“Brothers, We Are Under Obligation”

You can learn a lot about people by the way they talk.

People who have been apprehended by the grace of God talk about Jesus, love, and faith. They use words like “favor,” “freedom,” “rest,” “righteousness,” and “life.”

In contrast, those who bear the heavy yoke of dead religion speak of sin, debt, and obligation. They use words like “duty,” “strive, “command,” “penalty,” and “punish.”

The keywords of grace and law are easy to recognize, for they are the languages of two tribes, the old and new creation. A believer who is walking in their identity as a child of God is easily recognized because they do not talk like a slave of sin. They have learned to speak the new language of the new creation.

Which makes it all the more curious that Paul, the apostle of grace, should say this:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation… (Romans 8:12)

For those of us who speak the language of grace, this is a jarring statement. “We have an obligation.” What obligation? Some Bible translations say, “We are debtors.” What debt?

How can the man who said “Owe no one anything” in Romans 13, speak of debts and obligations in Romans 8? If forgiveness means the cancelation of debts, what debt remains?

As we will see, Paul is saying something good and inspiring. But first, let’s look at how some misuse this verse to promote dead works:

We are debtors to God who have been called to live in a holy way. We cannot sit around and merely receive God’s gifts. We are obliged to say no to the flesh and put it to death.

This sounds true because Paul talks about putting to death the deeds of the body in the next verse. But it’s totally wrong in the sense that it shackles you with this idea that you owe God and you can repay him through proper living.

In the economy of grace, there are no debts to be repaid, and you are not obligated to repay God for his kindness (as if you could).

It’s an invitation

In this obligation verse, Paul is calling us to walk in the new life that God has given us. Just as a bird must fly and a fish must swim, the children of God are called to shine as sons of God (see verse 14). You were a pauper but now you’re a prince, so act like one. Those in Christ are royalty, so reign.

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh… (Romans 8:12)

Don’t look at your old life with any sense of obligation or nostalgia. There is nothing for you back there. Your only “obligation” is to embrace the freedom that Christ Jesus purchased for you.

Do you see? Paul is not holding some debt over our heads; he’s calling us to live the life that is ours in Christ.

God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” (Romans 8:14–15, MSG)

But wait. This is not the only time Paul talks about obligation:

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. (Romans 1:14)

Here’s another verse that can be hijacked to promote dead works. “Look what Jesus did for you. What will you do for him?”

Our religious flesh loves this kind of talk. “I’ll do anything for you, Lord.” But fall for this and you will fall from grace. You’ll come under the condemnation of the law. “If you’re not witnessing to at least one person a week, you’re not a real Christian.”

Yuk. When we hear stuff like that, we need to remind ourselves that we are NOT under obligation to the flesh – especially not religious flesh.

Compelled by love

Why did Paul feel obliged to preach the gospel to Greeks and barbarians? He felt obliged for the same reason parents feel “obliged” to nurture their children or husbands and wives feel “obliged” to care for one other. They can’t help it. They are motivated by love, and it is their very great pleasure to serve.

God did not demand, require or obligate Paul to preach the gospel, for grace comes with no price tags. It was the love of Christ that compelled Paul to tell others the good news. He did not care whether he was preaching to civilized Greeks or illiterate barbarians, intellectual giants or provincial bumpkins. He just wanted people to know that God loved them.

Again, it’s the bird and fish thing. We children of God do what we do because we are the children of God. We don’t run after sin (it’s not in our nature), but we shine with the Father’s love (because it is in our nature). As new creations, we have new instincts, new desires, new dreams.

So rest, relax, breathe. You have no debt to repay and there’s no obligation you must fulfill. There is no expectation that you must be another Paul or that you must do this or that. There’s just a glorious opportunity to exercise your God-given gifts and be who you truly are in Christ.

When you are resting in Christ and basking in your Father’s love, you will shine with the light of his glory. It’s inevitable.

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