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“"I Am Debtor"”
Categories: Daily Living, Sin“I Am Debtor”
Jarrod Jacobs
When Paul wrote the Romans, he said, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise” (Rom. 1:14). What did that mean? It meant that Paul was under an obligation to preach the gospel to the Romans (Vine’s, p. 279). We are debtors as well.
Romans 8 says that we are debtors to Christ to mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body. Paul shows that when we do this, we will live spiritually (v. 13). If we wish to please God, and if we wish to be joint-heirs with Christ (v. 17), we must put off the “old man” of sin (Rom. 6:3-6; Col. 3:9).
As Paul was fighting the false doctrine of the Judaizers in Galatia, he said, “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:3-4). This is a lesson many need to learn. When we try to justify our actions by Old Testament teachings, we are a debtor to all the Law. Paul said we can and will fall from grace if we become indebted to the Law of Moses.
Finally, we are also a debtor to God. God sent Jesus to die for us (Rom. 5:8). We could never repay this great sacrifice, but we can give our life in return (II Cor. 5:14-15). Why not give your life to Him instead of wasting your life with Satan (Jas. 4:7-8; Mk. 16:16)?
