Articles
Walk In the Spirit
Our quarterly exhortations for 2023 are from Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia. The thoughts for this year are:
Q1: Called Unto Liberty (Gal 5:13)
Q2: Walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16)
Q3: Be Not Deceived (Gal 6:7)
Q4: Let Us Not Grow Weary in well doing (Gal 6:9)
After warning against returning to slavery (the law from Mount Sinai, Gal 4:25) Paul directs his hearers to stand firm in the freedom of Christ (Gal 5:1). Some may have thought, as many today do, that liberty or freedom means life without constraints or obligations. Contrary to this kind of thinking, Paul writes:
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil 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. (Galatians 5:16-18)
Clearly, to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) does not compel one to walk in the spirit, since these brethren were previously taught by Paul. Having been taught, they were yet being admonished to turn away from the old Law and worldliness in favor of the Spirit’s walk.
What follows in Gal 5:22-23 is designated by Paul as the fruits of the Spirit. We could correctly call these the evidences of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
We have heard it said: “If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence for a conviction?” We should personally reflect and consider the evidence, strengthening any point of weakness.
If we have accepted the Call Unto Liberty and are now Walking in the Spirit we are indeed free, according to the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25), and not under Law.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:25).
Ron
