r L n -- really LOVE now! : CHRISTian -- SLAVE of CHRIST JESUS (Essay 1)

Sunday, January 20, 2013

CHRISTian -- SLAVE of CHRIST JESUS (Essay 1)

This letter is from Paul, a slave of CHRIST JESUS, chosen by GOD to be an apostle, and sent out to preach His Good News. (Romans 1:1, NLT)

This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of CHRIST JESUS. (Philippians 1:1, NLT)

This letter is from Paul, a slave of GOD and an apostle of JESUS CHRIST. (Titus 1:1, NLT)

This letter is from James, a slave of GOD and of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. (James 1:1, NLT)

This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of JESUS CHRIST. (2 Peter 1:1, NLT)

This letter is from Jude, a slave of JESUS CHRIST and a brother of James. (Jude 1:1, NLT)

Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of CHRIST JESUS, greets you. (Colossians 4:12, HCSB)

For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or GOD? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of CHRIST. (Galatians 1:10, HCSB)

No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of GOD and of money. (Matthew 6:24, HCSB)

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. (1 Corinthians 7:22, NLT)

As GOD’s slaves, live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil.
(1 Peter 2:16, HCSB)

For he who is called by the LORD as a slave is the LORD’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is CHRIST’s slave.
(1 Corinthians 7:22, HCSB)

I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. (John 13:16, HCSB)

Though He (JESUS) was GOD, He did not think of equality with GOD as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to GOD and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, GOD elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of GOD the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11, NLT)

The revelation of JESUS CHRIST that GOD gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave, John... (Revelation 1:1, HCSB)

The apostles Paul, Peter, and John called themselves slaves of CHRIST JESUS; so did Timothy, Epaphras, and the half-brothers of JESUS, James and Jude.

Even the virgin Mary, mother of JESUS, called herself a slave. "I am the LORD's slave," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38, HCSB)

JESUS Himself, who existing in the form of GOD, assumed the form of a slave. (Philippians 2:7, HCSB)

The word "doulos" (Greek for "slave") occurs 124 times in the original Greek translation of the New Testament (Murray J. Harris, Slave of CHRIST). Only two English translations of the Bible consistently translates "doulos" as "slave" -- E.J. Goodspeed's The New Testament: An American Translation, and the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

If you were to cross out the word "servant", or "bond-servant" and write in "slave" wherever it occurred in your Bible (unless you were using the two translations noted above) -- and after reading through the whole New Testament, would you still call yourself CHRISTian?

To be a CHRISTian is to be a slave of CHRIST. Radical CHRISTianity is living the normal life of slavery to JESUS CHRIST. So --

Who do you think you are? Who do i think i am?

i am a slave of CHRIST. JESUS is my LORD.

2 comments:

rLn!January 25, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Today, i learned of another SLAVE OF CHRIST -- the virgin Mary, mother of our LORD JESUS. In the Holman CHRISTian Standard Bible translation, "doulos" is correctly translated as "slave," not "maidservant." (Luke 1:38)

The metaphor of being a slave of CHRIST explains and defines a CHRISTians identity. i embrace this identity of being a slave of CHRIST as part of my IN CHRISTness.
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rLn!July 2, 2023 at 4:24 PM
TEN years later... a resounding, JOY-full AMEN!
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my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)