RESPECTERS
OF PERSONS AND SLAVES TO SIN
Christ was not a slave to sin nor was he a
respecter or persons. These are areas where many Christians and even
congregations fall short and more effort is needed to guard against these
weaknesses.
When Jesus taught the scribes and Pharisees about
sin and slavery he said: “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not
in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make
you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye
seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you….They answered and said
unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's
children, ye would do the works of Abraham” (John 8:34-39). It’s
interesting they seemed more offended by the comment that they were servants
than that they were sinners, but Jesus showed them they were in fact
both—servants to sin because of their works.
Paul spoke in the same language with the same
teaching, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience
unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye
have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being
then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Rom.
6:16-18). Many of the letters to the early churches show that both individuals
as well as congregations can be the servants of sin if they do not give heed to
their works. Jesus declared that unless we are freed by the truth we are in
bondage. And if we have been freed by the truth, we need to be the servants of
righteousness in both word and deed (Col. 3:17).
Paul declared that God is not a respecter of
persons (Rom. 2:11) and we are not to be either. But this is another area where
individuals and congregations may err even while professing to love as Christ
loved. James rebuked the early Christians; “But if ye have respect to
persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors”
(James 2:9). It’s easy to judge, show preference, segregate, or congregate along
racial, ethnic, socio-economic, political, or other lines, but when we do, we
are not pleasing to God. Unfortunately we may not have to look far to see
examples in the church that are not pleasing to God, but let’s start with
ourselves first and make sure that we are the servants of righteousness, not
only in this area, but in all areas of our life.
—Matthew Johnson
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