September 6, 2018 WALK BY THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
The simple, but powerful truth of this verse is often overlooked, and often misunderstood. This is evidenced when a believer says something to the effect of: “I know I am a believer, but when certain things happen, I really get angry-that’s just who I am-I know I should not, but I do.” In scripture, the ‘flesh’ refers to the old man we use to be before we were born again; it’s the part of us that wants our way. The Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit of God who from the point of salvation lives in us. As believers, we have two, and only two choices; walk by the flesh, or walk by the Spirit-there is no neutral ground. The clear teaching of the New Testament is that our old self, our flesh, was crucified with Christ when He was crucified, and the power of sin was broken. (See Romans 6.) We no longer have to sin. As believers, God has made us new, has given us a new heart, a new mind, and a new spirit-as Peter Parris has said, “we have lost our disposition to sin.” The good news is that the battle has been won, the power of sin has been defeated, and now we are free to live as new creations. The critical point for us to understand is that we have a part to play in this process; we have a choice to make as to whether we walk by the flesh, or walk by the Spirit. If we are to experience victory over sin and walk according to the Spirit, we must apply what is said in Romans 6:11 and Ephesians 4:22: “Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit.” There will be times when we are tempted to respond according to our flesh, BUT, we can at that moment consider, or reckon, our old self, the flesh, dead, and can simply lay it aside and then respond according to the Spirit. This may sound simplistic, but it’s the gospel way. As believers, it is possible for us to sin even though the power of sin has been broken. But note the words “that you may not” and “if” in 1 John 2:1. “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” We walk by the Spirit when we hear and when we obey the leading and the prompting of the Spirit who indwells us. If we are weary of the roller-coaster spiritual life, of responding often in the flesh, and finding that we often do the things that do not please the Lord, then let us say ‘no’ to our flesh and choose to walk by the Spirit-we can do just that.
Ephesians 4:22 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Blessings,
Buddy
September 6, 2018 WALK BY THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
The simple, but powerful truth of this verse is often overlooked, and often misunderstood. This is evidenced when a believer says something to the effect of: “I know I am a believer, but when certain things happen, I really get angry-that’s just who I am-I know I should not, but I do.” In scripture, the ‘flesh’ refers to the old man we use to be before we were born again; it’s the part of us that wants our way. The Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit of God who from the point of salvation lives in us. As believers, we have two, and only two choices; walk by the flesh, or walk by the Spirit-there is no neutral ground. The clear teaching of the New Testament is that our old self, our flesh, was crucified with Christ when He was crucified, and the power of sin was broken. (See Romans 6.) We no longer have to sin. As believers, God has made us new, has given us a new heart, a new mind, and a new spirit-as Peter Parris has said, “we have lost our disposition to sin.” The good news is that the battle has been won, the power of sin has been defeated, and now we are free to live as new creations. The critical point for us to understand is that we have a part to play in this process; we have a choice to make as to whether we walk by the flesh, or walk by the Spirit. If we are to experience victory over sin and walk according to the Spirit, we must apply what is said in Romans 6:11 and Ephesians 4:22: “Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit.” There will be times when we are tempted to respond according to our flesh, BUT, we can at that moment consider, or reckon, our old self, the flesh, dead, and can simply lay it aside and then respond according to the Spirit. This may sound simplistic, but it’s the gospel way. As believers, it is possible for us to sin even though the power of sin has been broken. But note the words “that you may not” and “if” in 1 John 2:1. “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” We walk by the Spirit when we hear and when we obey the leading and the prompting of the Spirit who indwells us. If we are weary of the roller-coaster spiritual life, of responding often in the flesh, and finding that we often do the things that do not please the Lord, then let us say ‘no’ to our flesh and choose to walk by the Spirit-we can do just that.
Ephesians 4:22 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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