Salvation and Slavery

When we turn our back on sin and self-rule and turn to Jesus for forgiveness, there is a LOT that happens in that moment.

One of the biggies is this: The ownership of our life gets transferred. We don't belong to ourselves anymore. We belong to Jesus. In fact, the biblical terminology is that we become "slaves of Jesus." We were bought off the slave block of sin and purchased with the blood of Jesus as His own prized possession.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

"...You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body..."

In fact, about half of the New Testament letters begin with the author declaring his allegiance to his Master. Just one instance is in ...

Romans 1:1 (NLT)

"This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus..."

To be a slave of Jesus means that our life no longer belongs to us. Every waking moment must be spent thinking about what our Master desires of us. We need to live our life not for ourselves but for the benefit of our Master (Matthew 6:33).

It is this mindset that allows us to put our life into proper perspective. If we think that "salvation" is simply a ticket to Heaven that allows us to continue living for ourselves, we will spend the rest of our life focusing on us and not Jesus.

But, if we understand that being truly saved means that we become the prized possession of Jesus and that this life is a testing ground to show our Master that we can be trusted with greater possessions and responsibilities in our eternal home (Matthew 16:10-12), then we will live our life for Jesus. 

That sort of mindset is exactly why we see the Apostle Paul able to courageously live his life for Jesus regardless of the consequences - even if following Jesus meant death.

Acts 20:24 9 (NLT)

"But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."

So, are you living for yourself or Jesus? If you claim to be a follower of Jesus and if you claim that you've been bought by Jesus ... then ask God to help you act like it today.

Also, notice that being about Jesus' business meant that Paul was going to "tell others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." Look for an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus today. Tell them of how He died to pay their sin debt and how they can be brought into relationship with Almighty God.

You can be sure that if you do, God will be watching ... and smiling.