"Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it" (Romans 8:12)

Did you know that our obligation to the Lord stems out of love. We have a love debt with the Lord because of everything he has done for us. In verse 15 of the very same chapter, Paul tells us that we received 'the Spirit of sonship', not a spirit that makes us slaves again to fear ( Romans 8:15 ). So in today's verse Paul is simply reminding us that we do have an obligation, but it is not an responsibility ground in our previous nature, it is an obligation to our new nature in Christ Jesus.

In our previous study of Romans we learned that we have been completely freed of the sin nature. This freedom exists in our born again spirit. Paul told us that experiencing this freedom in our natural self is a choice. "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" ( Romans 6:16 ). Through Christ, we are not obligated to obey the desires of the sin nature, it should have no authority over us.

If what Paul says is true, then why, as Christians do we struggle so intensely with this. One of the reasons I believe is because we haven't fully understood everything that the Lord provided for us in our redemption. Maybe we've read these truths but we haven't let them soak into our brains and become foundation. I was praying about this the other morning and I got a picture in my mind of this very thing. I saw a person in heaven, clothed like royalty. And in the same instance I saw this person on earth bound and hog tied to the ground and they were immobile by these bonds. It was the very same person in two different states at the very same time. As Christians, this could be true of us if we don't understand how to live by the spirit. In the spiritual realm we have been blessed with all blessings in Christ. We are sons and daughters of the most high God. We are raised up and seated in the heavily realms with Christ Jesus. And yet on earth, we experience multiply things that hold us in constantly in chains, unable to break free. What is reality? The world would tell you that it is your physical existence. But the Bible tells us that it is your spiritual existence that trumps the natural realm. That is why Jesus provided everything for you in your born again spirit. To experience this freedom, Paul tells in today's passage that our obligation is not to live according to the sinful nature, because we belong to Christ. We are his heirs, his people and his royal priesthood. He gave us the Holy Spirit to testify to this very fact.

It is easy to get wrapped up in the world around us, but we have a choice in how we will respond to all of these things. In my own life, discouragement will keep me passive and ineffective. Things people say to me, even well meaning people, tend to make me immobile. I take their words and ponder them and play on them until they become hindrances to me. To break free of this vicious cycle I have to stop thinking on those things and turn my mind towards heavenly things. Paul said, "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you" ( Philippians 4:8-9 ). Sometimes it takes a conscious effort to take the focus off the situation or self and turn it where it belongs, on the Lord. Remember, our obligation is not according to the flesh, but to the spirit. Paul said, when you do these things, then you will experience the peace of God. Even if you are experiencing turmoil in your life, you can also experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. It is yours for the taking and it is a natural byproduct of your born again spirit. But it takes effort on your part to experience in your natural state.

The writer of Hebrews gave the most amazing piece of advice concerning this. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" ( Hebrews 12:1-3 ). If you really want to experience the victory in life then start throwing off everything that hinders you. It may be painful at first, but once you realize how fast you can run without all the extra baggage you will be looking for chains to remove. Our obligation isn't to the sinful nature, but it is to Christ. When we focus on him and his example then the perfect goal lays before us. Remember Jesus as your example. If he would have gotten bogged down in the natural realm then he would never had undergone the pain and suffering of the cross. But he could see past that and look forward with joy at what he was going to do. Think about this as you run your race and run in such a way to win! Amen.

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"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you" (Romans 8:11)

No matter what you are going through in life, you can be confident in the Lord because he has made you sweet and precious promises through his word. As Christians it is important to understand the spiritual truths of God. What he says about you, what he has provided you, how he loves you... so you can understand what is yours by birthright in God's family through Jesus Christ. Did you know that you are so much more than flesh and blood if the Spirit of the God lives inside of you? Your natural existence is secondary to your spiritual existence. Jesus said in John, "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life" ( John 6:63 ).The spirit inside of you is life, understanding how this operates will give you the victory that Christ purchased for you.

The spiritual is far superior is every way. The spiritual side always trumps the natural realm, that is why Jesus provided everything for you in the spiritual realm. He wanted to make sure that His promises were eternal and everlasting. Once they exist in spiritual form, then by release they will overflow into the natural physical realm and you will see results. There is evidence of this truth throughout the entire scriptures, look at creation as an example of this. Jesus spoke the world into existence. The words he spoke were spiritual, they existed before the physical creation came into being and His words formed the world as we know it. In another example, Peter tells us that Jesus was the lamb slain before the foundation of the world ( I Peter 1:20 ). So our salvation and propitiation for sin was secure before the world was ever created, but the physical manifestation of this redemptive act happened when Jesus came into the world and die on the cross for us. The spiritual gives birth to the physical. Understanding this truth and acting accordingly will propel your life into victory.

In today's passage, Paul tells us that you have the very same spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead living inside of you as born again believers. This is an amazing revelation! Ephesians chapter 1 gives us more detail on this truth, "...and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come" ( Ephesians 1:19-21 ). Did you know that the grave could not hold Jesus? The darkness tried to keep hold him, but this power that raised him from the dead was so great that it could do nothing but release him. Up through the heavenly realm Jesus ascended triumphing over every power, authority and dominion that tried to hold him in darkness and was seated as first born from the dead at the right hand of the father in heaven. And you have also been seated in the heavenly realm with Christ Jesus. "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" ( Ephesians 2:6 ). Meaning that this has already happened in the spiritual realm, it is a done deal. And if it is done in the spirit then it can be done in the physical because we have learned that the spiritual side always trumps the physical side of things.

Paul wrote an encouraging word in today's passage, "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." ( Romans 8:11 ). Paul is stressing the incomparable victory that we have in Jesus. We are alive in every way! If the Spirit of God raised Christ from the dead, then that very same spirit who lives inside of us will also give live to our mortal bodies. It is already done in the spiritual realm and we also experience this in the natural realm because our redemption was so complete and eternal through Christ Jesus. Paul was so convinced and assured of this that he wrote at the end of this chapter that he was convince that nothing was able to separate us from the love that was in Christ Jesus ( Romans 8:37-39 ). Why was he convince? Because he saw what had already been accomplished for us by Jesus. He knew that if it existed in the spiritual realm then it would exist in the natural as well. This is why we were given a new born again spirit at the time we were saved, because this became our guarantee of the sweet and precious promises of God. Jesus wanted to make sure we had everything that was promised and provided for us and that these things would never be taken away from us.

So today, no matter what you are going through in life, you can rest assured by faith that you have victory in Christ. These things have been provided for you. And if they've been provided for you, then they are yours for the taking. Paul said in II Corinthians 4, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal ( II Corinthians 4:16-18 ). This is the key, understanding that the troubles of this world are light and momentary, but by fixing our eyes on what we do not see then we will release this life giving, death raising power that lives on the inside of us. Today, it is my prayer that you understand that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives inside of you and this spirit has been provide for you to operate in that very same power. Today, I pray that you start focusing on what is eternal and what is yours in Christ Jesus and let it overflow into the natural realm. Amen!

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