Romanos 8:12

DISCOURSE: 1867
GOD’S DWELLING IN US IS A MOTIVE TO HOLINESS

Romanos 8:12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

IN the Scriptures, privilege and duty are inseparably connected. By this means we are kept at an equal distance from presumptuous confidence and painful servility; and the best feelings of the soul are rendered subservient to our eternal welfare. This observation is verified, as in many other passages [Note: Romanos 12:1 and 1 Coríntios 6:20. with the two verses preceding the text.], so particularly in that before us; which is a conclusion from very important premises.

We propose to consider,

I. The grounds of the conclusion—

Believers have God himself dwelling in them—
[God is here represented as a Triune God [Note: The Father raised Christ: Christ dwells in all believers at the same instant: and the Holy Ghost will raise the saints at the last day. Can any one of these be less than God? Their distinction and equality may be further proved from Mateus 28:19. It is observable also that in ver. 9. the Spirit of Christ is called the Spirit of God.]; and he dwells in all his believing people [Note: 2 Coríntios 6:16. 1 João 1:3 and 2 Coríntios 13:14. They do not indeed pretend to distinguish the agency of one of these divine persons from that of another (for indeed no one of these persons acts separately from the others) but they exercise faith on the Father, as their protector and governor; on the Son, as their mediator and advocate; and on the Spirit, as their guide and comforter.]. This is a most inestimable privilege to them [Note: Far greater than that mentioned 1 Reis 8:27.]

By means of this they enjoy the richest blessings—
[Their souls are quickened from their death in trespasses and sins, and, by a new principle of life infused into them, are enabled to live unto God: and this “life they have because of Christ’s righteousness” wrought out for them, and imputed to them. Their bodies also, though doomed to “death, as the penalty of sin,” “will be raised again by that very Spirit who now dwelleth in them:” and these shall participate with the soul the glory and felicity of the heavenly world.]

Such being the premises from which the conclusion is drawn, we proceed to consider,

II.

The conclusion itself—

We certainly are “debtors to the flesh” to a certain degree—
[The flesh cannot subsist without care and labour; and whatever is necessary for the preservation of life, or the restoration of our health, it is our bounden duty to do.]
But we are not debtors to obey its dictates—
[To “live after” the flesh, must import a consulting of its ease, a complying with its solicitations, a devoting of ourselves to its interests: to this extent we certainly are not debtors to the flesh.]
This may plainly be concluded, as from many other topics, so especially from the foregoing statement—
[The privileges vouchsafed to us strongly prohibit a carnal life. Can the Triune God, who dwells in us, be pleased with our living after the flesh? Is not the very intent of his mercies to bring us rather to live after the Spirit? The mercies too which we enjoy by means of those privileges, teach us the same divine lesson. The quickening of our spirit should lead us to “mind the things of the Spirit.” And the prospect of endless felicity and glory for the body should keep us from seeking its present gratifications to the destruction of its eternal interests. To whomsoever we are debtors, we are not (in this extent at least) debtors to the flesh.]

Infer—
1.

How mistaken are the world in their course of life!—

[The generality live as if they had nothing to do but to consult the flesh; and when exhorted to mind the concerns of their souls, reply immediately, “I must attend to the interests of my body.” But in thus opposing the declaration in the text, they will ruin their bodies as well as their souls for ever.]

2. How unmindful are even good people of their duty and interest!—

[The best of men find it difficult to “keep under their bodies;” and there are seasons when they are apt to yield to sloth or sensual indulgence: but let all remember their obligations and professions, and labour rather to pay what they owe to the Spirit.]