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Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ Kindle Edition
A COVER-UP OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS…
Centuries ago, English translators perpetrated a fraud in the New Testament, and it’s been purposely hidden and covered up ever since. Your own Bible is probably included in the cover-up!
In this book, which includes a study guide for personal or group use, John MacArthur unveils the essential and clarifying revelation that may be keeping you from a fulfilling—and correct—relationship with God. It’s powerful. It’s controversial. And with new eyes you’ll see the riches of your salvation in a radically new way.
What does it mean to be a Christian the way Jesus defined it? MacArthur says it all boils down to one word:
SLAVE
“We have been bought with a price. We belong to Christ. We are His own possession.”
Endorsements:
"Dr. John MacArthur is never afraid to tell the truth and in this book he does just that. The Christian's great privilege is to be the slave of Christ. Dr. MacArthur makes it clear that this is one of the Bible's most succinct ways of describing our discipleship. This is a powerful exposition of Scripture, a convincing corrective to shallow Christianity, a masterful work of pastoral encouragement...a devotional classic." - Dr. R. Albert Mohler, President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"John MacArthur expertly and lucidly explains that Jesus frees us from bondage into a royal slavery that we might be His possession. Those who would be His children must, paradoxically, be willing to be His slaves." - Dr. R.C. Sproul
"Dr. John MacArthur's teaching on 'slavery' resonates in the deepest recesses of my 'inner-man.' As an African-American pastor, I have been there. That is why the thought of someone writing about slavery as being a 'God-send' was the most ludicrous, unconscionable thing that I could have ever imagined...until I read this book. Now I see that becoming a slave is a biblical command, completely redefining the idea of freedom in Christ. I don't want to simply be a 'follower' or even just a 'servant'...but a 'slave'." - The Rev. Dr. Dallas H. Wilson, Jr., Vicar, St. John's Episcopal Chapel, Charleston, SC- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherThomas Nelson
- Publication date5 Nov. 2012
- File size481 KB
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Product description
About the Author
Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God's Word, John MacArthur is a popular author and conference speaker. He has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, since 1969. John and his wife, Patricia, have four married children and fifteen grandchildren. John's pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You, and its satellite offices in seven countries. In addition to producing daily radio programs for nearly two thousand English and Spanish radio outlets worldwide, Grace to You distributes books, software, and digital recordings by John MacArthur. John is chancellor of The Master's University and Seminary and has written hundreds of books and study guides, each one biblical and practical. Bestselling titles include The Gospel According to Jesus, Twelve Ordinary Men, Twelve Extraordinary Women, Slave, and The MacArthur Study Bible, a 1998 ECPA Gold Medallion recipient.
Product details
- ASIN : B004774LS4
- Publisher : Thomas Nelson; Reprint edition (5 Nov. 2012)
- Language : English
- File size : 481 KB
- Simultaneous device usage : Up to 5 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 242 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 1400281113
- Best Sellers Rank: 1,040,917 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 1,347 in Religious Warfare
- 7,498 in Bibles (Kindle Store)
- 13,531 in Christian Living (Kindle Store)
- Customer reviews:
About the author

John MacArthur is pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, California, Chancellor of The Master’s University and Seminary, teacher and voice heard globally through his media ministry Grace to You, and author of numerous best-selling books, including his New Testament commentary series and The MacArthur Study Bible.
He has spent over 50 years preaching through every verse of the New Testament and much of the Old Testament while being a featured speaker at conferences around the world. John and his wife Patricia have been married for over sixty years and have four children, fifteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 January 2021This is a book for every Christian to be reading to realise Christ calls his elect people to slavery, to live for Christ is to live as a slave to the Lord of glory.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 July 2021Brilliant & challenging read, has a study in it as well.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 April 2018Very good book, it explains very well what a Christian means to be and the meaning of a Slave in the Christian context
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 February 2014Amazing! I loved this book it was so true we are slaves of the lord JESUS, thank GOD FOR A FAITHFULL SERVANT who presents the truth.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2016A superb book that explains some difficult doctrine very simply and clearly. This book is not dry or dull to read; it is very refreshing yet deeply theological.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 May 2011I just finished reading this book, which deals with a relationship that is often under-emphasised or misunderstood: the one between believers as slaves and Christ as our master. John MacArthur suggests that this truth has been covered up by our English Bibles, using words such as 'servant' instead of 'slave' and wrote the book to explain the real meaning of slave and what our role is as such. Belonging to Christ in this way is a biblical command, and an important facet of our relationship with God. MacArthur explains this biblically and clearly and reminds us that being the slave of a perfect master is in fact totally freeing.
This was not a new concept to me, the word doulos has been explained to me before, but MacArthur has some refreshing reminders and some encouraging and very challenging examples scattered about this book. It is very easy to read and quite short, but made me think about just how seriously I (don't) take obeying God. It was also hugely helpful to be reminded of my position as a slave, in that my owner who gives me my name imposes my very identity. I have been bought with a price from the sin I was enslaved to. Because slavery has been abolished in this country for a number of years now, all the truths that were conveyed by such a term are lost on this generation. Though a little repetitive at first, the book then develops and expands well on many areas of the relationship we have with God, our Lord (this name alone clearly acknowledges His as sole master and owner). I would recommend this book - it puts you back in your place, reminding you that though you are God's child (and thus extremely precious and unique) you are also His slave (and thus completely expected to do just as He asks without expectations or desire for reward).
*I was provided this book for free through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program in exchange for my unbiased review.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 July 2011The subtitle to this book is "The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ". There is, John MacArthur claims, an important aspect of our relationship with Jesus Christ which has been concealed from the English-speaking world for centuries. From the King James Version to the vast majority of modern translations of the Bible, the Greek word for slave (doulos) has been mistranslated. The word is usually translated "servant" or "bond-servant" which, MacArthur tells us, is a poor substitute for "slave".
Slavery permeated society in the days of the Early Church and those reading Paul's letters would completely understand the implications of his claim to be "a slave of Jesus Christ", a phrase he uses repeatedly in his letters. Today, however, people very rarely talk about their relationship with Jesus in terms of slavery. MacArthur notes, "Slavery is a distasteful concept to modern sensibilities. So we hear that God loves people unconditionally and wants them to be all they want to be."
In this book, the author carefully examines different aspects of slavery and explains how they reflect our relationship with Christ; he demonstrates that, like slaves, we have been bought with a price, we are not our own and our aim in life should be to please our Master.
As always, John MacArthur gives a very thorough, well-researched exposition and I found the book quite thought-provoking. Although I already knew that "slave" is a more accurate translation of "doulos", it hadn't really occurred to me that there was anything particularly significant about the distinction between a servant and a slave. This is well worth a read.
Top reviews from other countries
- RiséReviewed in Canada on 9 August 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Slave of Christ
I loved this book. John MacArthur is one of the great Bible teachers of our generation, in my opinion. The man does his homework and I now have a much clearer understanding of who I am in Christ. So often we call ourselves 'servants' - but we aren't ... we are His slaves - slaves who are dearly loved and also considered friends. We are slaves because we were bought for a price - not of gold or silver as in days of old, but with blood - Jesus' blood. Being bought makes one keenly aware of what our allegiance should be to Him - the lover of our souls.
"Servants are hired; slaves are bought."
- carltonReviewed in India on 5 September 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
excellent research on the subject, bold and true to the Word of God
- SnickerdoodleSarahReviewed in the United States on 10 January 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!
As the book's title suggests, it is a book about the Christian's relationship to God as His slave. Macarthur explains that the Greek word 'doulos' has not been accurately translated in many(or rather,most) Bible versions. 'Doulos' is usually translated as 'servant'. But Macarthur points out that 'doulos' actually means 'slave'. Passages like "well done, good and faithful servant"(Mat 25:23)and, "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ..."(Tit 1:1)should actually translated, "well done thou good and faithful slave." and "Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ..."
Macarthur shows that the difference between a slave and a servant is significant. A servant does a job, has a choice as for whom he works for, what work he will do and ultimately works to support himself. A slave is owned by someone else, does not have a choice for whom he works, but is chosen/bought by someone else. A slave does not have a choice as to his occupation, does not ultimately provide for himself, the master gives him what he needs. A slave's focus is on pleasing his master.
This applies to the Christian as well. A Christian does not have a choice as to whom he serves, he started out as a slave to sin. But he was was chosen and 'bought' out of the slave market of sin by Christ's blood. He is now owned by God, and lives to please Him, following Christ's example, Who, "emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross."(Php 2:7-8) And, quoting from the book, "Unlike free persons, slaves did not have to worry about finding something to eat or somewhere to sleep. Because their needs were met, they could focus entirely on serving the master...As believers, we can focus on the things God has called us to do, trusting Him to meet our needs. "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink'? or 'What will we wear for clothing?' Jesus told His followers, "Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you"(Matt. 6:31-33). Those who make pleasing God their highest priority can be confident that He will take care of them."
And, amazingly, God also adopts His slaves, making them His sons, His 'heirs'. "To think that we, who were once the slaves of sin, the subjects of Satan, and the sons of disobedience, are now and forever the slaves of Christ, the citizens of heaven and the children of God...As His enemies, we did not even deserve to be His slaves. Yet, He has made us both His slaves and His children. The incomparable reality of adoption is this: If God is our Master, then He is also our Father. As Alexander Maclaren, the great Scottish preacher explained, 'If we are slaves, then we are sons and heirs of God through Jesus Christ.'" And here's a quote that Macarthur put in his book by Charles Spurgeon that I really like:"Where our Authorized [King James] Version softly puts it 'servant' it really is 'bond-slave.' The early saints delighted to count themselves Christ's absolute property, bought by him, owned by him and wholly at his disposal. Paul even went so far as to rejoice that he had the marks of his Master's brand on him, and he cries, 'Let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.' There was the end of all debate: he was the Lord's, and the marks of the scourges, the rods, and the stones were the broad-arrow of the King which marked Paul's body as the property of Jesus the Lord. Now if the saints of old time gloried in obeying Christ, I pray that you and I...may feel that our first object in life is to obey our Lord."
This is a very good book, and very interesting in discovering more about the Christians true relationship to Christ. This is in my list of favorites.
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Ch.Reviewed in Germany on 12 December 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars mit sehr viel Freude gelesen
Dies ist eine Sache, die für jeder Christen wichtig ist, weil es geht um unsere Verhältniss zum Herr Jesus Christus
- ShawnReviewed in Canada on 21 January 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Acceptance of this one word would forever identify true believers from those found in Matthew 7