Lesson 102
Romans
Chapter Eight
Freedom in Christ through the Holy Spirit
The Dynamic for living the Christian Life
2. The believer's obligation 8:12-17 [2nd major section of ch 8]
Our response to what God through Christ has done for us and provided to us.
Ø 8:12-13 We are under obligation
In view is the process of sanctification, making wise
choices daily, living in the sphere of the Spirit.
- So then [intros a logical conclusion from the preceding paragraph]
- God always gives us reasons
for what He desires of us, as His children.
- What happens when you have people who try to fulfill obligations in their life without BD; Therefore W/O any foundation for what they're attempting to do??
- Paul tells us here very emphatically we have absolutely no obligation to the flesh, to the Sin nature.
- Structure Summary vs:12-13:
We are under obligation NOT to the flesh
we are debtors not to live according to the flesh
[last of vs:13] BUT to the Spirit
to live according to the Spirit
- With verse 13 Paul states the consequences of the choices made;
- if you live according to the flesh you must die!
- if you live according to the Spirit you will live!
- As Believers, our obligation, our duty in living the CWOL is based on 3 great truths of Doctrine:
#1. The Sacrifice of Christ; Ch. 3-6, look almost any where!
#2. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 8:9
#3. The initiation of the Father, its His plan, 8:3
- Our conclusion then: for the basis of obligation!
This is the experience of grace in the life of the believer.
#1. God/F gave His Son for me and accomplished what I could not do!
#2. God/Son died for me, as I understand what He
did, it motivates me! 2 Cor
#3. God the H/S who gave me life indwells me, & empowers me.
* As you look closely at these 2 vs's [12-13] do they not clearly support the reality that the Sin nature is still there, Still present in you?
vs:13 provides a further
explanation of vs:12
Its a warning, a strong warning to them; recognizes that we as believers have to make choices.
If you choose to live under the flesh, know this "you must die"
What are the options here:
- Could this refer to spiritual death?
- Could this be referring to temporal death?
- word
for must = me,llw = are about to; used of imminent
events; refers to things that have not yet happened but are about to; Mk
- The exhortation here is look
believer, brethren, if you persist, if you habitually live, choosing to live
under the domination of the flesh, know that you may face the ultimate
discipline, physical death, this is a very real
possibility.
- So this you are about to die = physical death!
Ø Contrast to the one living under the flesh
but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- but if, you are
living, by the Spirit here is what's happening in your life; you are putting to death the deeds, the
practices, the activities of the body, and you will live!
Here putting
to death is active, brings into view the daily choices, exemplified
here (& also in
Passive Active
Aorist tense Present tense
Having died =
provision being put to death =
application
- emph. finished work - His work applied to our life
- what has been done - what we are to do, our duty
- source of pwr = cross - use of that power
application of the power of the cross
- Why do you think the focus here is on the deeds/activity/practices of the body, sw/ma, and not the flesh, the sin nature??
-
We are to be in the process of building a whole new mindset based on the
Word of God, His revelation.
Paul gives us a clue though in Col. 3:5.
- If you think about it, as a believer, since the Holy Spirit through regeneration is the source of our new life in Christ and since He indwells each of us why should we look elsewhere for animation in our life, for empowering of our life, we are to serve in newness of the Spirit (7:6) He is the dynamic for living the CWOL.
- Since He provided the life we have in Christ, is it not reasonable to assume that He will sustain that life in us?