“12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.”
Paul says that those who are saved by Jesus have no obligation to the flesh, that is, we are no longer bound to our old unrighteous living. That way of life no longer holds any power over us. Why aren’t we obligated to the flesh? Isn’t this how God made us? Shouldn’t we be true to who we are? Paul says no, and his answer is simple: “If you live according to the flesh, you are going to die.” (v. 13a) The flesh is broken. Sinners are not who God created us to be, we were created to be obedient children, ascribing honor and glory to our God the Creator. Sin, through the flesh, has ruined what God originally created us to be. Our flesh is sinful, and sin leads to death. We should have no obligation to that which will ultimately kill us. Paul includes a solution to our problem, “But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (v. 13b) So the answer then, is this: put to death the deeds of the body. Literally, put to death that which brings death. How do we do this? Live in accordance with the spirit. An example of what it looks like to live as a new man or woman in Christ is recorded for us by Paul in his letter to the Colossians.
“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.” — Colossians 3:1-10
Notice that Paul says we are to set our minds on the things above, that is, on God who reigns from heaven! When we set our mind on God, who saved us, and truly desire to honor and obey Him, we must rid ourselves of every kind of fleshly desire. We must put to death every part of our sinful nature.
Why live by the Spirit? In doing so, not only will we avoid certain death, but also because those who are led by the Spirit receive status as the sons of God.
“But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.” — John 1:12-13
“for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.” — Galatians 3:26
“So now, little children, remain in him so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know this as well: Everyone who does what is right has been born of him. See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children — and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.” — 1 John 2:28-3:1
“Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars — their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”” — Revelation 21:5-8