"Doulos" of CHRIST JESUS -- Slave of GOD

i was a fully devoted Follower of JESUS CHRIST. Today -- i am a fully devoted Slave of CHRIST JESUS.

After listening to John MacArthur's message "Slaves for JESUS CHRIST" -- i discovered that i am a Slave of JESUS CHRIST.

GOD's amazing Wisdom and unfathomable Patience is such that He did not allow this Revelation until i had fallen so deeply in love with JESUS, my Beloved LORD, that i was able to receive this TRUTH with JOYful acceptance.

When i was but a "baby" CHRISTian, i balked at the Bible passages that commanded SUBMISSION to the husband, meekness in dealing with people, turning the other cheek when attacked, going two miles when forced to do the one, forgiving 70 x 7 that same person, giving to every one who asks or borrows (and not hoping for anything in return), praying for and loving my enemy, even "washing feet."

But in GOD's perfect timing, i heard MacArthur's message with a HalleluJAH! bursting forth from my heart. It made perfect sense to me.

i "grew up" feeding on the New King James Version (John MacArthur's Study Bible); and today, the New Living Translation. All the years of my thus far, brief CHRISTian life, i digested "Well done, good and faithful servant." i lived as best as i could to please GOD with a servant heart. My understanding as a fully devoted follower of CHRIST JESUS was that of a devoted servant -- not as devoted slave.

John MacArthur's exposition was exceptional -- it was TRUTH clarified in words that my mind could grasp and my heart could receive with JOY. It was an Aha! moment for me.

In the original language of the Scriptures (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek), the New Testament was written in Greek. The Greek word doulos appears 130 times -- yet in the NKJV, it appears but once in the true English translation: doulos of CHRIST -- slave of CHRIST (1 Corinthians 7:22). The word doulos is translated in English to "slave" when actual slaves are mentioned, or when it describes a slave of someone or to something (i.e., slave of Philemon, slave to SIN) -- but not as a personal relationship to JESUS CHRIST (i.e., slave of JESUS CHRIST). The original Greek word doulos when translated to English (in the 20 authorized Bible translations) is changed to "servant" (or "bondservant" -- someone bound to labor without wages -- still a "slave," though not seemingly as abrasive). MacArthur contends that there are six words in Greek for "servant" -- none of them doulos, and yet doulos (slave) is translated as "servant" in almost all the English Bible translations.

In the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), doulos is consistently translated in English as slave, as well as E. J. Goodspeed's translation. The American Standard Bible translates doulos as "slave" (in the context of a personal relationship to JESUS CHRIST) when there was no getting around it (per MacArthur), as does the New Living Translation. (Compare English translations of doulos in Romans 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Galatians 1:10, Colossians 1:7, Titus 1:1, James 1:1, Jude 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1)

The word slave is such a distasteful word, with all its evil connotations and dark historical attachments. Slavery means oppression, subjugation, evil done to others. To be called a slave of someone or to something could mean NOthing good -- talk to any African-American or Israeli Jew (or anyone who was ever enslaved by someone or by something). It is totally vile... like an unmitigated hurt, with its associated scars that may still be tender and oozing with bitterness and unforgiveness.

What is a doulos -- a slave?

A slave is exclusively OWNED by one master -- bought with a price.
A slave is in complete and constant availability and OBEDIENCE to that one master.
A slave is SUBJECT to one alien will -- the will of that master.
A slave is to live ONLY for the singular purpose of pleasing that master.
A slave is completely DEPENDENT on that master for absolutely EVERYthing.
A slave is DISCIPLINED and REWARDED at that master's discretion.

In other words, a slave has NO independence, NO freedom, NO rights of any kind! He is OWNED, controlled, subjected -- made to serve -- to do anything required, whether he likes it or not. Slaves (in Roman times) had no rights, no legal recourse, didn't own anything, had no citizenship, couldn't give testimony in a court case, no choice about anything -- they were totally dependent on the master who owned them. And if a slave ran away, he was flogged or even crucified.

All that said, why do i DELIGHT in being a doulos, a Slave of JESUS CHRIST? Why is this not a repugnant word to me? Why does it ring TRUE in my heart of hearts -- my soul? Why does it ascertain Oswald Chambers' "It matters not What GOD does -- it matters only WHO He is"?

Because of WHO The Master is -- GOD the SON, CHRIST JESUS -- Faithful and True, Prince of Peace, Lamb of GOD, Lion of Judah, Light of the world...OMNIpotent, OMNIscient, OMNIpresent, ETERNAL and Righteous Judge. The I AM WHO I AM is my LORD! HE is the Creator and Owner of ALL things seen and UNseen. This Master is INfinitely kind and benevolent, utterly gracious and compassionate. HE IS LOVE Incarnate. My Master is The GOD Who LOVED the world SO much (you and me) that He GAVE His ONLY Begotten SON (The LORD JESUS) to atone for the SINs of ALL who would REPENT -- turning from their sin TO GOD for FULL forgiveness, fully TRUSTING that CHRIST JESUS has fully paid for their SIN-debt by His BLOOD shed at Calvary's Cross. (John 3:16) And because HE is a Holy GOD, EVERYthing He wills is ALLways JUST and RIGHTEOUS.

Wasn't i bought with His own BLOOD? His Precious BLOOD was shed in agony on The Cross that i may be washed clean by it... my SINs blotted out by it... and my place in the Kingdom of GOD GUARANTEED by it.

JESUS' SACRIFICIAL, SUBSTITUTIONARY Death on The Cross bought my FREEDOM. i am owned by CHRIST. i am His doulos -- i am a slave of JESUS CHRIST.

When i received JESUS as my CHRIST... as my Savior and LORD -- did i realize the full extent of His LORDship in my life? No. Did i know that i would be His doulos for eternity, not a servant who can choose to quit? No. Did it occur to me that when i confessed Him as LORD, that i was also confessing myself as slave of GOD? No.

TOday -- more than ever, i fully understand the TRUE meaning of "LORD." When JESUS IS LORD and Master of me -- i am under His absolute ownership and control (through the Holy SPIRIT); subject and obedient to His will; loyal and devoted ONLY to Him; and totally dependent on Him for absolutely EVERYthing -- ALL my material, emotional and spiritual needs. HE is the Provider, the Protector, the Comforter of this doulos. Rather than being an oppressed slave, i am a lovingly cared for peculiar Possession of the most glorious Master of the heavens and earth.

JESUS, my Master, has made me a daughter of GOD and joint-heirs with Himself; adopted me into His family; will take me to Heaven, and now pours out all the SPIRITual riches in His possession for my JOY and for His GLORY. i was a slave to Death, Hell and Sin -- under satan's authority -- but TOday, i am slave to GOD and His Righteousness, Creator and Master of the Universe!

HalleluJAH! i am no longer a slave to the god of this world or to SELF -- i am a fully devoted slave of JESUS CHRIST!

Paul, Peter, Timothy, Jude, James (the brother of JESUS) called themselves doulos of GOD and of JESUS CHRIST. They were CALLED to be more than servants -- they were called by CHRIST to be His doulos -- His very own. Even the virgin Mary, mother of JESUS, called herself The LORD's slave. "I am The LORD's slave," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to Your WORD." (Luke 1:38, HCSB).

And The SON of GOD Himself -- existing in the EXACT Form of GOD -- assumed the form of a SLAVE! HE (JESUS) made Himself NOthing; He took the HUMBLE position of a SLAVE and appeared in human form. (Philippians 2:7)

And ALL who have received JESUS as their LORD and Master, have been bought, redeemed, purchased by GOD Himself. What a VERY GREAT Privilege to be owned by the GOD of the Universe!

But a most awesome and most amazing TRUTH is this -- that JESUS no longer calls us slaves -- doulos -- but friends! SAVED SINNERS, once fit only for the dung heap -- bound for HELL -- are now friends with GOD. This is the UNbelievable, UNfathomable, INdescribable LOVE of GOD... manifested IN CHRIST.

"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his Master is doing; but I have called you friends, for ALL things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15)

JESUS -- the sweetest Name i know!

Fully Devoted FOLLOWer of -- ?

EVERY person on earth is a fully devoted follower of some one or some thing -- some idea or some cause...some addiction or some passion.

EVERY person lives according to what he (or she) BELIEVES in his deepest core, according to what he VALUES intrinsically -- to what he LOVES, to what he's attracted, to what he is physically, emotionally, mentally, soulfully ATTACHED. And IF a person thinks he is beyond being attached to (or ruled by) ANYone or ANYthing, then that person may be attached -- RULED -- by his NON-attachment (the Eastern delusion of reaching nirvana by striving to be NON-striving, NON-attached to anything). Or IF a person is living a seemingly "good" life, materially satisfied, not committing any "major" acts of moral wrongs (believing that LYING, STEALING, GOSSIPING, BLASPHEMING, COVETING are NOT "real" SINs), living according to the laws of the country he lives in, and is, in his OWN conscience, free of the sins that he perceives as morally wrong in those around him -- he may be a devotee (Fully Devoted Follower) of this lifestyle of ease and spiritual DECEPTION.

To WHAT THING can a person be a Fully Devoted Follower? The world has millions of Fully Devoted Followers whose prime goal in life is to be rich and famous -- MONEY, FAME and POWER; to look like 20-year olds even though pushing 60s -- the illusive Fountain of YOUTH; or to have that ideal happily-ever-after relationship, whether married or just shacking up -- Cinderella and the Prince Charming come to life.

To WHOM can a person be a Fully Devoted Follower? god. The god of SELF...ME, mySELF and I -- what feels good to ME, what is best for mySELF, what I will. The god of SELF-seeking, SELF-realization, SELF-aggrandizement. Even if a person is an ATHEIST -- one who chooses not to believe in GOD as First Cause, and ALL Creation as the Caused Effect of the Creator's Divine Will -- he by his choice is a Fully Devoted Follower of god...the god of himSELF.

Or others may be Fully Devoted Followers and worshipers of these "gods"... Mary... Buddha... Mohammed... Joseph Smith... Confucius... spirit-in-all... higher power... the force...

But those who profess to be TRUE CHRISTians, Born Again of the SPIRIT of GOD, whether this or that denomination, what does it REALLY mean to be a Fully Devoted Follower of CHRIST?

WHAT is fully? To me, fully is ALL i am and ALL i have -- my WHOLE life -- as expressed through my Heart, Will, Mind, Body, Finances/ Possessions, and Hopes for the future. Fully means to SURRENDER ALL, not grudgingly or unwillingly or fearfully, but in LOVING, JOYful OBEDIENCE -- all of my

heart -- by LOVING CHRIST MORE THAN ANY person or thing or relationship, activity, achievement, or possession...by making HIM the sole focus of my Emotions, Desires, and Passions...by allowing HIM to REIGN over my soul.

will -- by committing myself completely to Him...by emptying myself of all desire to exercise my rights to my rights...by denying personal SELF-will...by bowing down to The TRUTH that GOD's will for me is ALL-ways best -- JOYous, interesting, vital GODventurez...so much better than i could EVER imagine...by stopping my striving against His almighty will, and instead resting in the confidence that i am His child and that HE LOVES me to the INfinite POWER.

mind -- by seeking to KNOW the Person of CHRIST and His Word, so HIS principles and values become the foundation for ALL i think, say and do; by setting aside my old learned habits of thought, views and prejudices...and instead accepting GOD's view point on ALL things as the RIGHT view. i will lean not on my OWN understanding, but TRUST IN GOD with ALL my Heart. (Proverbs 3:5)

body -- by acknowledging that my physical body with all its faculties, strengths, talents, and sexuality are given to me from GOD; and as a NEW creation In CHRIST, a dwelling place for His SPIRIT, to be used by GOD to accomplish that which HE desires to accomplish through me, according to HIS rules, not mine. My part is to cooperate by keeping this GOD-given physical body (which includes the emotional and mental) as healthy and fit as i am enabled by the INdwelling SPIRIT of GOD so that i may be that vessel, fit for His intended work.

finances/possessions -- by recognizing that MONEY and ALL my possessions are GIFTS from GOD. HE is the Source of ALL good things in my life, and i am to be a good steward of ALL the possessions He has GIFTED to me. It means seeing money and possessions (whether material things, or abilities and talents, or what's most precious to me -- my time) as Blessings GOD has GIVEN me to be used to also BLESS OTHERS through me. i am not to hoard or keep any of these possessions to mySELF, but to share them with those in need around me.

future -- by giving my dreams and desires to GOD, trusting the outcome to be HIS Perfect and Loving will; by deciding to be a servant like CHRIST...by practicing JESUS' ultimate command, LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED you; by putting LOVE in ACTion...which is SERVING OTHERS.

FULLY Devoted is TOTAL Surrender, Absorption, Attention, to the Person of CHRIST JESUS Himself -- not to any particular doctrine, or cause, or good works, or church, or denomination. It's CRUCIFYING the OLD nature IN me -- cutting out ANYthing and EVERYthing that stands in The WAY of becoming one with CHRIST. It's getting rid of EXTRAneous "stuff" -- hindrances, stumbling blocks -- such as confidence in my OWN SELF, my OWN judgment; traditions or beliefs that are safe and familiar, but contrary to GOD's view point; spiritual PRIDE, born of personal accomplishments or "higher" education; habits or a lifestyle not pleasing to GOD; fear of ridicule or rejection for declaring JESUS as LORD of my life; love for SELF-glorification or honor; love for worldly "stuff" -- material or otherwise -- stuff that satisfy but for a brief time.

Being a Fully Devoted Follower of CHRIST is putting into ACTion ALL i've professed as a child of GOD, as a BORN AGAIN Believer -- by the SUPERnatural emPOWERment of the resident Holy SPIRIT withIN. As a passionate Follower of JESUS, it is believing and trusting IN HIM completely; it is declaring HIS TRUTH (the GOOD News) to all, and by the enabling POWER of the abiding Holy SPIRIT of GOD -- it is acting and living OUT the ABUNDANT Life which i received in 2003 when i said yes! to JESUS as my LORD. In short, it is walking the talk, one day at a time.

For me, it is the MOST precious and amazing privilege, this UNdeserved, UNmerited Grace of GOD -- that i have been allowed to receive the FREE Gift of REDEMPTION of CHRIST...that i have Heaven now. i don't have to die to be ushered into the very Presence of GOD. Heaven, the very Presence of GOD, is my Reality TOday, and forEVER... all because i said a resounding Yes! to The FATHER's invitation to make JESUS, His SON, LORD of my life.How could i not rejoice and revel in being a Fully Devoted Follower of JESUS? IN HIM is the Mind of GOD -- INfinite Wisdom. IN HIM is EVERlasting Life -- no more limitation, old age or decay, or discord, or SIN's Pollution! IN HIM are LOVE, JOY, PEACE -- the REAL kind...the kind that surpasses way, way! beyond the world's superficial understanding of these much longed-for Realities. IN HIM is the POWER and AUTHORITY of The FATHER, by the Holy SPIRIT given to ALL Believers IN CHRIST JESUS. IN CHRIST, i have ALL that i need, ALL that my heart desires, ALL that i could EVER imagine or hope for in this life and certainly after this life!

To WHAT or to WHOM are you a Fully Devoted Follower?