There have been quite a few times over the last five years that people have given me the “what in the world?” look when I tell them I am a pastor in the church of the Nazarene. The Nazarene denomination is relatively small, but it has a global impact. The key component for the church of the Nazarene is it’s doctrine about holiness.
That is what this passage made me think about. This section is part of the continuing conversation that Paul is having with his readers about God’s grace and our response. When we encounter God’s grace, we have the opportunity to respond.
Paul reminds us that (because of God’s gift through Jesus) we are no longer slaves to sin! Just think- when we enter into God’s family, God gives us what we need to no longer live in destructive ways. We can actually live holy, set apart, whole lives. When we offer ourselves to God, God gives us what we need to live in righteousness.
That is the most basic belief that makes the Nazarene church different from some of the others. And actually, as I think about it, this is a whole lot related to the practice of Lent. Lent is about giving up or taking up something that will help us as we live a slave to righteousness and not to sin. It’s all connected… and entirely possible!
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