Backward Wisdom: Freedom through Slavery

1. The “Backward” Wisdom of God

2. True Freedom

3. True Freedom
Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set
us free. Stand firm, then, and do
not let yourselves be burdened
again by a yoke of slavery.
(slavery=douleia)

4. True Freedom
Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be
free. But do not use your freedom
to indulge the sinful nature; rather,
serve one another in love.
(serve=douleow)

5. True Freedom
Greek word douleow
Means “to be a slave or to be
controlled”
…serve one another as slaves.

6. True Freedom
Galatians 5:13 literally
“You are now free, so don’t submit
to slavery—but use your freedom
to serve one another as slaves.”

7. True Freedom
John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free,
you will be free indeed.

8. True Freedom
Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant (doulos) of Christ
Jesus, called to be an apostle and
set apart for the gospel of God….

9. True Freedom
1 Peter 2:16
16 Live as free men, but do not use
your freedom as a cover-up for evil;
live as servants (doulos) of God.
(NIV 1984)

10. True Freedom
1 Peter 2:16
16 Live as free people, but do not
use your freedom as a cover-up for
evil; live as God‟s slaves.
(NIV 2011)

11. True Freedom
1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free and belong to no
one, I have made myself a
slave (douloo) to everyone, to win
as many as possible.

12. True Freedom
Key relationships between
freedom and slavery:
FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY
FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY
FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY

13. True Freedom
FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY
The Bible acknowledges & stands
against
human slavery . . .

14. True Freedom
FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY
The Bible acknowledges & stands
against
human slavery . . .
. . . but it focuses on more radical
forms
of slavery.

15. True Freedom
Slavery to the Law

16. True Freedom
Slavery to the Law

17. True Freedom
Slavery to the Law
Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse
of the law by becoming a curse for
us, for it is written: “Cursed is
everyone who is hung on a tree.”

18. True Freedom
Slavery to the Law
Acts 13:38-39
“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know
that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is
proclaimed to you. Through him everyone
who believes is set free from every sin, a
justification you were not able to obtain
under the law of Moses.”

19. True Freedom
Slavery to the Law
Romans 8:15
15 For you did not receive a spirit
that makes you a slave again to
fear, but you received the Spirit of
sonship. And by him we cry,
“Abba, Father.”

20. True Freedom
Slavery to Sin
John 8:31-36 To the Jews who had believed
him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,
you are really my disciples. Then you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you
free.” They answered him, “We are
Abraham‟s descendants and have never
been slaves of anyone. How can you say
that we shall be set free?”

21. True Freedom
Slavery to Sin
John 8:31-36 Jesus replied, “I tell you the
truth, everyone who sins is a slave to
sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in
the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
So if the Son sets you free,
you will be free indeed.

22. True Freedom
Slavery to Sin
Root of slavery=sin
“addictions”

23. True Freedom
Slavery to Sin
John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free,
you will be free indeed.
Root of slavery=sin
“addictions”

24. True Freedom
FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY
God freed Israel from slavery to
Pharaoh so that they might become
His slaves

25. True Freedom
FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY
Leviticus 25:55
For the Israelites belong to me as servants.
They are my servants, whom I brought out
of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

26. True Freedom
FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY
Israelites receive God as Lord
to be set free from slavery
Christians receive Christ as Lord
to be set free from slavery

27. True Freedom
FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For Christ‟s love compels us, because we
are convinced that one died for all, and
therefore all died. And he died for all, that
those who live should no longer live for
themselves but for him who died for them
and was raised again.

28. True Freedom
FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY
The beauty of the Bond Slave
“free to be a slave”

29. True Freedom
FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY
Deuteronomy 15:16-17
But if your servant says to you, “I do not
want to leave you,” because he loves you
and your family and is well off with
you, 17 then take an awl and push it through
his ear lobe into the door, and he will
become your servant for life. Do the same
for your maidservant.

30. True Freedom
FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY
Psalm 40:6-8
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced; burnt
offerings and sin offerings you did not
require. 7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have
come— it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”

31. True Freedom
FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY
The beauty of the Bond Slave
“free to be a slave”

32. True Freedom
FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY
“In (21st) century Christianity we have
replaced the expression „total
surrender‟ with the word „commitment,‟
and „slave‟ with „servant.‟ But there is
an important difference. A servant
gives service to someone, but a slave
belongs to someone. We commit
ourselves to do something, but when
we surrender ourselves to someone,
we give ourselves up.”

33. True Freedom
FREEDOM FOR SLAVERY
1 Peter 2:16
Live as free men, but do not use your
freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as
servants (doulos) of God.

34. True Freedom
FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY
Freedom
“the absence of all restraints”
“the absence of hindrance, restraint,
confinement, repression”
“the ability to live as God has designed
you to live”

35. True Freedom
FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY
Freedom

36. True Freedom
FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY
Freedom
The more selfish freedom you seek,
then more enslaved to sin you become
BUT the more you become Jesus’
slave, the more true freedom you
experience.

37. True Freedom
FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY
Galatians 5:13-15
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But
do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful
nature; rather, serve one another in love. The
entire law is summed up in a single command:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep
on biting and devouring each other, watch out
or you will be destroyed by each other.

38. True Freedom
FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY
Freedom
The more selfish freedom you seek,
then more enslaved to sin you become
BUT the more you become Jesus’
slave, the more true freedom you
experience.

39. True Freedom
#1 Freedom from slavery to the Law
“A life in redemption”
#2 Freedom for slavery to Him
“A life living for God”
#3 Freedom through slavery to Him
“A life of service to others”

40. True Freedom
FREEDOM THROUGH SLAVERY
Freedom