It seems to me that we have lost the Biblical meaning of the term “bondslave” or “bondservant.” In the time of Jesus and the Apostle Paul the terms had a very distinct and well known meaning. The term “servant” or “slave” was common in the culture of their day and applied to a large percentage of the population. Since Rome was in power and ruled the known world of the first century the coveted prize of the time was to be a Roman citizen.
Roman citizenship gave one the right to own property (including owning wives, slaves, and servants), voting, the protection of Caesar and the Roman Army, and the right to appear before Caesar to appeal any accusation. The worth of Roman citizenship can be seen in the life of the Apostle Paul when he was being mobbed by the Jews in Jerusalem. Paul appealed to the Roman Captain that he was a Roman citizen and thus was entitled to the protection of the Roman army and had the right to appeal to Ceasar. This was a prize that often had to be earned (or purchased) and was not obtained by birth. We are accustom to the rights of citizenship and heirship being conferred by birth. But, this was not the case in the first century.
Roman citizenship had to be granted by another Roman citizen and by one in the authority required to grant citizenship. Let’s take the example of a Roman male citizen. First he owned his wife, his children and his servants/slaves and he had complete power over their lives. All offspring of a Roman male citizen were not citizens unless, and until he conferred citizenship upon them. A child could and often did go through life without having citizenship and heirship conferred upon him. The Roman male citizen chose those upon he conferred citizenship and heirship. At times he would confer citizenship upon a trusted servant or slave. In other words, He could and did confer citizenship upon those he chose.
Contrary to our practice today where citizenship and heirship are automatically conferred by birth, in first century Roman times one had to be “chosen” thus the term “adopted.” Therefore, “being adopted” became much more important than being the biological offspring of a Roman citizen.
When we look at the term “adoption” as used in the New Testament, the Roman culture gives us a much deeper understanding of the importance of the term. We can begin to understand how we must be “born” into the Kingdom of God and also “adopted” into the family. Romans 8:14-17 speaks of our adoption as “sons” and the consequent heirship that comes through adoption.
14: For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15: For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
16: The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17: and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. NASB
In John 3:16, Jesus made it clear that we must be “born again” into the Family of God and the New Testament makes it clear that we have been Chosen by God, ie. “adopted” into His family!
We need to reclaim the true meaning of the terms “bondslave” and/or “bondservant.” We need to practice it and we need to teach it to others. We need to be the bondslave/bondservant of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We need this – in order to be in the right relationship with Jesus Christ. For Him to be “Our Lord”, we must be “His Bondslave/Bondservant. We need to humble ourselves before Him and by doing this we place ourselves in a position to be exalted by Him! Jesus has made it clear that those who humble themselves before Him He will exalt and those who are proud before Him, He will humble. The choice is ours!
1. My Greatest Desire/Privilege is to be a “Bondslave” of Jesus Christ
a. Rom 1:1-2 I Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called {as} an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, (2) which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, (NAS)
b. Philippians 1:1 – Paul and Timothy , bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: (2) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NAS)
c. Titus 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,
(NAS)
d. Col. 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. (NAS)
e. James 1:1 – James (half brother of Jesus) James 1:1-3 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad, greetings. (NAS)
f. 2 Peter 1:1 – Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: (NAS)
g. Jude (verse 1) – Jude (half-brother of Jesus) Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: (NAS)
h. Phil 3:7-15
7: But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8: More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, 9: and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from {the} Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which {comes} from God on the basis of faith, 10: that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11: in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12: Not that I have already obtained {it} or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13: Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of {it} yet; but one thing {I do} forgetting what {lies} behind and reaching forward to what {lies} ahead, 14: I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15: Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; (NAS)
Prisoner of Jesus Christ:
a. Philemon 1:1 – Paul calls himself a “prisoner of Christ Jesus” (also verse 9, and in verse 23 Paul refers to Epaphras as a “fellow prisoner.”
b. Eph. 3:1 – Paul, a “prisoner of Christ Jesus.” (also Eph. 4:1)
Servant:
Teachings of Christ:
a. Matt. 23:1-12 (Verse 11) – But the greatest among you shall be your servant.
b. Matt. 20:26-28 (Verse 26) – “It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.” (Verse 27) “And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” (28) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (NAS) Also found in Mark 10:41-45 (focus on Verses 43-45) Also Luke 22:25-27.
c. Matt 23:11-12 (V.11) "But the greatest among you shall be your servant. (12) "And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (NAS))
d. John 12:25-26 (V.25) "He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. (26) "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. (NAS)
e. Acts 4:27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, (NAS)
f. Acts 3:13 "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, {the one} whom you delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. (NAS)
g. Mark 9:33-37 (Verse 35) “”If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
Teachings of Paul and others:
a. I Tim. 4:6 – (Paul) (To Timothy) “by pointing out to these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus.”
b. Col 1:7 (Paul)As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Angels As Servants of God and Christ:
a. Rev 19:10 (V.10) And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (NAS)
b. Rev 22:9 And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book; worship God." NAS)
2. To “Finish Well,” My Goal!
3. My Prayer – “God help me, help Jan and me, to use the “worldly possessions” you have placed in our “stewardship” in the “wisdom of Jesus” for “YOUR Glory.”
God, You have been gracious to Jan and me – we have not been “in want.” The answer to “why you have been so gracious?” is to be found only in Your Mercy, Your Grace, and Your Compassion. We are grateful. We know that these “things” are not ours but all things belong to You. We know that we are “stewards” or “managers” of that which You have placed in our “care.” We know also, that “we are not our own” but we have been “bought” with a price – The Blood of Jesus Christ.”
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Pastor J. Gilbert Hammond