The “Backward” Wisdom of God

True Freedom

True Freedom

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set

us free. Stand firm, then, and do

not let yourselves be burdened

again by a yoke of slavery.

(slavery=douleia)

True Freedom

Galatians 5:13

You, my brothers, were called to be

free. But do not use your freedom

to indulge the sinful nature; rather,

serve one another in love.

(serve=douleow)

True Freedom

Greek word douleow

Means “to be a slave or to be

controlled”

…serve one another as slaves.

True Freedom

Galatians 5:13 literally

“You are now free, so don’t submit

to slavery—but use your freedom

to serve one another as slaves.”

True Freedom

John 8:36

So if the Son sets you free,

you will be free indeed.

True Freedom

Romans 1:1

Paul, a servant (doulos) of Christ

Jesus, called to be an apostle and

set apart for the gospel of God….

True Freedom

1 Peter 2:16 16 Live as free men, but do not use

your freedom as a cover-up for evil;

live as servants (doulos) of God.

(NIV 1984)

True Freedom

1 Peter 2:16 16 Live as free people, but do not

use your freedom as a cover-up for

evil; live as God‟s slaves.

(NIV 2011)

True Freedom

1 Corinthians 9:19

Though I am free and belong to no

one, I have made myself a

slave (douloo) to everyone, to win

as many as possible.

True Freedom

Key relationships between freedom and slavery:

FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY

FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY

FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY

True Freedom

FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY

The Bible acknowledges & stands against

human slavery . . .

True Freedom

FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY

The Bible acknowledges & stands against

human slavery . . .

. . . but it focuses on more radical forms

of slavery.

True Freedom

Slavery to the Law

True Freedom

Slavery to the Law

True Freedom

Slavery to the Law

Galatians 3:13

Christ redeemed us from the curse

of the law by becoming a curse for

us, for it is written: “Cursed is

everyone who is hung on a tree.”

True Freedom

Slavery to the Law Acts 13:38-39

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know

that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is

proclaimed to you. Through him everyone

who believes is set free from every sin, a

justification you were not able to obtain

under the law of Moses.”

True Freedom

Slavery to the Law

Romans 8:15 15 For you did not receive a spirit

that makes you a slave again to

fear, but you received the Spirit of

sonship. And by him we cry,

“Abba, Father.”

True Freedom

Slavery to Sin John 8:31-36 To the Jews who had believed

him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,

you are really my disciples. Then you will

know the truth, and the truth will set you

free.” They answered him, “We are

Abraham‟s descendants and have never

been slaves of anyone. How can you say

that we shall be set free?”

True Freedom

Slavery to Sin John 8:31-36 Jesus replied, “I tell you the

truth, everyone who sins is a slave to

sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in

the family, but a son belongs to it forever.

So if the Son sets you free,

you will be free indeed.

True Freedom

Slavery to Sin

Root of slavery=sin

“addictions”

True Freedom

Slavery to Sin

Root of slavery=sin

“addictions”

John 8:36

So if the Son sets you free,

you will be free indeed.

True Freedom

FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY

God freed Israel from slavery to Pharaoh so that they might become

His slaves

True Freedom

FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY

Leviticus 25:55

For the Israelites belong to me as servants.

They are my servants, whom I brought out

of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

True Freedom

FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY

Israelites receive God as Lord

to be set free from slavery

Christians receive Christ as Lord

to be set free from slavery

True Freedom

FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

For Christ‟s love compels us, because we

are convinced that one died for all, and

therefore all died. And he died for all, that

those who live should no longer live for

themselves but for him who died for them

and was raised again.

True Freedom

FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY

The beauty of the Bond Slave

“free to be a slave”

True Freedom

FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY

Deuteronomy 15:16-17

But if your servant says to you, “I do not

want to leave you,” because he loves you

and your family and is well off with

you, 17 then take an awl and push it through

his ear lobe into the door, and he will

become your servant for life. Do the same

for your maidservant.

True Freedom

FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY

Psalm 40:6-8

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,

but my ears you have pierced; burnt

offerings and sin offerings you did not

require. 7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have

come— it is written about me in the scroll. 8 I desire to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

True Freedom

FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY

The beauty of the Bond Slave

“free to be a slave”

True Freedom

FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY

“In (21st) century Christianity we have replaced the expression „total

surrender‟ with the word „commitment,‟ and „slave‟ with „servant.‟ But there is

an important difference. A servant gives service to someone, but a slave

belongs to someone. We commit ourselves to do something, but when we surrender ourselves to someone,

we give ourselves up.”

True Freedom

FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY

1 Peter 2:16

Live as free men, but do not use your

freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as

servants (doulos) of God.

True Freedom

FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY

Freedom “the absence of all restraints”

“the absence of hindrance, restraint, confinement, repression”

“the ability to live as God has designed you to live”

True Freedom

FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY

Freedom

True Freedom

FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY

Freedom The more selfish freedom you seek,

then more enslaved to sin you become

BUT the more you become Jesus’ slave, the more true freedom you

experience.

True Freedom

FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY

Galatians 5:13-15

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But

do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful

nature; rather, serve one another in love. The

entire law is summed up in a single command:

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep

on biting and devouring each other, watch out

or you will be destroyed by each other.

True Freedom

FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY

Freedom The more selfish freedom you seek,

then more enslaved to sin you become

BUT the more you become Jesus’ slave, the more true freedom you

experience.

True Freedom

#1 Freedom from slavery to the Law

“A life in redemption”

#2 Freedom for slavery to Him

“A life living for God”

#3 Freedom through slavery to Him

“A life of service to others”

True Freedom

FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY

Freedom