Romans 8:13, commentary and pictures

Those under obligation to God owe nothing to the lower nature that would rule their living, for following that nature ends in death while putting its practices to death by the Spirit brings life. To follow that nature is to let appetite, passion, tongue and taste govern as they govern the unbelieving world, making self the object of worship while fleshly cravings war against the soul and uncorrected tendencies lead to ruin. To put its practices to death is to refuse their affections and lusts and bring the body under a higher power, with passion controlled by a will itself governed by God and reason ruling through divine grace, becoming dead to self and temper until character is in harmony with heaven. That life comes only by the Spirit's power enabling resistance to sin and victory over every sin from least to greatest, not by trusting self but by trusting in Christ as the only hope and abiding in Him without self-importance and without taking credit to self. It belongs to those led as sons of God who have received the spirit of adoption and cry Abba, Father, with the Spirit witnessing that they are children and heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, an experience entered when the law exposes sin and the sinner finds deliverance from its power through Jesus Christ.

Meaning of Death and Life

Believers are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh, for to live after the flesh is death, but to put to death the deeds of the body through the Spirit is life. That life through the Spirit is power to resist sin and to live so as to reflect Christ. Mere theory of truth and partial confession cannot save, but conversion is proved by Christ in the life in whole-hearted service, unselfish actions, kindly words, and brotherly love.

To live after the flesh is to let the sensual appetites and passions rule the being, to let tongue and taste run as do those of the unbelieving world, making self the idol worshiped. It is to indulge fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Unchecked physical tendencies and passions left uncorrected by a higher rule lead to ruin and death, and men need to awake to this warning and examine faith and hope by the Word of God with fear rather than high-minded confidence.

To put to death the deeds of the body is to refuse their affections and lusts, turning from wrongdoing and doing what is right, for profession without ceasing from sin does not make one a follower of Christ. It is to bring the body under a higher power, with the passions controlled by the will itself governed by God and reason ruling through divine grace.

In its setting this Spirit-given life belongs to those who are led by the Spirit of God as the sons of God. They have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but the Spirit of adoption whereby they cry Abba, Father, with the Spirit itself bearing witness with their spirit that they are the children of God. If children then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, suffering with Him that they may be also glorified together, for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in them.

This Spirit-led life belongs to the repentant sinner's experience in which the law exposes sin and the conflict between the inward desire to obey God and the power of sin. The law thus leads to recognition of Christ as the remedy for sin, with deliverance and thanksgiving through Jesus Christ our Lord. Then the Spirit leads into the life of God's children, away from living according to the flesh unto death into putting the body's sinful deeds to death unto life.

Victory Through the Spirit

Life through the Spirit is given only by the Spirit's power, which enables resistance to sin and a life that reflects Christ. The Holy Spirit puts away sinful actions, working to destroy sin and to keep from sinning those who submit to that power. By that power every sin from the least to the greatest may be overcome.

This requires not trusting in self but trusting in Christ Jesus as the only hope. Satan tries to hold his victory, but God is stronger. Those who receive Christ are given power to become the sons of God, clearing away rubbish from the experience and learning lessons that endure through time and eternity, with the heart fixed in trust in the Lord instead of wavering like a slender willow moved to and fro by every breeze.

Mortifying the deeds of the body through the Spirit is done by abiding in Christ. It puts away all self-importance and takes not one jot of credit to self. It lifts up the crucified Saviour in thought and talk and praises and magnifies His name. Those who thus abide reveal Him in character, becoming channels through which light is communicated and workers together with God, and they shall live.

Natural tendencies left uncorrected by the Holy Spirit lead to moral death. To live after the flesh is to allow the sensual appetites to rule the being, and that course ends in death, while to put to death the deeds of the body through the Spirit brings life. Only the life-giving power of the gospel can remedy souls enfeebled by selfish, degrading passions. Connection with God is needed to resist self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. The aid of the Great Physician is needed to restore the moral image of God in man, the healing fountain is opened before humanity, there is help in God for all to lay hold of, and all the quickening, life-giving power of the Holy Spirit is needed to do this work.

Putting to death the deeds of the body means becoming dead to self and overcoming carnal desires, passions, and an unsubdued temper. Trials humble and transform character until a person is in harmony with Christ and the spirit of heaven. The verse is a warning to awaken from carnal security and to examine faith and hope by the Word of God, not with high-minded confidence but with fear. To live after the flesh is to allow the appetites and passions of the flesh to rule, to let tongue and taste run as do those of the unbelieving world, making self the idol worshiped. Mere profession without the vital principles of truth leaves the lamp without oil and unready for life.

Families are called to read Romans 8 and to examine family life and conduct in light of the choices leading to life or death, seeking converting power. Believers are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh: if they live after the flesh they shall die, but if through the Spirit they mortify the deeds of the body they shall live. Mere theory of truth and partial confession cannot save. Conversion must be proved by Christ in the life, shown in whole-heart service to God by unselfish actions, kindly words, and brotherly love preferring one another, turning from wrongdoing and doing what is right. Mortifying those deeds includes refusing their affections and lusts, and profession of Christ without ceasing from wrongdoing does not make someone His follower.

The deeds to be put to death include lustful self-indulgence that sacrifices physical strength and reason on the altar of lust. Mere profession of Christ while the heart is withheld and the commandments are disobeyed will not be accepted. Continuing in this wrong course is self-murder as surely as shooting oneself, only slower. It gradually destroys vital force, constitution, mental faculties and health, destroys comfort, violates conscience, curses the earth with enfeebled influence, stumbles sinners, and brings sorrow and anxiety to friends who watch the decay. Such gradual destroyers suffer the penalty in this life, and without thorough repentance will be shut out of heaven no sooner than those who kill themselves instantly, because cause is joined to effect and fearful consequences follow even the least violation of law. The inhabitants of heaven are perfect because the will of God is their joy and supreme delight.