by Randal Matheny

It's important, they say. You really should, they claim. A Christian, truly converted, will do so, they insist.

But if you don't, they are quick to point out, it won't make any difference in your final, eternal destiny.

So they say.

The New Testament takes a different view.

"So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8.12-13, NASB).

There is no sense in which one can understand the phrase "you will live," except spiritually, of one's relationship to God. And one cannot be dead spiritually and enter into eternal life.

What is, then, the condition to live spiritually, forever? Putting to death the deeds of the body. Giving obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ and making his life ours.

But if you don't? Paul doesn't mince words on this point either. "If you are living according to the flesh, you must die." Spiritual death is an inevitable, inexorable consequence of wrong living. Inescapable. Unavoidable.

The Greek uses the helping verb "mello" to strengthen the idea. The standard Greek lexicon (Bauer, Gingrich, and Danker) says it's used "denoting an action that necessarily follows a divine decree [and means] is destined, must, will certainly."

And that word "die?" It is used figuratively here, says the same good dictionary, "of losing the true, eternal life." Our passage of Romans 8.13 is the first passage cited as an example.

God's divine decree is that, if you don't live by the Spirit's standards, you will die and be eternally separated from him.

The message is plain: obey God and enjoy eternal life; disobedy him, and you will most certainly, by divine decree, forfeit that wonderful, everlasting life at the Savior's side.