How do We Walk in the Spirit?

Now Contending for the Faith.In this regular feature Dave and Tom respond to questions from listeners and readers of The Berean Call.Here’s this week’s question:Dear Dave and TA:Would you guys please discuss the meaning of Galatians:5:16-25 [16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [17] 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. [18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
See All...?Thanks.

Tom:

Dave, I need to read those verses for ourselves as well as for our listeners.This is Galatians:5:16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
See All..., “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.Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like:of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.But the fruit of the Spirit is love; joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”So Dave, what about this, being led of the Spirit?I mean, it’s so contrary to what we’ve been talking about in our earlier segments.

Dave:

Well, it begins, “Walk in the Spirit and you won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”Obviously, the Spirit is in control.They talk about the Spirit controlled life.We should be led of the Holy Spirit.Romans 8 says, “As many as are led of the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.”So, if you are really a child of God, you should be led of the Spirit of God, but we do have our own will, and the flesh lusts against the Spirit, the Spirit against the flesh, and they are contrary one to another.So, you can’t just do what you want to do, we have to deny self, deny the flesh, take up the cross and follow Christ.So, if we would do that, if we are led of the Spirit, it says, we are not under the law.In other words, we are not walking by rules; we don’t have rules and regulations.Christ has become our life, and we have a much higher law, and that is to be like Christ.Christ is going to live his life through us.Paul said, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me.So then, it lifts the horrible works of the flesh, because it’s talking about the flesh against the Spirit.And Tom, it’s a terrible recital, which you’ve just read—idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, and so forth.

Tom:

Now Dave, just for the understanding of some of our listeners who’ve maybe not heard this before, the Bible talks about the flesh as our physical body, so that’s not the problem.The problem, it also refers to the flesh as being oriented toward things, or selfish things that do not please God.

Dave:

Yes, in other words you said it, being selfish.Doing it for myself instead of for others or for the Lord.That’s the big problem between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, parents and children and countries.Each person is out for himself.That’s the problem.So, that really is what the flesh is.It is, “I’m going to satisfy my fleshly desires, my lust.”All the crimes in the world arise from this.Is it rape?That’s what the person is out to satisfy his own lust.Is it bank robbery?Well, he wants to get some money.Whatever it is we know it all comes from here.So, he’s telling us, “you are indwelt by the Spirit of God, but you still are living in a body of flesh.”And we must submit the flesh; we must submit our desires to the will of God and to the leading of the Holy Spirit.And then, it’s fabulous what he says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance—against such there is no law.”So, if you really belong to Christ, you’d be able to say what Paul said three chapters earlier, “I am crucified with Christ.”The cross is not a nice ornament you wear around your neck or something to have on the top of a church, the cross is a place where I die with Christ, crucified with Him, give up my lusts, my desires, life as I would live it, and so that He can live His life through me and then I’m walking in the Spirit.

Tom:

Dave, in verse 21 where it says, “They which do such things (speaking about adultery, fornication, you know, these sins, obvious sins) shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”Now is that a contradiction with regard to, is that kind of a legalism, or what does that mean?

Dave:

Well, I thing we have to understand what Paul is talking about here.He’s talking about walking and living and being led.He’s not saying that you could not go astray, but “they which do these things,” I think it’s talking about if you practice this, in other words, if this is your way of life, it’s a good indication that you are not a Christian.You’re not going to inherit the kingdom of God.Now, a person who is struggling with some fleshly desire and is trying to overcome it, that’s one thing.But a person who says it doesn’t matter, “I went forward at a crusade,” or whatever you know, “and I made a decision and I’m saved and I can do anything that I want,” you are practicing this, 1 John talks about the same thing, abiding in Christ, and not doing the works of the flesh, etc.So, I don’t think it means if you ever did something wrong then, no it’s not by what I’ve done, it’s what Christ has done.But for example, David— horrible sin.He committed adultery.He lusted.But, he didn’t lose his standing with God.He was punished for it.He repented of it.So if the immorality and wickedness that Paul describes, if that’s your way of life, if you’re not concerned about this, you think it’s ok, I don’t think you’re a Christian and Paul says you will not inherit the kingdom the God.