Articles
We Are Debtors - Romans 8
We Are Debtors - Romans 8
The point of this chapter is the obligation, (i.e., we are DEBTORS 8:12), that believers are to live in newness of life. We were baptized into Christ and raised to walk in newness of life. We are to have put the old man to death. We are to consider ourselves dead unto sin (6:11). We are to not let sin reign in our mortal bodies (6:12). We are to no longer present our bodies as instruments of unrighteousness but rather as instruments of righteousness (6:13). We no longer are to obey the desires of the flesh but are to have crucified the flesh.
Notice (study) the chart below. It contains a simple showing of two different life styles.
Paul thus uses several 'if' statements:
· IF the Spirit of God dwells in us we are not 'in the flesh' (9).
· IF Christ is in you the Spirit is life because of righteousness (10).
· IF the Spirit… dwells in you, you will be given life to your mortal bodies (11)
· IF you live according to the flesh you will die (13).
· IF you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (13).
I understand these to be real situations and real choices. Can a believer live according to the flesh? Of course the can; if NOT, then why this warning? There lies before us this real danger.
Such a life style does not automatically happen because one believes and is baptized. Such life style comes with the renewing of the mind and the putting off of the old man (cp. Rom. 13:2; Eph. 4:17f).
This is about the center of our life, the foundation of our life, the sum of our life. It is not about a singular event, although life is made up of singular events! Paul writes about walking, living, submitting. It is about the difference between a life that is based upon and centered around providing for the fleshly, worldly, temporal aspect of existence VERSUS one that is centered upon the spiritual and eternal aspect of life.
What bothers me about this chapter is how easily we deceive ourselves about such matters. Of course we are spiritual because we … well, we are US. We need to carefully examine what our life centers upon. Perhaps we need to get a second opinion from someone that will tell us the truth about what they see in us. We need to spend more time looking into the mirror of God's word to see ourselves in God's light.
Hugh DeLong
