Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. (Romans 8:12)
Slaves have an obligation to obey their master. Children have an obligation to obey their parents. But although obedience is required in both cases, the two situations are utterly different. When I joined Christ in his death, I died as a slave of sin and was raised to life as a son of God (Romans 6:1-4). So I do have an obligation, but it’s the obligation of a child, not of a slave.
Whenever I think about children working for their parents, the picture that immediately comes to my mind is of a small, corner grocery store, with a school age boy or girl sitting behind the cash register, doing their homework. That child is a learner, but is also doing useful work as they are trained to someday inherit the store. The work they are doing now to make the store a success is slowly, but surely, increasing the value of their future inheritance.
In a similar way, God’s word says:
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:15-17)
We are God’s heirs; co-heirs with Jesus himself. As we grow from infants to maturity, we prepare to receive our inheritance by working for our Father. Only, instead of a grocery store, we’re inheriting a kingdom. And the work that we’re doing as we learn is helping to reclaim a world that is at war with God.
Because of that war, we don’t dare overlook the last sentence of the passage I quoted; part of our work requires sharing in Christ’s sufferings. As God’s children we suffer, just as Jesus did, both because we live in a damaged world, and because the world is at war with our Father. Jesus never promised that following him would be easy; he promised it would be worth it. And that none of what we do for him would be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
So I do have an obligation. It’s not optional; I am called to obedience. But, as I wrote above, it’s the obedience of a son and not the obedience of a slave. God expects me to obey so that I can grow up into maturity in Christ. So that I will be prepared, when I am fully grown, to receive my inheritance as a son of God. Immature children are trainees. Grown children are partners. And I want that! Obeying God, then, is not a matter of law; I have died to the law (Romans 7:4). And it’s not about earning God’s favor, which I could never do. Rather, it’s really all about remembering who I am. Just as sharing in Christ’s suffering is also really about remembering who I am.
Over and over again, the Scriptures keep driving home to me how much of my life in Christ is about remembering who I am. My obligation, when all is said and done, is nothing more, and nothing less, than to live out the truth of my identity. I am a son of God, and I am an heir.