We're Under Obligation

[Christsfreeservant]

“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.” (Romans 8:12-17 ESV)​

Now, one of the biggest ways in which deception is being taught and accepted as truth today, is they take these Scriptures, and they remove them out of their appropriate context, and they make them say what they do not say if taught in the correct biblical context. And I gave one example of this in the previous writing, “Setting Your Minds on The Flesh.” For many people read, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” and they stop there, and they create their own doctrine of salvation, absent of the teachings of the verses that followed that.

And we have a similar situation with this grouping of Scriptures, too. They ignore verses 12-14, which define for us those who are truly in Christ Jesus, and they, thus, misquote verses 15-17, out of context, and they apply this to everyone who claims that they believe in Jesus Christ. They do a similar thing with John 10:27-30. They omit verse 27, which tells us who the following promises apply to, and they apply the promises of God in verses 28-30 to anyone who claims faith in Jesus Christ. But all God’s promises have conditions, and we need to know who these promises apply to.

And “they” are all who are teaching false doctrines of salvation based off Scripture verses which they remove from their biblical context, and which they then twist and make them say what they do not say if taught in the correct biblical context. And this is being done much these days. And many people are buying into the lies, for the lies make them feel good, and the lies do not require of them what God requires of them. For the lies give people permission to keep living in sin and in disobedience to God while they promise them forgiveness of all sins and heaven as their eternal destiny.

So, what do verses 12-17 teach us, in truth? We are debtors. We are people who owe something to another, who are under obligation to another. We have a duty, a responsibility, a commitment which we are required to fulfill. But our obligation and our duty is not to the flesh, to live according to our sinful flesh, doing whatever our sinful hearts desire. FOR, if we live (in conduct, in practice, in lifestyle) according to our sinful flesh, we will die. And this is speaking of spiritual death. If sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, we will not inherit eternal life with God, but we will die.

BUT, if by the Spirit, in the power of the Spirit of God, who lives within those of us who are of genuine biblical faith in Jesus Christ, we are actively putting to death the deeds (works) of the flesh (our sin natures), then we will live with Christ for eternity (see Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Matthew 7:21-23). FOR, it is all who are being led by the Spirit of God who are the true children of God. And if it is the Spirit of God who is leading us, and so we are following him, then we will be those who are dying to sin each day and who are following the Lord in walks of surrender and in obedience to the Lord.

Is it true that we are saved by grace, and not of our own doing? YES! But, the grace of God, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (See Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:8-10)

Therefore, verses 15-17 must be in agreement with verses 1-14. We must be those who, by faith in Jesus Christ, and in the power of God living within us, are no longer walking (in conduct, in practice) according to our sinful flesh, but who are now living (in lifestyle) according to (in agreement with) the Spirit of God. Our minds must be set on God, and not on the flesh. For to set the mind on the flesh is death. No longer are we to be living our lives according to our sinful flesh, practicing sin, for if we do, we will die, and we will not inherit eternal life with God. So we need to live to obey God.

Gospel:[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

For, what does it say in verse 17? “Provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” And how did Jesus suffer? He put our sins to death with him on that cross so that we can now die with him to sin and walk in obedience to his commands. And so we need to die to sin, and walk in obedience to him, which is the first phase of our suffering. And, as we follow Jesus Christ with our lives, and we are being led by the Spirit of God, we will suffer persecutions, rejections, false accusations, and all kinds of oppositions, even from some others who profess faith in the Lord Jesus.

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 10:16-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 17:14; Romans 5:3-5; Philippians 3:7-11; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-17; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; Hebrews 12:3-12; 1 John 3:13; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

Caution: This link may contain ads

We’re Under Obligation
An Original Work / August 22, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

[timothyu]

And, as we follow Jesus Christ with our lives, and we are being led by the Spirit of God, we will suffer persecutions, rejections, false accusations, and all kinds of oppositions, even from some others who profess faith in the Lord Jesus.

Simply because they prefer the will of man

 

[Christsfreeservant]

Simply because they prefer the will of man

Sadly true

 

[eleos1954]

“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.” (Romans 8:12-17 ESV)​

Now, one of the biggest ways in which deception is being taught and accepted as truth today, is they take these Scriptures, and they remove them out of their appropriate context, and they make them say what they do not say if taught in the correct biblical context. And I gave one example of this in the previous writing, “Setting Your Minds on The Flesh.” For many people read, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” and they stop there, and they create their own doctrine of salvation, absent of the teachings of the verses that followed that.

And we have a similar situation with this grouping of Scriptures, too. They ignore verses 12-14, which define for us those who are truly in Christ Jesus, and they, thus, misquote verses 15-17, out of context, and they apply this to everyone who claims that they believe in Jesus Christ. They do a similar thing with John 10:27-30. They omit verse 27, which tells us who the following promises apply to, and they apply the promises of God in verses 28-30 to anyone who claims faith in Jesus Christ. But all God’s promises have conditions, and we need to know who these promises apply to.

And “they” are all who are teaching false doctrines of salvation based off Scripture verses which they remove from their biblical context, and which they then twist and make them say what they do not say if taught in the correct biblical context. And this is being done much these days. And many people are buying into the lies, for the lies make them feel good, and the lies do not require of them what God requires of them. For the lies give people permission to keep living in sin and in disobedience to God while they promise them forgiveness of all sins and heaven as their eternal destiny.

So, what do verses 12-17 teach us, in truth? We are debtors. We are people who owe something to another, who are under obligation to another. We have a duty, a responsibility, a commitment which we are required to fulfill. But our obligation and our duty is not to the flesh, to live according to our sinful flesh, doing whatever our sinful hearts desire. FOR, if we live (in conduct, in practice, in lifestyle) according to our sinful flesh, we will die. And this is speaking of spiritual death. If sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, we will not inherit eternal life with God, but we will die.

BUT, if by the Spirit, in the power of the Spirit of God, who lives within those of us who are of genuine biblical faith in Jesus Christ, we are actively putting to death the deeds (works) of the flesh (our sin natures), then we will live with Christ for eternity (see Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Matthew 7:21-23). FOR, it is all who are being led by the Spirit of God who are the true children of God. And if it is the Spirit of God who is leading us, and so we are following him, then we will be those who are dying to sin each day and who are following the Lord in walks of surrender and in obedience to the Lord.

Is it true that we are saved by grace, and not of our own doing? YES! But, the grace of God, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (See Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:8-10)

Therefore, verses 15-17 must be in agreement with verses 1-14. We must be those who, by faith in Jesus Christ, and in the power of God living within us, are no longer walking (in conduct, in practice) according to our sinful flesh, but who are now living (in lifestyle) according to (in agreement with) the Spirit of God. Our minds must be set on God, and not on the flesh. For to set the mind on the flesh is death. No longer are we to be living our lives according to our sinful flesh, practicing sin, for if we do, we will die, and we will not inherit eternal life with God. So we need to live to obey God.

Gospel:[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

For, what does it say in verse 17? “Provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” And how did Jesus suffer? He put our sins to death with him on that cross so that we can now die with him to sin and walk in obedience to his commands. And so we need to die to sin, and walk in obedience to him, which is the first phase of our suffering. And, as we follow Jesus Christ with our lives, and we are being led by the Spirit of God, we will suffer persecutions, rejections, false accusations, and all kinds of oppositions, even from some others who profess faith in the Lord Jesus.

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 10:16-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 17:14; Romans 5:3-5; Philippians 3:7-11; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-17; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; Hebrews 12:3-12; 1 John 3:13; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

Caution: This link may contain ads

We’re Under Obligation
An Original Work / August 22, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

"s it true that we are saved by grace, and not of our own doing? YES! "

It's through grace through FAITH