Romans 8:12-15
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Because we have been forgiven much, we should love God much in return. We owe Him our eternal lives and existence, so we must aim to follow after Jesus Christ in how we live. This desire to have Him transform us into the image of God in the face of Christ should motivate us to kill off the sinful actions and motives in us, which is our sanctification. If we are not led by God’s Spirit to do these things, we may not even be His children; if we are His, we are so guided along and so respond in lovingly obedience. We are freed from sin and adopted in Him, so we respect and obey our Father out of reciprocal love to please Him above all else, especially above the love of self-serving sin.
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