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Walk by the Spirit

Joe R. Price

But I say, Walk by 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; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. (Gal. 5:16-17)

Each of us choose to either live spiritual lives or to satisfy the flesh. Just as Jesus said we cannot serve two masters, the apostle teaches that we cannot walk (live) by the Spirit and after the flesh at the same time. They are opposite tendencies which produce opposite fruit. The works of the flesh will keep its bearer out of the kingdom of heaven, while the fruit of the Spirit evidences kingdom citizenship (Gal. 5:19-23).

To walk “by the Spirit” means to live by the gospel which the Holy Spirit has revealed to us (cf. Gal. 3:1-5; 5:18, 25). We will bear the “fruit of the Spirit” in our lives when we “walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23).

To accomplish this walk one must willingly subject himself to “the things of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:5-8). Let us heartily renew our minds and conform to the will of God instead of the world (Rom. 12:2). May we more diligently “crucify the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof” (Gal. 5:24) as we live in subjection to the gospel of Christ.

As you make daily decisions which affect your life, be sure to consider how those decisions affect your soul’s salvation. Are you walking by the Spirit or after the flesh?