Romans 8:12
“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.”
What does Romans 8:12 mean?
Paul is saying that because of what Christ has done for us, we're no longer obligated to live by our impulses and desires. We don't owe anything to the "flesh" (that part of us that wants comfort, revenge, status, or whatever else pulls us away from God), so we're actually free to choose a different way of living. This comes after Paul's discussion of the Holy Spirit's power in our lives. He's reminding us that we have a real choice here. Yes, our bodies and instincts will keep tugging at us, but we've been bought at a price and belong to God now. That changes what we owe and what we're free from.