Slavery's Lasting Significance in the Bible

Series Colossians

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338

Slavery is a result of the curse of sin & prone to great abuse.
God in his word does not prohibit the institution of slavery but He does regulate it.
When a slave or master was converted the apostles did not advocate a radical, revolutionary social change in the institution but rather a radical, revolutionary spiritual change in the heart of both slave and/or master.
Though the apostles do not advocate radical revolutionary change in the social order, they advocate principles which would eventually question the conditions that made slavery possible.
There is redeeming value in slavery in that it provides a metaphor of our spiritual condition and responsibility.
There are various principles from our text that are still applicable to us today:
a. We see, discern and understand what our position is and our various relationships in society out of our union with Christ.
b. True liberty and independence begins with the mind, heart, and conscience that are free before God.
c. No individual or group of individuals or institution ultimately is your lord and master.
d. We are not to proceed in our life or vocation as men pleasers but in all we do we are to do unto unto the Lord in sincerity of heart.
e. A job or tedious task for the beliver is an act of devotion and service to the Lord.
f. The gospel in long run is the more powerful force than the shrewdest of political strategies.
g. When feeling like a cog in machine, consider our status in Christ.