More Servant Thoughts

Last week we looked at the relationship between slave and master in the Bible. While there may have been some parallel to the Old Testament institution of slavery in the minds of the Apostles, it would have been the Greek system of slavery that they were most familiar with. The New Testament is filled with references to slavery, and some fantastic truths are illustrated for us using these cultural pictures of slavery. Here is an example:

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"-- Galatians 3:13

The word "redeemed" translates the Greek word exagorazo which means to buy for one's self. The root word agorazo is related to the word agora which is the market place. We are said to be purchased, and taken off of the market forever. There is no chance that we are going to be marched back to the market by any stretch of the imagination, we have been bought for Him, by His sacrifice, for the purpose of His glory and pleasure. That is great news! We were bought from that awful and abusive master (the Law) by the grace of God. He paid the price and we are never to be returned to life under the suffocating standards of the Law again. Our new life is one of service to the Master who gave everything to redeem us by grace, he wants us to live the Christian life by relying on His grace and power, and He will glorify us with Him, all because of who He is and what He did at the cross through His Son Jesus Christ.