My last blog ended with a reference to Romans 8:1 which reads, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” So begs the title of today’s blog.
Romans 8:1 is one of my favorite verses and so is 1 John 1:7. It is no coincidence that these two verses are very similar. The reading of the latter is “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Thus, I am very interested in the idea of walking in the light, or synonymously walking according to the Spirit. So what is it and how can I know I am so doing? Let’s consider Galatians chapter 5 for a few observations.
Galatians 5:16: reference is made to walking in the Spirit
Galatians 5: 18: a note is made about being led by the Spirit
Galatians 5:25: we find the phrase live in the Spirit
Let us briefly develop an understanding of walking, being led by and living in the Spirit by considering the negative. Sometimes a good definition can be derived by considering what it is not. Such is the case in this context. Let us consider the following three points:
- Note verse 16: we walk in the Spirit by not fulfilling the lust of the flesh. The context then proceeds to identify some things that qualify as the works of the flesh. This list includes adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. If you are clear of all those enumerated, the last phrase is a catch all. Verse 19 in the New King James refers to them as sins of an earthly nature. It is pretty easy to give yourself a test on each item. Realizing there are no sinless perfect human beings ask yourself, would He describe me as walking in the light or pursuing the sins of an earthly nature?
- Verse 18 declares if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. There were some in Paul’s day, as well as ours, that think one can be good enough to gain salvation on our own merit. That is, we can keep the law perfectly and thus be entitled to heaven. Nothing can be further from the truth. We are saved by grace. Are there things we must do to access that grace, i.e. obedient faith? Absolutely! But we are not saved by our own merits.
- Verse 26 is a very concise final ‘not’. If we live in the Spirit, we will not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Though I can never attain perfection, I want to strive to walk according to the Spirit. I hope you do as well.