We Are Debtors!

Sermon Preached at
Green Brier Baptist Church
August 27, 2006


Romans 8:12-17 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. (13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Introduction: Paul begins here with the words, "Therefore... we are debtors." If you stop and think about it, we become debtors because we receive something. Often we do not receive full value for the obligations we incur, but not so in our dealings with God.

In the previous passage we are told that we have received (1) Release from Condemnation, (2) the righteousness of God, and (3) the resurrection life. The proof of this transaction is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. That is why we are debtors. Let’s look at my paraphrase of this passage.

12. Because of this, we are obligated to abstain from living according to our human nature.
13. Living according to our human nature only brings death, but life led by the spirit is our participation in the resurrection.
14. Only those people who are led by the Spirit of God are really His children.
15. For we are not timid as slaves, but the Spirit gives us confidence to be intimate with God as a child looks to his earthly father expecting the next blessing.
16. It is through this intimacy that God's Spirit confirms that we are truly his children.
17. We have confidence then, that we will possess the limitless treasure troll of God right along with Christ. Sharing his sufferings results in the sharing of His glory.

This passage speaks of the results of salvation in our lives. The debt that we owe must be repaid. Here, we look at not the why, but at the how, we are to repay the debt.

I. WE ARE DEBTORS! v.12-13

A. Because we have received priceless salvation.
B. To live by human nature brings death.

1. To return to the fallen condition.

a. impossible
b. caused God to send Jesus

2. We have received real life

II. WE ARE SPIRIT LED! v.14-17

A. Body is dead and the Spirit is life because of righteousness. v.13 (12)
B. God's children are spirit led. v.14
C. We have confidence that God will treat us right. v.15
D. We have this confidence because we are sure that we are His children. v.16
III. WE HAVE AN INHERITANCE! v.17

A. Suffering
B. Glory

Conclusion: Only those who will go through the valley of the shadow of death with Him will experience His glory. We look to pass from death unto life but life is received because we pass through death with Him.