Can We Lose Our Salvation? Part Six..

Our Condition: Slaves of God

As John MacArthur says in his new book Slave, the Bible talks about believers (in both the Old and New Testaments) in the language of slavery over 300 times. Most modern translations translate the OT word, ‘ebed, and the NT word, doulos, as “servant”, yet the literal translation is slave. Considering this, what does it mean for us as believers? The best answer for that is found in Romans 6:

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (Romans 6:16-22 ESV)

When you consider a slave, you think of someone whose whole life is bound up in the will and inclination of his Master. Bought and purchased, slaves had no freedom in regards to whom they served. Unless their Master granted their freedom, they were subjected to the whim of their Master their whole life.

Praise be to God, that He is a kind and gentle Master, full of mercy, abounding in steadfast love! We are slaves of God – and what a gift that slavery proves itself to be! We were bought at a great price – the price of Christ’s death on the cross. He has purchased and redeemed us for His own. He is our divine Master, and we are His slaves.

In light of this, how could He let us go? We are His, bought and sealed by His own blood, purchased and redeemed as slaves of God in righteousness leading to eternal life. Do you think it is possible that He would let us go merely because we wanted to turn away? Would He "sell us back" to the master of sin and unrighteousness? Would He sell us back to the bondage from which He purchased us? Would He take back His redemption price? 


If a slave wanted to go and do something that would harm or kill him, would a kind master let him go? Would that truly be the loving thing to do? Love sometimes means binding the arms that want to cut themselves open. Love sometimes means saying "no". 


The Master Who says yes, no, and go to us is also the Father saying "no" to His beloved children. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Rest in His magnificent power as Master of your life and soul! He is a gentle Shepherd, a careful Sovereign, a gracious King. 


"Blessed be God that Thou hast filled  the soul of Thy servant with joy and peace in believing." ~ Christopher Love