February 11, the best form of slavery. He who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman

of the Lord. Likewise, he who is free when called is a slave of Christ, 1 Corinthians 722.

I would have expected Paul to switch the places of Lord, which means master and Christ,

which means Messiah. He correlates our liberation with Jesus being our master, a freedman of the Lord,

and he correlates our new slavery with Jesus being our Messiah, a slave of Christ.

It seems strange because the Messiah came to liberate his people from their

captors and masters take control of their slave's lives. Why does he say it this way? Why

correlate slavery rather than liberation with Messiah and liberation rather than slavery with master

suggestion? The switch has two effects on our liberty and two effects on our new slavery.

On the one hand, in calling us the liberated of the Lord, he secures and limits our new liberty.

One, his lordship is over all other lords and so our liberation is uncontested, absolutely secure.

Two, but free from all other lords, we are not free from him. Our freedom is mercifully limited.

Jesus is our master. On the other hand, in calling us the slaves of Christ,

he loosens and sweetens our slavery. One, the Messiah lays claim on his own in order to bring

them from the confines of captivity into the open spaces of peace. Of the increase of his government

and of peace, there will be no end as a 9-7. Two, and he makes them his own to give them the sweetest

joy. With honey from the rock, I would satisfy you, Psalm 81-16, and that rock is Christ, the Messiah.

So, Christian, be glad in this. He who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord,

the master. Likewise, he who was free when called is a slave of Christ, the loosening, sweetening Messiah.