Modern Christians like to be called the children of God (John 1:12), and friends and brothers of Jesus (John 15:13; Matthew 28:10). But they do not wish to be identified as slaves of Christ even though the Greek word for servant in the bible is “doulos,” which unequivocally means slave. John 15:15, where Jesus calls His disciples friends rather than slaves, does not eliminate the master-slave relationship but adds another. John 15:14 says that we are His friends if we obey His commandments. He is still the master, and we are still the slaves and will always remain so. The apostles continued to call themselves slaves (Romans 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). On Judgment Day, Jesus will call us good and faithful slaves (Matthew 25:23).

Matthew 11:29-30 clearly tells us that salvation is an exchange of yokes or slaveries. Jesus rids us of the yoke of Satan and sin and gives us His own. His yoke is easy and His burden light and gives rest for our souls, but it is still a yoke, and we are His slaves. He possesses us. Earlier, we were slaves of Satan and sin, now we are slaves of Jesus and His righteousness (Romans 6:17-18; Colossians 1:13). We are not our own; we have been purchased with a price, namely the invaluable blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:20). You do not purchase children and friends. You purchase slaves.

Those who do not want to be the slaves of Christ cannot be the children of God and friends and brothers of Christ either. Salvation happens when we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9-10). How can Jesus be the Lord if we are not His slaves? Can someone be a father without having children? Can a man become a husband without a wife? No. And yet, Christians call Jesus Lord (Kurios), but shy away from calling themselves slaves (doulos) and acting as such. Jesus warns such people in Matthew 7:21-23. He unambiguously says that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter heaven, but those who not only call Him Lord but also do the will of the Father, which is to submit to Jesus as slaves (Luke 9:35). They will boast of their ministry on Judgment Day, but Jesus will say, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” Those who do not live in slavery to Christ are not His and will not inherit the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 John 3:9-10).

Unfortunately, modern Christians have lots of misunderstandings about freedom and slavery. They do not understand that we cannot not be slaves. We were made to serve and worship. The question is not whether we will serve. The question is whom we will serve. Adam and Eve chose to be independent of God and became the slaves of sin and Satan. Christ came to emancipate us from the oppression of an evil master, Satan and make us His own slaves. Unlike Satan, the Lord Jesus Christ is a good master. He doesn’t force us into slavery to Him. He gives us new hearts and new eyes to see His irresistible beauty and the true freedom that one gets when one surrenders his life to Him, and we willingly run into His embrace. Just as the OT slave who loved his master and would not leave him, but would willingly and happily serve him forever (Exodus 21:5-7), we gladly enter into an everlasting slavery to Christ. His yoke sets us free from the bondage to sin and Satan. His yoke saves us from the wrath of God. His yoke fills our hearts with true joy and peace. His yoke gives everlasting life. We love Him and will not leave Him because in his slavery does true freedom lie.  

Are you a true Christian? Have you submitted to the lordship of Christ (Romans 10:9-10) and found true freedom? Will you be allowed to enter heaven? Examine yourself, to see whether you are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).