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Pastor's Blog August 29, 2019
"Slavery"
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Paul's vision of the Christian life has always been breathtaking - and a struggle. Many Christians through the centuries have found it difficult to figure out the connection between once being dead to God because of our sins yet now walking in the Spirit through our faith in Jesus. Adventists have often found it difficult to figure out how you're supposed to let God work his life-transforming work in you, if you still struggle with sin. In some ways, this struggle comes to a head in Romans 6:19, where Paul talks about holiness: "I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness" (NIV).
The example Paul has in mind here is that of slavery - our old life of sin and our new life of righteousness is like the institution of slavery, where you once had one master (the devil) and now you have a new master (God). We're not exactly sure what Paul is referring to by "human limitations." But what is even more tricky is what Paul means by "offering" ourselves. According to Paul, we once offered ourselves as slaves to impurity; we were slaves (i.e., we weren't in control), but we were the ones who offered ourselves to impurity (i.e., we were in control). Now we should offer ourselves to righteousness (i.e., we're in control), but as slaves (i.e., we're not in control).
You see the dilemma in this tension. Nevertheless, it might be better to translate Paul's word "offer" more literally: "standing beside." Slaves stand beside their owners; they stand beside the master as their property, as well as someone ready to do whatever the master commands. In the same way, we once followed after impurity - we were ready to act according to the dictates of sin, which lead to greater wickedness. Now, however, we are free to stand with righteousness and be ready to do what righteousness wants - and this righteousness will lead us on to holiness!
Romans 6:19 encourages us in our worship today by reminding us that it is God who leads us into righteousness and greater experiences of holiness, and that it is us who are called to "stand beside" righteousness as God completely transforms our lives.
God Bless.
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
