The repentant sinner is likened to a slave. The mention of the word “slave” in Scripture repels many people; it seems to demean human dignity, and so it appears that one must break oneself in order to accept such a comparison. It is hard for a person who constantly repeats a familiar set of sins to admit that what seems humiliating actually raises and straightens that person.
Yes, sooner or later we have to see that every sinner becomes dependent on sin and thereby becomes its slave, so there is no reason to take offense at the word. But acknowledging reality does not mean that reality must remain unchanged. A slave does not dare look upon the master’s face and looks only at the hand that gives instructions or inflicts punishment; but even as we recognize our unworthiness, we can look upon the One who led the people out of the house of slavery.
Even now He has the power both to free us from the degrading servile dependence on our own sinfulness and to restore to us a true awareness of our dignity and worth in His eyes. It depends only on us: we must want to turn to Him.
