Romans 8:12-17: How to Not Sin

Romans 8:13.. "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."

In Romans 8, Paul is discussing the issue of sanctification (sanctification = growing in Christlikness). In chapter 7, we saw how the law cannot sanctify. In chapter 8, we see that the Spirit can sanctify. However, the Spirit does not sactify us without us doing our part. We must not only have the Holy Spirit to be sanctified, but live according to the Spirit to be sanctified. This is Paul's argument in Romans 8:12-17.

But how do we live according to the Spirit? Look at Paul's words in verse 13: "but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body." To live according to the Spirit is to kill sin. In fact, if we are living the Christian life with the Spirit within us, yet we are not actively killing sin by the Spirit, then then God's Spirit dwelling within us is useless (how's that for a bold statement on a Saturday morning??). Therefore, we ought to not sin by living according to the Spirit, and not the flesh.

However, there is even more of a foundation that Paul gives us in order to live according to the Spirit. How can we also live according to the Spirit? Because we do not have to fear, because God has adopted us as sons (v. 15). What does this mean? What is Paul trying to get at here? It means that God has taken us out of the family of death and into the family of life, and that we can therefore obey God because we are no longer strangers, but sons. We can live according ot the Spirit and obey God's laws not because we are afraid of his condemnation, but because we empowered by his love. We have been rescued from the evil family of sin and death, and ransomed to the righteous family, God's family, of life.

However, there is even one more piece of information that Paul gives us in order to live according to the Spirit (and therefore not sin). In verse 17, Paul speaks of us as "heirs of God and fellow heirs [or co-heirs] of Christ." What does this mean? We hear of this often, but why? Why is this important? Ultimately, being heirs of God means that we will inherit all that Christ has already inherited, and this gives us a hope for our obedience, knowing that it is not in vain.

Sidenote: For one example of this "co-heirship" with Christ, let us consider both Christ's and our position before God. In Ephesians 1:20, we find that God raised Christ "from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places." But if we are "fellow heirs" of Christ as Romans 8 tells us, would we not expect the same thing of us? Surely. Ephesians 2:6 says of those who are saved that God has "raised us up with [Christ] and seated us with him in the heavenly place in Christ Jesus." The same exact phrase of Christ is referenced to us as well. Surely we are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, praise the Lord all the more!!

So, are you living according to the Spirit and putting to death the things of the body, that is, the flesh? Are you using the Spirit that God has given you, or are you "grieving the Spirit of God" (Eph. 4:30)? Beloved, let your obedience be fueled by God's Spirit, as well as your adoption and heirship in God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!