Romeinen 8:12

12 Zo dan, broeders, wij zijn schuldenaars niet aan het vlees, om naar het vlees te leven.

Romeinen 8:12 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 8:12

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors
The appellation, "brethren", is not used, because they were so by nation or by blood, though many in the church at Rome were Jews; nor merely in a free familiar way of speaking; but rather on account of church membership, and especially because they were in the same spiritual relation to God and Christ: and the use of it by the apostle, shows his great humility and condescension, and his love and affection for them, and is designed to engage their attention and regard to what he was about to say, to them and of them; as that they were "debtors"; which is to be understood of them not as sinners, who as such had been greatly in debt, and had nothing to pay, and were liable to the prison of hell; for no mere creature could ever have paid off their debts; but Christ has done it for them, and in this sense they were not debtors: but they were so as saints, as men freed from condemnation and death; which doctrine of Christian liberty is no licentious one; it does not exempt from obedience, but the more and greater the favours are which such men enjoy, the more obliged they are to be grateful and obey; they are debtors, or trader obligation,

not to the flesh,
to corrupt nature,

to live after the flesh,
the dictates of that; nor should they be, both on God's account, since that is enmity to him, and is not subject to his law; and on their own account, because it is an enemy to them, brings reproach on them, and exposes them to death; but though it is not expressed, it is understood, that they are debtors to God; to God the Father, both as the God of nature, and of grace, as their covenant God and Father in Christ, who has blessed them with all spiritual blessings in him; to Christ himself, who has redeemed them by his blood: and to the Spirit of God who is in them, and for what he has been, is, and will be to them.

Romeinen 8:12 In-Context

10 En indien Christus in ulieden is, zo is wel het lichaam dood om der zonden wil; maar de geest is leven om der gerechtigheid wil.

11 En indien de Geest Desgenen, Die Jezus uit de doden opgewekt heeft, in u woont, zo zal Hij, Die Christus uit de doden opgewekt heeft, ook uw sterfelijke lichamen levend maken, door Zijn Geest, Die in u woont.

12 Zo dan, broeders, wij zijn schuldenaars niet aan het vlees, om naar het vlees te leven.

13 Want indien gij naar het vlees leeft, zo zult gij sterven; maar indien gij door den Geest de werkingen des lichaams doodt, zo zult gij leven.

14 Want zovelen als er door den Geest Gods geleid worden, die zijn kinderen Gods.