We Have An Obligation

Romans 8:12-14,16: "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 . . . . The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."

Romans 8 begins with a wonderful celebration of God's gift of His very own Son as a sacrificial offering for the sin of man. Of course, this gift was demonstrated by Jesus Christ on a cross, where the very Son of God subjected Himself to a most horrific death in order that the righteous requirements of God's law might be FULLY met through Him. There was no way in which humanity was able to satisfy these requirements because each of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Thus it was only by God's death and resurrection that full atonement for our sin could be offered. We were not able to merit our own favor before the One True Holy Righteous God, and this necessitated God's intervention.

Still, we have an obligation in response to this incredible offering by the Lord. Scripture tells us that we are to renounce any allegiance to the old ways that we once followed in our dark days of of following our sinful nature. Through the power of the Holy Spirit that resides within the believer, we are to live in obedience to the will of the Lord, as we are surrendered to Him as our King. This "surrender" is counter of the sinful mind that is "hostile to God . . . not submitting to Him" (8:7). Still, the blessedness of this submission is life in the eternal presence of the One True God of all Splendor and Majesty (8:11).

For the one who would believe that he can be a Christian in name only and yet still live a life of sinful rebellion against the Lord is sadly mistaken in his understanding of true conversion. Scripture tells us that those who continue to worship the sinful nature through surrender to it do not have the Holy Spirit and thus do not have a personal relationship with Christ (8:9). These people, though they believe that they are redeemed, are destined for eternal death in hell.

Still there is hope for those who are still alive; they have the opportunity to yield themselves to the Lordship of Christ, receive His forgiveness for sin, and through the power of the Holy Spirit live lives of obedience to Him.