Slavery has been practiced from the beginning of history. Of late, as human beings have sought to place human rights above all other values, slavery is being viewed as one of the greatest of evils.

Social slavery has been abolished in the democratic nations. But the so-called "free nations" are in the worst moral chains of all time. The slavery to the powers of darkness of the so-called "free" people must be a continual source of amusement to Satan and his followers.

Angels are spiritual entities. Man has not been created to be an entity. It is not good for man to be alone. He is male or female, that is, designed to be completed by union with another. The trait of love, found in people but perhaps not in the same manner in angels, causes us to seek union with God and with other people. We are not content to be independent beings.

It is true also that whether we like it or not we always will be governed by someone or something. It is impossible for us to be free in the sense of being independent, of not being ruled.

Because the Divine Nature has been given to us in the form of Christ, we now have the authority and ability to choose to be a slave of God, an obedience that leads to righteousness.

We are required, under the new covenant, to make a choice between obeying sin and becoming the slave of sin, or obeying God and becoming the slave of God. We do not have the alternative of being the slave of neither. If we do not actively become the slave of God we automatically continue as a slave to sin. He who sins is always the slave of sin. No person can be the master of sin, he always is the slave of the sin he practices.

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant [slave] of sin. (John 8:34)

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants [slaves] of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. (Romans 6:17)

Before we came to Christ we were a slave of sin. Because we decided to obey the teaching of the Apostles we have become the slave of righteousness.

This verse reveals how important it is we obey the teaching of the Apostles. The concept that we cannot possibly obey the doctrine of the Apostles because of our sinful nature comes from Satan. As we seek the Lord's Presence and help we can do what the Scripture commands. The Evangelical doctrine of today does not set us free from sin and bring us into slavery to righteousness. Rather, it promotes the idea that while we are in the world we are compelled to remain in slavery to sin.

To be continued.