WALK IN THE SPIRIT

Gal 5:16-18 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

As we read this letter to the churches of Galatia, it is evident that the obedient faith that brought each member to God through Jesus Christ had been weakened. And no doubt the false teachers, who had come in among them, were instrumental in leading them astray. Worldliness was ruling their lives; they were inclined toward the satisfaction of earthly desires; strife and contention was common among Jewish and Gentile Christians. Brotherly love was lacking in these congregations of God's people in Galatia.

In order to correct such errors, Paul wrote this message to them. He taught that, no greater commandments could be found in the Holy Spirit-inspired pages of the Bible, than to love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). To be acceptable in the sight of God, Christian love was to be demonstrated by deeds of kindness and compassion. The apostle John described the depth of Christian love when he wrote, Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:16-18).

Beginning with the lesson text, Paul tells them how Christian love should be developed and maintained within the hearts of each member of the body of Christ, and how it can overcome their propensity to lead worldly and sinful lives. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. How is this accomplished? How does one allow the Holy Spirit to influence, and conduct their lives? God wrote the entire Bible through inspired men that He had chosen for that purpose. Therefore, then, as we walk through the pathways of life, that is, as we conduct our daily lives, we must be guided by God's word as it was penned through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Worldly wisdom should never be our guide. We must search for, and be directed by God's wisdom as found in His Holy Word. Then, and only then, will we pattern our lives as God, the Author of eternal salvation, intended for His children conduct themselves on earth. Doing so, as Christians, we will walk in the Spirit. However, we will obey the worldly wisdom of mankind when our lives are given over to the lusts of the flesh.

Paul expressed this same biblical truth to the church of Christ in Rome when he wrote,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. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ... For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (See Rom. 8:5-14). How wonderful it is when all children of God walk in the Spirit. The apostle, John, contrasts this righteous life to a life given to walking after the lusts of the flesh. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God (that is, walk in the Spirit) abideth forever (1 John 2:15-17).

Paul tells the members of the churches of Galatia the untenable relationship between spiritualness and worldliness by saying that,the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. He, then, addresses one of the specific problems existing among these brethren. False Judaizing teachers were demanding that the law of circumcision was to be included, and obeyed, in Christian doctrine. He wrote, But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. By their obedience, New Testament Christians become the sons of God (Rom. 8:14 noted above), and made free from the Law of Moses. The ordinances required of the Jewish nation, such as the law of circumcision, were binding only under Old Testament law. What is required of Christians is to be lead by God's word, as inspired by the Holy Spirit. They were to walk in the Spirit. Doctrinal law under the New Covenant made void the rites and ordinances of the Law of Moses.