Romans 8:12-17

                                                             Romans 8:12-17

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

 

Identity is very important for us to understand.  Many people suffer from mistaken identity because they somehow believe that they have the authority to identify themselves.  Many people consider their identity to be determined by their race, gender, social status, or position of authority.  None of these are our true identities.  As believers, our identity comes from Christ and our relationship with Him.  We must be careful not to continue to see ourselves according to our identity before Christ or live under the delusion that we can determine our own identity.

 

WE ARE NOT DEBTORS TO THE FLESH: We are indebted to Christ for the sacrifice He made on our behalf. We are not in debt to the flesh for anything.  All the flesh ever did for us was lead us into sin and condemnation.  The solution for the flesh is to put it to death by being identified with Christ on the cross.  This is what life in the Spirit will do.  He makes us alive in Christ and puts the flesh to death.  It is highly unfortunate when we live as if we owed our flesh anything.  The flesh has given us nothing while Christ has given us everything.

 

WE ARE NOT SLAVES OF THE FLESH: In Christ we are no longer under the bondage of sin and our flesh. We have been set free from sin and we are now able to live lives of obedience before Christ.  All unbelievers are enslaved to sin.  They may think that they are living lives of freedom because the flesh desires to sin and they feel like they are free to follow the desires of their heart.  However, the reality is that they are enslaved to sin.  The flesh and sin always take them farther than they wanted to go and cost more than they wanted to pay.  The good things they desire to do; they are powerless to perform in the flesh.  The only way to freedom from sin is through slavery to Christ.

 

WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD: If we are not debtors and are not slaves, then what are we?  The answer is that we are the children of God.  When we become identified with Christ in His death and resurrection, we become members of His family.  We are not only temporary members that are visiting the home of the Father, but we are heirs of the Father.  We become sons and daughters of God.  Since we are in Christ, we have the Spirt of God who makes us members of the family and places us in a relationship where we call out Abba Father which is a name of intimacy like “Daddy.”  This is the glory of our relationship with Christ through the Spirit.

 

APPLICATION: Live as debtors to Christ and not to the desires of the flesh.  Live in freedom from sin and not enslaved to sin.  Be thankful that we are children of God and live according to the ways of our family.  Allow the Spirit to make us alive in Christ, free from sin and heirs of God.

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