(2) We are all slaves – who is your master? – Romans 1:1-7

Romans 1:1

This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

 6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.

   May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Have you ever been in a crowded room with dozens of people carrying on different conversations, all at the same time?  We’ve all experienced this at one point or another.  Everyone is talking over the next person, and no one is hearing very well at all.  But then, someone speaks up and says something that catches everyone’s ears, and the room is silent.

Paul began his letter to the Church in Rome by introducing himself as a slave.  In first century Rome, it was absolutely unconscionable for a Roman citizen to choose to be a slave. 

The bible never condoned slavery, but it was a part of the culture.  We in the 21^st century conger up images of the oppression of African slaves brought to America and forced to work against their will.  They were beaten and treated badly.  It was a horrible time in our history.

For the most part, slaves in first century Rome became slaves because they owed a debt that they couldn’t pay.  They were sentenced to a term of slavery until the debt was fully paid, and then they were released.  Think of how many slaves we would have in America today, if it weren’t for debt consolidation and bankruptcy court.

Some were enslaved to harsh masters that treated them with cruelty, but many slaves had kind and loving masters.  When their term was over, they would ask the master if they could stay.  If the master agreed, he would take the slave outside to the front door post, in full view of the neighbors, and drive an awl through the slave’s ear.  The slave would then wear an earring that would signify that they chose to stay.  They were no longer a slave, but were now a Bond slave, or sometimes referred to as a Bond Servant.

For Paul, being chosen by Christ to be an Apostle was of critical importance.  Paul didn’t choose Christ, Christ chose Paul.  And, because of this perspective, Paul felt he had no choice but to follow God.  Paul was purchased by a new master.  And his new master is Jesus Christ.  Purchased by the blood of Christ, that was shed on the cross.  God chose Paul, and Paul chose to stay.  As an Apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul was not only given the authority, but also the privilege, of bringing to the world the Good News of what Christ has done for us – so that God will be glorified.

You can imagine the hush that fell over the congregation when the church leaders read this to the people for the first time.  He got their attention.  “A slave?”, they must have thought to themselves, with the Jewish Christians saying, “I was not born into slavery like my ancestors.”, and the non-Jews thinking, “We are Roman Citizens, we own slaves – they don’t own us.”

But, Paul quickly explains that he is Christ’s slave because he was chosen by God.

Keeping in mind that the Jews had always considered themselves God’s chosen people, Paul first addresses the Jewish Christians by confirming that the Good News was promised long ago in the scriptures, and that Jesus is the fulfillment of the scriptures.  Paul, being a Pharisee and an expert in Jewish religious law, knew the key points that the Jewish Christians needed to know:  the fulfillment of the prophecies in scripture, the fact that Jesus was born into the royal family line of King David, and that the Holy Spirit of God powerfully raised Him from the dead.

Paul then turned to the Gentiles and explained that through Christ they can also be brought into the family of God, simply by believing in Christ.  “God loves you” was Paul’s message to the Gentiles.  And that through Christ, they too are called (or chosen) to be His very own people.

Paul is pointing out that since they are all chosen by Christ, and purchased by His blood, He is now their new master.  Paul will continue to look back at this theme of slave and master throughout his letter. 

Study Questions:

Who is your master?  The first of God’s Ten Commandments is that we would have no other gods before Him.  Is there something in your life that is more important than God? 

Who is your master?  Is it really Christ Jesus, or could it be the things of this world?  Things like money, prestige, and power?  Or could it be an addiction to drugs, alcohol, gambling, or maybe pornography?  Or could it be, simply, the overwhelming need to be accepted?  Don’t feel alone.  Even Paul recognized that, even though he knew Christ was his master, sin was still a part of his life.  The old master never stops calling us back. 

Take a minute and decide who your Master is.  Pray the prayer below.