
free, take it. And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called
you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord
called you, you are now a slave of Christ.
A2
The slavery that is most dangerous
B1
Some verses
C1
Romans 6:20 LEB For
when you were slaves of sin, you were free with respect to
righteousness.
C2
John 8:34 NKJV Jesus
answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits
sin is a slave of sin.
C3
Sin is an addiction. Sin controls us. Romans 6:16 NLT - Don't
you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?
You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to
obey God, which leads to righteous living.
B2
The end result of this slavery leads to death just like most
addictions:
C1
Romans 6:23 NKJV For
the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
C2
Galatians 3:22 NLT - But
the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we
receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.
B3
The rescue from this addiction, slavery, to sin is only through grace
alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. No one can do this
themselves.
C1
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT - I
passed on to you what was most important and what had also been
passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures
said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third
day, just as the Scriptures said.
C2
1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT - But
thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
C3
Acts 4:12 NLT - There
is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven
by which we must be saved.
A3
Application
B1
It is not God’s will for people to be slaves. God does not have
that kind of leadership. He is a shepherd, but most of those with
authority are slave owners.
C1
John 10:11 NKJV I
am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
C2
Matthew 20:25 NLT - But
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers
in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their
authority over those under them.
B2
Sin is addictive. All humans are addicted to sin.
B3
Jesus died for us to be free from the addiction to sin: 1 Timothy 2:6
NLT - He
gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message
God gave to the world at just the right time.
B4
We are to use our body to honor God: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT -
Don't
you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who
lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to
yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God
with your body.
B5
Jesus didn’t live and die to change the government, but if all were
real Christians, society and government would change.
Copyright
© 2018 by Len Gane All rights reserved.
