Footsteps #223

When the idea of “Footsteps” (the sequel to Psalms) was first conceived in my heart, it was originally going to be a verse by verse exposition of Romans – my favourite NT book. Now we have followed Paul on his journeys for almost 8 months. I would still like to progress through the book systematically.  And so it begins; “This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ’s slave.” Rom. 1:1. NLT 

At the very beginning of his letter, he indicates that the most important thing that we can know about him is that he is a Christian – and everything he is and has belongs to Jesus. Thus slavery is the keynote of what may be Paul’s most important letter. 

Many modern translations seek to soften the word “slave” by rendering it as “servant”. But the Greek word doulos primarily means “slave.” Paul tells us that he is not a hired man working with Christ for wages, but a slave who totally belongs to Him. 

Concepts related to slavery stand at the heart of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Thus when he talks about God redeeming sinners, in Romans 3:24, he uses the vocabulary of the marketplace. “Redemption” in his day meant to buy at the market, particularly to purchase a slave. Central to Paul’s life and message was the fact that he had been redeemed by the blood of Jesus on Calvary’s cross. 

The idea of a Christian’s slavery to God rises again in Rom.6, in which Paul tells his readers that every human being is a slave to either Satan or Christ. All of us belong to someone, no person is a totally free agent. Every individual becomes the slave of either “sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness.” (See Rom.6:16-23.). But slavery to Christ, Paul tells us, is not bondage. On the contrary, it is how a person gains freedom. It will climax in eternal life (v23). Thus even Paul’s slavery is good news. 

How is it with us? What is it that I want people to know about me? My accomplishments? My good looks? My possessions? My Christianity? My devotion to Jesus?