Study of Romans 8:10-13

Read Romans 8:10-13
8:10

Note the close affinity between the Spirit and the Son in this verse and the last. "If" is again "since." The Spirit's indwelling means that God indwells (cf. vv. 9, 11; Eph. 3:16-17).
"Spirit" in this verse also probably refers to the Holy Spirit. The context favors this interpretation, as does the sense of the verse. "Alive" is literally "life" (cf. v. 2). The meaning of the clause seems to be this. The Holy Spirit is the source of spiritual life for the redeemed person who now possesses Jesus Christ's imputed righteousness.
". . . whenever you see a Christian living the Christian life, you are witnessing a resurrection miracle!"308
The "body" represents the whole person, not just his or her physical shell. This was Paul's normal meaning when he used this word.309 Here he meant that the body is mortal, it remains subject to death because of sin.
The Spirit in view is again God's Spirit. The point is that the same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus will also raise believers.
"The Spirit is both the instrumental cause of the resurrection-act and the permanent substratum of the resurrection-life."310
This verse constitutes a powerful argument for the physical resurrection of believers.
8:11
As noted above (6:6), sometimes Christians describe the change that has taken place in believers, when they trusted in Christ, as having received a new nature. The idea is that unbelievers have an old unregenerate nature, and that Christians now have two natures: the old nature and a new nature. Sometimes these two natures are seen warring against each other, like two lion cubs within the believer. I prefer a different explanation of the psychology of the Christian that, I think, is more biblical. Rather than getting a new nature, the New Testament says that we get the Holy Spirit (v. 9). God's nature now becomes a part of our makeup, as well as our old sinful human nature. The New Testament speaks of our "old man" (Rom. 6:6; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9), which refers to who we were before we trusted Christ. That "old man" contained a sinful human nature. But now we are to "put on the new man" (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10), which means that we are to live like the new people that we are, having received the Holy Spirit (though still possessing a sinful nature).
2. Our new relationship to God 8:12-17
Paul proceeded to apply this truth and then to point out evidence of the believer's new relationship to God.
308Zane Hodges, "The Death/Life Option," Grace Evangelical Society News 6:11 (November 1991):3. 309Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, s. v. "soma," by Eduard Schweizer, 7 (1971):1064. 310Gerhardus Vos, The Pauline Eschatology, p. 169.

2013 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on Romans 103 The application of the believer's condition 8:12-13
8:12 Because of what God has done for us (vv. 1-11), believers have an obligation to respond appropriately. However we can only do so with the Spirit's help. Paul stated only the negative side of our responsibility here. He could have gone on to say ". . . but to God, to live according to the Spirit." He planned to stress that in the verses that follow.
This verse teaches clearly that the believer still has a sinful human nature within him even though he has died with Christ. God does not eradicate the believer's flesh at conversion. Therefore we must not "live [walk] according to" it. Progressive sanctification is not something the Christian may take or leave. God commanded us to pursue it (cf. Titus 2:12; 2 Pet. 1:3-11; 3:18).
8:13 Christians who consistently follow the dictates of the flesh can look forward to death. This cannot be eternal death, separation from God forever, in view of specific promises to the contrary (e.g., vv. 1, 31-39). Therefore it must mean temporal death. Sin produces death in many forms, for example, separation of the body from the soul (physical death that may be premature for those who follow the flesh; cf. 1 Cor. 11:30; 1 John 5:16). It may be separation of the person from others (death in social relationships) or separation of the person from himself (psychological alienation and disorders).
Conversely believers who follow God's will with the enablement of the Holy Spirit and put the deeds of the body (i.e., the flesh; cf. 6:6) to death will experience abundant life. It is possible to possess eternal life and yet not experience it fully (John 10:10). Only Christians who follow God faithfully will experience their eternal life to its fullest potential. This fullness of life involves psychological and social wholeness and well as physical wholeness, under normal circumstances.
The present tense of the verbs is significant. This tense stresses the necessity of continually putting to death the deeds of the flesh. Paul viewed the presentation of ourselves to God as an initial act of commitment (6:13; 12:1), but He wrote that we must daily and hourly
choose to mortify our flesh (cf. 13:14).
"Here is a terrible warning: . . . It is one of the great red lights by which God keeps His elect out of fatal paths. . . .
"For we must note most carefully that a holy life is to be lived by us. It is not that we have any power,—we have none. But God's Spirit dwells in us for the express object of being called 'upon by us to put to death the doings of the body.' Self-control is one of that sweet cluster called 'the fruit of the Spirit,' in Galatians 5:22."311