bought with a price (I Corinthians 6:20). It is a spiritual law that no one can become a servant of Jesus Christ until he realizes that by na ture he has been born as a slave to sin. The Bible teaches that men are born in sin (Psalm 51:5). Scrip ture also teaches that we are slaves by conquest. Sin rules over us so that we cannot do the things that we would. This is why David prays for deliverance from presumptuous sins, asking that they should not have dominion over him (Psalm 19:13 and Proverbs 5:22). Further, we are sinners by indebtedness. The wages of sin can only be paid by death (Romans 6:23). Every person must recognize these same things before he can ever taste the deliverance of God. An individual must know that he is sick before he will ever go to a doctor. Simi larly, one must know that he is a slave spiritually before he will turn to the Lord who alone is able, glor iously, to set him free. There were several ways of be coming free from slavery. One could secure his freedom through a certain redemption price. He could earn it, buy it or have it giv en to him. Spiritually, there is only one way of being delivered from the tyranny of sin's dominion; that is to be purchased by the One who alone can pay the price of our in iquities in God's sight. Our acts of righteousness are debased coinage in the sight of the Lord. No one could ever possibly earn his sal vation. Yet what we cannot do for ourselves, Cod offers to us freely. This is on the basis of the sacrifice of Christ. Jesus paid that price on Calvary for you and me (Romans 8:1). Our slavery to Christ is a bondange of love and gratitude. It Page 48
is a relationship that would com pare in some ways to marriage. Christ is our Lord and we are His bride. It is the way of joy, peace and genuine spiritual satisfaction. As we consider this first verse we are impressed by the ease with which Paul has substituted the name of Jesus for the name of God, Jehovah. We remember all the great Old Testament personal ities who were called servants of Cod, Jehovah. How significant that Paul substitutes his name for those of the servants of Cod in Old Tes tament times, and substitutes the name of Jesus for that of Jehovah. He was not teaching a new religion with some contradictory revela tion. The same God who had spok en during old times to the prophets was now speaking in Paul's day through Jesus Christ with this tes timony given by the apostles and ministers of the Gospel. When we serve Jesus we also serve the Father. The word "saint" here refers to those who are "set apart ones." They were the born-again believ ers in the city of Philippi. They were not special any more than we are today. A great deal of trouble has been caused for many as they try to reconcile the teach ings of a religious hierarchy on this subject to the truth as the Scrip ture clearly gives it. Very simply, a person is a saint because he has been born again and set apart by Cod unto salvation. The Biblical word for "saint" always refers to consecration. In the Old Testament sanctification was made even of objects. This was especially true with the instruments and imple ments of the tabernacle. In salva tion we are set apart unto the Lord.
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker