Hope you guys don't mind if I join this conversation.
Romans 8:12-13
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors - not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
If. If you live by the spirit... you will live.
Here we see, the result follows the effort. Effort is involved.
One is a child of God, only if they live by the spirit, and they do not get life, if they do not.
Is that okay?
Take the entire passage, don't remove this part from it's context.
Romans 8 is such an amazing passage to me, so very filled with deep and transformative doctrine.
Romans 8:5-14 KJV
5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6)
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8) So then
they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9) But
ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors,
not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13)
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Follow the flow of thought. In the flesh, live after the flesh, to be fleshy minded, all of this is life without the Spirit of Christ.
But we are not in flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of Christ live in you.
Much love!