“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.”
Once again, we must look at the context of this verse to see what the ‘therefore’ is there for. In verse 11, Paul reminds us of how the Spirit lives in us, with all the power that was manifested in Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Because of this indwelling, we have an obligation to allow the Spirit to freely operate in our lives. We are no longer under any obligation to indulge the sin nature. We have a choice.
Even though the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is given to all believers, this is not something to be taken lightly. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not something that any believer in the Old Testament was able to experience. They received salvation by faith in anticipation of Christ’s work on the cross, but their sin was not paid for until that day. They had not been spiritually cleansed, and so the Holy Spirit could not dwell in them in the same way that He dwells inside us. Our sin has been completely dealt with, so that the Holy Spirit is able to make His dwelling in our hearts. His presence within is a great treasure of infinite value. He deserves the effort it takes on our part to allow Him to work in and through our lives.
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