Lesson 15 Washing at the Cross: Bond-Slaves of Jesus
Questions 4 and 5
Yes, the Romans were now “slaves of righteousness.” And so we learn that all people are slaves of something: either slaves of sin or slaves of righteousness — either slaves of gratifying the lusts of our flesh or slaves of Jesus and the gospel.
One of Paul’s favorite terms for himself was that He was a “bond-servant of Jesus Christ.”
Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, [Romans 1:1 NASB]
Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: [Philippians 1:1 NASB]
Paul identified strongly as a bond-slave of Jesus Christ. But what exactly is a bond-servant? Look where Paul got that term:
Exodus 21:1-6 ISV "These are the ordinances that you are to set before them. (2) "When you acquire a Hebrew servant he is to serve for six years, and in the seventh he is to go out a free man without paying anything. (3) If he came in by himself, he is to go out by himself. If he was married, his wife is to go out with him. (4) If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and children belong to her master, and he is to go out by himself. (5) "But if the servant, in fact, says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children and I won't go out a free man,' (6) then his master is to bring him before the judges and he is to bring him to the door or the doorpost. His master is to pierce his ear with an awl, and he is to serve him permanently.
If a man could not pay his debts, he could sell himself into slavery, where he would serve a master, as a "Bond-Slave" for six full years. But in the seventh year he could go free; however, if he married a wife and had children with her, the wife and children had to remain in the master’s home.
Question 4. According to Exodus 21:5, what motivation could prompt a bond-slave to remain in his master’s home rather than going free?