A Crucial Contrast

The second half of Romans 8:13 is a contrast with its first half. It begins with the word “but.” The first half is an interruption in his thought. Paul starts in v. 12 to draw his extended argument in Romans 7 through Romans 8:11 to a conclusion. He starts to apply that teaching. He wants to make it clear that we have an obligation to live according to the Spirit, but he cannot let go of the implication of living according to the flesh. “So then,” he starts, “we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” (v. 12) We fully expect him to then say, “but to the Spirit, to live according to the Spirit.” But he doesn’t say that. He interrupts himself. He feels an urgent need to issue a warning, “if you live according to the flesh, you must die!” (v. 13a) He then resumes his thought, but in different terms, in language affected by the warning he just issued. He asserts our obligation to live according to the Spirit but he doesn’t use those words. Instead, he states it negatively, living a life opposed to the flesh: not “according to the flesh,” but against it. (v. 13b)

We need to pay very careful attention to Paul’s words. He is a careful thinker and a consummate teacher. He uses his words very precisely. We need to read his writing slowly, thinking carefully about the words he’s chosen under the Spirit’s guidance. We should get into the habit of asking at all times why Paul uses the words he does. We don’t want to breeze through his letters and think we can get the general idea. We need to slow down and meditate on each word. Paul is very clear about the destiny of the one who lives according to the flesh -- death. And, he says that person “must” die. He chose the word “must” deliberately. It isn’t just a translator’s interpolation. It’s literally there in the Greek.

The word Paul chooses has two meanings: both of them closely related. The first is the meaning these translators chose, “must.” Death for the fleshly person is not just a possibility; it is absolutely certain. He must die. It is not potential. It is not a mere possibility. It is not a risk. It is a certainty. If anyone lives according to the flesh, he must die!

The second meaning could be translated “be about to,” that is, “he is about to die.” His death is imminent. It is near, right at hand. We can easily see how these two meanings are related. Something is so imminent -- that is, it is so near to happening that it is absolutely certain. So, this one word both conveys to us the certainty and necessity of death and sounds an alarm.

Now, I can’t imagine how anyone reading this verse could ever suppose it is possible for a person to be a Christian but live his entire life in a fleshly way. I cannot see how anyone can believe in the teaching that it is possible for someone to accept Christ as Savior and not as Lord, live an unchanged life, and still be saved. It’s impossible! This verse alone puts the lie to that teaching. It says, “if you are living according to the flesh, you must die.” It is absolutely certain that you will die! It is necessary and imminent. No one who is living according to the flesh, can take comfort in the thought that they are perfectly safe. They do not just miss out on eternal rewards but still have eternal life. They will – no, they must – die!

The contrast is clear. It is a fleshly life leading to eternal death, or a Spiritual life leading to eternal life. One or the other! Nothing in between! Living according to the Spirit is a matter of life and death, heaven and hell.