Romans 8:12-17
12 “So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
Obligation: While it may be tempting to understand the term obligation to mean being forced to do something, Paul is talking about a natural or organic response to grace. This is not slavery in the traditional sense of the word. This obligation is a compelling urge to live according to the Spirit. All believers have this urge at the cores of their beings.
Live in accord: Paul is speaking of two different identities. Unbelievers innately live in accord with the flesh while believers live innately in accord with the Spirit.
All who are being led by the Spirit are children of God: This is an ongoing reality for believers. Christians are led by the Spirit, moment by moment. And He is not only leading some of His children as we often believe. He is leading all who are in Christ.
Spirit of slavery…spirit of adoption: The miracle of the gospel is that we get to call God Daddy. He is not a distant Father who is only turned towards us when we are good. No, He is completely pleased with His children. This is seen in the spirit’s testimony to our spirit that we are God’s children.
Heirs with Christ: Believers are co-heirs with Christ. This means that we inherit everything that Christ inherits as God’s only Son. Paul wanted this reality to comfort believers during sufferings. If we are not in the flesh, then we will suffer because planet earth does not like Christians.
