Grace Fellowship Church www.GraceDoctrine.org Pastor / Teacher James H. Rickard Thursday, March 27, 2008

Memory Verse 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Upper Room Discourse John 13-16; John 13:16, Servant-hood, Pt. 9

Doctrine of DOULOS Slave, Servant

E. The use of DOULOS: 1) Christ is the DOULOS of God E. The use of DOULOS: 1) Christ is the DOULOS of God. 2) The believer is a DOULOS of God and Christ. 3) The believer is a DOULOS to others.

3) The believer is a DOULOS to others.

Col 1:7, “Just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,”

Col 4:7, “As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.”

Amongst believers, slavery is not a distinction Amongst believers, slavery is not a distinction. There are no societal classes inside the Royal Family of God. Mat 23:11; 1 Cor 7:20-24; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11; Philemon 16.

Col 3:11, “A renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”

Mat 23:11, “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.”

The example of our servitude towards others is found in our Lord as He demonstrated the prototype of our unique spiritual life for the Church Age. Mat 4:1-11; 20:26-28; Mark 9:35; 10:43-45; John 13:15-17.

Having obtained a new and unique spiritual heritage, we are to live in our new life in our new royal priesthood unto God as ambassadors for Christ. Rom 6:6-14; 2 Cor 5:15-21; 1 Peter 2:5, 9.

The N.T. writers understood their position as bond-servants by disseminating the Word of God. Rom 1:1-7; 2 Cor 4:5; Phil 1:1-2; Titus 1:1-3; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1-2; Jude 1:1; Rev 1:1-3

2 Cor 4:5, “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.”

All believers are servants of the "New Covenant" in that we are to witness the gospel to unbelievers, 2 Cor 3:6.

2 Cor 3:6, “Who (God) also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Servant-hood is our expression of impersonal and unconditional love, kindness and social responsibility under the Royal Family Honor Code, Rom 14:1-23; 16:1-2; Gal 5:13-6:10; 2 Tim 2:20-26.

Rom 14:4, “Who are you to judge the servant of another Rom 14:4, “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

Honoring and respecting all legitimate authority is part of our servant-hood unto God. 1 Peter 2:13-20

On the job you are to have the servant-hood mentality by respecting authority and performing well, as unto the Lord.

The worker is to be obedient to his boss on the job The worker is to be obedient to his boss on the job. Eph 6:5ff; Col 3:22; 1 Tim 6:1-2; Titus 2:9; 1 Peter 2:18-20

Titus 2:9, “Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.”

The Pastor is a servant to others as a result of doing his job correctly.

He is to lead them to spiritual maturity as demonstrated by his own spiritual walk and conduct. 1 Tim 4:1-15; 2 Tim 2:24

1 Tim 4:6, “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.”

The Believer is a DOULOS to Others Upper Room Discourse, Pt 165 Grace Fellowship Church Thursday, March 27, 2008 Tape # 08-023 Servanthood, Part 9 The Believer is a DOULOS to Others Upper Room Discourse, Pt 165 John 13:16; Matt 20:26-28; 2 Cor 5:15-21; Gal 5:13-6:10 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2008