Romans 8:12-17

We are exhorted by the Apostle Peter to: 18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.” ()

It’s an amazing thing to watch a person grow in Christ. As a person grows in grace that person begins to elevate his Master.

In direct proportion to that, they begin to talk less of themselves and their credentials or their degrees and of what they have done in the past or what their doing now.

They become smaller and smaller in their own eyes, until, like the morning star, he fades away before the rising sun.

Oh for more of Christ and less of us. To that end, let us pray...

Our Father in Heaven, we thank You for the revelation of Christ to our hearts and to our souls from the Scriptures of truth. Lord we thank You for the One who died in the place of the ungodly. Lord we pray four an out pouring of grace into the hearts of all Your gathered people. May You grant the gifts of faith and repentance to Your people today. May You bless us now as You shut out the clamoring of this world and shut us in with Yourself dear Lord. Lord come down upon us and give us help we pray in Jesus Name and for His sake, AMEN.

12 "So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 "because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 "For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 "You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 "The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 "and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” ()

We are exhorted by the Apostle Peter to: 18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.” ()

It’s an amazing thing to watch a person grow in Christ. As a person grows in grace that person begins to elevate his Master.

In direct proportion to that, they begin to talk less of themselves and their credentials or their degrees and of what they have done in the past or what their doing now.

They become smaller and smaller in their own eyes, until, like the morning star, he fades away before the rising sun.

Oh for more of Christ and less of us.

For the true believer, who’s been called out of the darkness of his sin and has been regenerated, having recieved a new heart and a new spirit in them, begin to be progressively sanctified.

This of course happens because of infinite value and virtue of Christ death and resurrection.

5 "For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,” ()

So God has brought us into the grave and out of the grace, spiritually raised with Christ to walk in newness of life.

This growth, or newness of life, is all because of the person and work of Christ.

This actually happens to a believer by the power of God’s Word and the Spirit of God indwelling a person.

25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 26 "to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.” ()

Christ makes His bride, the church, holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by His Word.

This of course is a journey. It’s a walk. That leads to many a battle with sin, to which sin eventually loses its strong hold due to the inward, continual principle, the Spirit of Christ, which is as a new nature, that inclines and makes alive that man in whom He dwells with, towards a holy life.

That’s what’s being spoken of here by the Apostle Paul in .

In vv1-17 form one of the most important passages in all of Scripture for a believer, as we think about the context.

Its subject cannot be overemphasized: the power of God’s Spirit in the life of the believer.

If the believer needs anything, he needs the power of God’s Spirit.

Forcefully, Scripture spells out point by point what the power of the Holy Spirit is.

1. “Now,” since Christ has come (v. 1).

2. The Spirit gives life (vv. 2–4).

3. The Spirit pulls the mind to spiritual things (vv. 5–8).

4. The Spirit dwells within the believer (v. 9).

5. The Spirit gives life to the believer (vv. 10–11).

6. The Spirit gives the power to put evil deeds to death (vv. 12–13).

Let’s look at verses 12 & 13 together.

This title of this message is: WHAT OBLIGATION DO WE ALL HAVE?

This title of this message is: WHAT IS MY OBLIGATION?

Let’s consider that together as I see two obligations

that everyone in this room is obligated to do.

You are not to live according to the flesh.

12 "So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 "because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die....” ()

Seeing that the law of the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death,

Paul says, we are no longer, like slaves subject to their masters,

required to live according to the flesh.

The apostle then explains that there are two ways of living:

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.

These words are reminiscent of , : ‘See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.… This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live’.

In Deuteronomy, however, the alternatives are blessing and life in the promised land or

destruction, which means that they will enjoy no more that life in the promised land.

However, the alternatives of ‘life’ and ‘death’ that Paul has in mind are eschatological,

expressed by the future tenses (‘will die’ and ‘will live’).

The alternatives are eternal life in the presence of God or

death in hell without any prospect of a life with God.

But we’re obligated not to live according to the flesh because for the follower of Christ the flesh has no more rights!

It’s been crucified, so we owe the flesh nothing!! Which implies that it’s God Spirit, in making us alive to Christ and uniting us to Christ!

Here is where our debt lies. Here’s our obligation!

Winston Churchill paid a great tribute to the young men who guarded England during World War 2.

He said, “Never in the history of mankind have so many owed so much to so few.”

“Never in the history of mankind have so many owed so much to so few.”

A particular battle: represents one of the bloodiest action in World War II.

A monument there pays tribute to the heroism of the US 101st Airborne Division: “Seldom has so much American blood been shed in the course of a single action. Oh, Lord, help us to remember!”

But when thinking of the beloved Christ who hung on the cross, we can say:

“Never in the history of the universe has mankind owed so much to One.”

Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 208). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

That’s our obligation! Debtor’s to Christ!

But don’t misunderstand Paul dear believer. It’s not as though a choice is being presented to you.

The flesh” is not eradicated but is an ever-present reality. Paul goes on to explain that to be indebted to the flesh means “to live according to the flesh”. This is not an option for the believer.

“The flesh” is not gone yet, but is an ever-present reality.

Paul goes on to explain that to be indebted to the flesh means (in v13) “to live according to the flesh”.

This is not an option for the believer.

This leads us to our second obligation.

12 "So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 "because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. {Pause}

But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” ()

My Second obligation is By the Spirit’s power: To kill my sin.

To put to death or to mortify the deeds of the body by the Spirit’s power!

There’s a strong warning in these words dear believer.

To live “according to the flesh” is to live with one’s horizon bounded by the flesh,

that is, by the concerns of this life.

To live like this is death (cf. ).

There is certainty in “you will die”.

But to the contrary and with equal definiteness we have,

2. By the Spirit’s power: To fight against my sin.

Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 312). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

“...But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” ()

‘Mortifying deeds’ or ‘putting to death the deeds’, means

killing them off,

getting rid of them altogether.

But the tense is present, which indicates a continuing activity.

It is not something that we can do once and for all and be done with.

It is a daily duty.

Look at these two conditional sentences, as you flip back to 7:5.

(i) ‘For if you live according to the flesh, you will die’;

What the apostle affirms in the first conditional sentence he foreshadowed in

5 "For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us to bear fruit for death.” ()

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: Paul’s Letter to the Romans 5. Life in the Spirit 8:1–13

i) ‘For if you live according to the flesh, you will die’; (ii) ‘but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live’. What the apostle affirms in the first conditional clause he foreshadowed in

Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (D. A. Carson, Ed.) (p. 335). Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England; Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.

(ii) ‘but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live’.

Similarly, what he affirms in the second conditional sentence he foreshadowed in

6 "But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.” ()

As those who have been made alive by the saving righteousness of God,

this is the audience for whom these words are meant for!

What they are by grace, will now be expressed in the way they live.

I want you to see this taught in a similar fashion else where in Scripture.

The next books are 1 & 2 Corinthians. Turn past them to Galatians.

7 "Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, 8 "because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” ()

Here we have the flesh and the Spirit set side by side again.

And we are being warned in v7 to not allow yourself to be led astray on this issue.

No one here is going to mock or scorn God with your sin.

One “reaps” in the age to come (“destruction” or “eternal life,” which is what’s in view in v. 8)

what one “sows” in this life

living to gratify the sinful flesh or

living to please the Spirit). As in 5:21, Paul is warning those who profess faith that their profession must be matched by, and their faith expressed in, appropriate deeds

living to please the Spirit.

Paul is warning those who profess faith that

their profession must be matched by, and

their faith expressed in, appropriate deeds.

9 "Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” ()

The believer, who has a certain or a fixed hope for him laid up in heaven

will persist in well doing!

Don’t lose heart believer! Press ON!!

But you see Paul’s words from popping out here in .

The connections between fleshly living and death and Spirit-driven living which leads to life.

Look at another connection of the same sort. Just a couple of books more: Gal, Eph, Phil, Colossians.

It’s put this way in: 3 "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” ()

So you life is hidden with Christ in God, so now what?

5 "Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.” ()

Since you died and your life is hidden with God in Christ now put to death these remaining roots of sin in your life!

Everyone today is either dead in sin or dead to sin!

Sin is no lighthearted matter.

It is crouching at our door and we must master it ().

It is dangerous to not fight sin.

It is a sobering fight that must not cease.

Fight your sin means a habitual weakening of the flesh through

constant fighting and contending in the Spirit

for sweet victory over sin.

It should be regular and progressive, not occasional and instant.

Fighting is not an end in itself or a way to make us more presentable to God.

We fight because we have been made presentable in Christ.

The action we are to take is to put to death the misdeeds of the body ().

Paul uses the same expression in another book: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature” ().

What does the expression put to death mean? The King James Version uses the term mortify.

According to the bible dictionaries, mortify means “to destroy the strength, vitality, or functioning of; to subdue or deaden.”

To put to death the misdeeds of the body, then, is to destroy the

strength and vitality of sin as it tries to reign in our bodies.

It must be clear to us that mortification, though it is something we do,

cannot be carried out in our own strength.

Well did the Puritan John Owen say, “Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness is the soul and substance of all false religion.” Mortification must be done by the strength and under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Because there’s also a mortification from a self-strength.

Why? Because self, carried on by ways of self-invention, leads to a self-righteousness is

the soul and substance of all false religion.

Mortification must be done by the strength and under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

So may God’s Spirit give us a clear and abiding sense upon our minds and consciences

of the guilt, danger and evil of that sin that ensnares us.

See the guilt of your sin beloved. Don’t justify or rationalize or make excuses for you sin.

Own up to it!!!

“Ah…I’m not sinning that bad, at least compared to so and so!”

The mind is diverted countless way from ever having a right and due apprehension of sin guilt.

11 "Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away one’s understanding.” ()

Being promiscuous with sin, flirting and playing with sin takes away your ability to judge and think clearly!

In the instruction focuses upon how the simple are caught up in adultery:

7 "I saw among the inexperienced, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking sense.” ()

And because he lacked sense, he wasn’t able to see this:

23 "until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a snare— he doesn’t know it will cost him his life.” ()

Don’t be like the naive and simple described in Scripture! It led to their death!

This is how we are supposed to think. Consider this brothers and sisters.

At conversion grace is given to us and is now part and parcel to the Christian life! Sin won’t have its dominion over you anymore.

Yet, the guilt of your sin that still abides and still remains is aggravated and heightened because of this grace.

1 "What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 "Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” ()

The emphasis is on the word “we”. “How shall WE, that are dead?”

How shall WE sin like that? How shall WE, who are described as receiving grace upon grace from Christ to live contrary to our sin?

With out a doubt we are more evil than any to continue on in sin, and to sin against more

love,

mercy,

grace,

relief, and

deliverances

than others.

Let that line of thought give to you a clear sense of the guilt of the indwelling sinful desires that still remain in you.

Clear the excuses out of your closet! When we openly sin, guilt breaks in upon our hearts!

WOW! What about when you read those words in speaking to the church!

Christ travels with us to the roots of our sin and He’s carrying the axe and Christ lays aside our profession (v17) “I know your works...” BAM!

Let those words sink in, next time you talk about someone behind their backs, then see them in church and give them a hug and say good morning.

And Christ stops you after that hug and brings to your mind: I KNOW YOUR WORKS!!! I KNOW YOU!!!

Secondly briefly consider the danger of sin.

Consider the fact that the deceit that is woven into sin has a hardening effect upon your heart.

12 "Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 "But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.” ()

“WATCH OUT”!! the writer says! Take any means necessary, watch ever so diligently!!!

Because there is a treacherous deceit in sin that will harden your heart from fearing God!

Sin’s current all flows toward blocking up and obstructing your heart!

Every disease of sin and lust, all make progress towards this hardening.

You know what I’m talking about.

Some of you used to be sensitive and tender while under the preaching of God’s Word.

You’d melt under it. Some are taken over by the root bitterness that now you’re sermon proof!

Oh my… a stoutness falls over you and you’re no longer moved or stirred up by God’s Word.

‘I prayed the prayer so now I’m assured that God loves me now!’

But the realities are still the same whether you’re moved or not:

You’re still

going into the presence of God.

going to die and appear before Him.

These thoughts are designed to move you!

You’re still going to have your soul & sin spoken of and spoken to by God… and you’re not affected!

This enables many of you to pass over duties like

praying,

hearing and doing what God says,

reading …

and your heart still isn’t affected!

Sin will grow into such a light thing to you that you’ll do it and not give any heed to it.

People who take their sins lightly also take

grace, mercy, and the blood of Christ, heaven and hell lightly too!

WATCH OUT! Because this is what your particular sins are working in you towards, the

hardening of your heart

searing of the conscience,

blinding the mind,

shunting your affection for God,

sin works towards deceiving the whole soul.

Sin is no lighthearted matter.

Sin is no lighthearted matter.

It is crouching at our door and we must master it ().

It is dangerous to not fight sin.

It is a sobering fight that must not cease.

Fight your sin means a habitual weakening of the flesh through

constant fighting and contending in the Spirit

for sweet victory over sin.

It should be regular and progressive, not occasional and instant.

Fighting is not an end in itself or a way to make us more presentable to God.

We fight because we have been made presentable in Christ.