Romans 8:12-17 (NIV)
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation–but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
To fully understand this paragraph, it must be read in the whole context of chapters 5-8 of Paul’s letter. It is the conclusion of the argument that Paul lays out in these 3½ chapters.
The conclusion is this: Since we have been delivered from slavery to the law, since by faith in Jesus we have been delivered from the mastery of the sinful nature, then we are obligated to live a qualitatively different life than we did when we were enslaved. We are no longer to live according to the flesh, because that lifestyle leads to death, both physical and spiritual.
Instead, we are to live by the Spirit. That means putting to death the sinful actions and attitudes that originate in the sinful nature, rise above them, and live holy lives, Christlike lives, instead. This corresponds precisely to Paul’s instruction to the Church at Colossae in Colossians 3:5-10 (NIV):
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
As followers of Jesus, children of God who live in the world as aliens and strangers, we are never to see ourselves as victims of the devil or of the sinful nature, doomed to sin every day. Instead, we have been given a new life, a new center out of which to live, new power through the Holy Spirit to obey God’s commands, and a new identity. We are now children of God. And in that identity, we are able to call out to God, “Abba”, at any time, and He will give us whatever we need, not only to live, but to live victoriously.
And, very importantly, this new identity is to be lived out here and now, not after we die or after Jesus returns. The Spirit living in us does not testify that we will be God’s children someday; He testifies that we are His children now and forever, heirs of all He possesses (which is everything!), and so dearly loved that whatever we need, we may ask and He will supply it.
Father, this is amazing good news! When You saved us, when You brought us out of darkness into Your light, You also gave us all that we need to live as children of light, and to be genuinely holy and righteous here and now. We don’t have to live a moment longer as victims of sin; we have access to Your Spirit living in us to overcome. We don’t have to live a moment longer as victims of hopelessness; we can now live in Your presence as Your children and can ask You for whatever we need and receive it from your hand. Help us, Lord, to not merely understand this amazing truth, but to live it out every moment of every day, starting right now. Amen.