Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 7:21–22
God also had Paul deal with those who were slaves before surrendering to Christ and with those who were not. God had Paul write in 1 Corinthians 7:21–22, “Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. 22 For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave.” God wanted those who were slaves to realize they did not need to worry about still being a slave, but if they were given the opportunity to be set free, then feel free to take that opportunity to walk in freedom. But they also needed to recognize that even if they were still a slave, that since they had surrendered to Christ as Lord, they were now free in the Lord. But God also had Paul address those Christians who were not in slavery. God wanted them to realize that though they were “free” when they surrendered to Christ as Lord, that since they were Christians, they were now slaves of Christ. What lost people do not understand is that though they think they are free to live their lives the way they want, they are slaves to the spiritual forces of darkness and don’t even know it. God tells us in 2 Timothy 2:26 that lost people must “come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” Apart from Christ, all are slaves to their sin.
Challenge & Application
How had slaves been freed through Christ, and how had free people been enslaved to Christ?
What does true freedom look like for a Christian, and why are lost people truly not free when they think they are?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!