August 22, 2022

John 8:34 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

Sin alienates us from God and enslaves us to carnal desires.*

You don’t have to be a junkie to be hooked on something. Normal people – you, your friends – are slaves to something - from addictions (cigarettes) to the innocuous (getting your nails done every week). Anything that controls our cravings or our schedule is a slavemaster. Is it any wonder that Jesus warns us about being slaves to sin when we are so willing to give up our freedom?

When Jesus says that everyone who sins is a slave to sin, he means everyone. We all sin. We never stop. When we become Christians, we might slow down. We might have fewer sins in our repertoire but we are still sinners. Slaves. Paul tells us in Romans chapter 6, that when we offer ourselves to someone, we become his slaves. Indeed, we can choose to be slaves to sin or we can opt to be slaves to obedience.

Why would we give up one form of slavery for another? When we consider the price, the choice becomes clear. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6: 23), while slavery to obedience leads to righteousness – the gift of God. Our Emancipation Proclamation is signed in the blood of Jesus Christ and we don’t have to earn it – we can’t earn it; we just have to accept it.

All men are slaves, but with the one choice of choosing his own master.*