Monday, July 13, 2020

Comment on a Lectionary Reading: Romans 8:12–25

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. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:12–25

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Last time we were reminded of the glorious truth of the Gospel: no condemnation! Because of what Jesus has done we are set free from that consequence of sin. In this reading we encounter a necessary companion to this truth. We are freed from sin but we are not done with sin. The guilt is gone so the condemnation is gone. But sin remains with us.

 

Paul comments on our situation.
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…
It’s important to bear in mind that the apostle is writing this not to unbelievers but to Christians. He is calling us to be aware of a great danger. Living according to the flesh, living in a way that gives free rein to our sins, will result in death, the death of body and soul. This is a warning that we need to take very seriously.

Paul then offers the alternative.
…but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Life comes by means of dealing with our sin, by putting those sins to death, and that by the Spirit.

Paul is presenting us with a choice. It’s dealing with our sins to get rid of them or it’s letting those sins have their way in our lives. It’s life or death.

Now, I’m sure that this raises lots of questions, lots of really good questions that need really good answers. And there are really good answers. But before we even raise the questions, we need to grapple with the warning. The choices that we make - to live according to the flesh or to live according to the Spirit and thus put our sins to death - have great consequences. Our vigorous professions of faith notwithstanding, a failure to pursue this holy war against our sins will be fatal, eternally fatal. But the pursuit of it will result in a growing experience of life, real life, here and more so in the age to come.

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