Romans 8:12 –Not indebted to the flesh

Consequently, then, brethren, debtors are we, not to the flesh, to be living in accord with flesh.

The statement that Paul makes here is a conclusion (“consequently then …”). It may be true that we are debtors, but that is not touched upon or stated here. Later we read (13: 8) that we would not owe anyone anything except to love one another.

It’s just that we don’t owe anything to the flesh. Paul counts believers as “not in the flesh” (: 9) because we are “in Christ Jesus” (: 1) and Christ (spiritually) is in us (: 10). Made one with Christ in his death and resurrection, we are on the other side of the grave. To walk in newness of life (6: 4).

“The flesh” is the generic term for man in his weakness, subject to the bondage of sin and death. We have been freed from that slavery and therefore do not owe anything to that existence. It cannot claim us, nor is there any obligation or law that requires that we live “according to the flesh”. As Paul stated earlier, we were sinners (5: 8). We no longer reckon with that, on the contrary, we live free and unconcerned for God!

Delen: