¹² So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— ¹³ for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Romans chapter 8 washes through the soul like fresh water in a hot desert. So much of life has been shackled by the spiritual law of God, holding us under guilt and parching our souls. But now, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are no longer “under obligation … to live according to the flesh.” The word “obligation” is more literally translated “debt.” When a person takes on a debt—a college loan, for example—for years he lives with a large monthly payment hanging over his head. Every month, unforgivingly, the debt must be paid. The Law was like a promissory note, required of all who fall short of the Law; it was a moral and spiritual debt laid to our account and hanging over us. But praise God the debt has been paid. He “canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col 2:14). We now owe nothing to the flesh; the Law has no claim on us. Christ has paid the debt.

Clearly Paul addresses Christians (“brethren”) in verse 12, but verse 13 seems to address those who could still be living according to the flesh, or at least the possibility of that. The question of living and dying is still an open issue. How can this be if Christians are justified and secure? The answer may be found in the observation that Paul often seems to be aware that his audience most likely contains some non-believers, and so he addresses warnings to them while encouraging believers. A few verses later, Paul writes, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom 8:16). The switch from the pronoun in “if you are living according to the flesh you must die” (vs. 13) to “we” (vs. 16) suggests that those who are spiritually dead are not part of the children of God. Remember that Jesus taught that there will always be unbelievers among the congregations of believers (see Matt 13:24-43).

While teaching about the security of believers in relationship to God, we must never give the impression this applies to everyone. False security will keep unbelievers from the true spiritual life God offers them. Security is found only in the companion truths that we have fallen short of the Law’s standard, but in grace God has justified the sinner through Jesus’ death. True believers have embraced that in faith, and now are no longer motivated by the Law’s judgment, but are living free in the Spirit. It remains for the unbelievers to submit to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, turn from their religious works and live.

Lord, I pray for the false believers among us to confess their sin and believe.