Slaves?

In my study this week, we talked about being slavery. Not physical slavery of course, but spiritual. I got most of my material from the John Piper book, The Passion of JC, and it was really rich. I found it amazing how many times the Word talks about being slaves to sin. For instance, in John 8, J says clear as can be, "everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin." He sometimes spoke using confusing words - this was not one of those times! Again in Romans 6, "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin." Then Peter makes the issue even bigger in II Peter 2 when he says, "For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved." That could include even "good" things that consume our time and become idols!

One reason this can be so confusing is precisely because its not a physical slavery, so we don't feel like we are slaves. Neither did the Pharisees J was talking to: "We...have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?" Piper expounds on this: "Most of the time we are free to do what we want. But we are not free to want what we ought" (65). Of course we can decide whether to work or not work, or whether to wear this shirt or that shirt. But can we will ourselves to desire G0d all the time? To love our enemy? No, because we are naturally slaves to sin!

J promised, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." What is that truth? One place it's found is in Romans 6. It says, "For one who has died has been set free from sin" and "For the death he died he died to sin, once for all." Therefore, if we can be united to that death that J already died for our sin, we will be free from sin! What is that unifies us to Him? Faith! And what does faith look like? It's savoring, trusting, resting, embracing, relying on, banking on, receiving, being satisfied with J. I heard a pastor say in a sermon it was like falling on J and all He has done for you. Kind of like falling on a rock to hold you and make you firm. When faith is made to seem like a work, its incredibly frustrating. Faith isn't a work - the work has been finished! Faith sees J and the cross and simply rests that it's finished - the sin debt is paid and we can go free!

So why do we still struggle with sin then? If we have the victory, then why do we struggle with sin and doubt so often? Piper had a great illustration of this: "It is as though a great dragon has had his head cut off and is thrashing about until he bleeds to death. The battle is won. But we must still be careful of the damage he can do...In other words, if God's law no longer condemns us, because Christ canceled the debt, then Satan has no grounds to accuse us" (103).

I hope that's enriching to you. I encourage you to read through all of Romans 6, it's good stuff.