by McColl, Jim (Australia) 

(used by permission of Truth and Tidings)

“This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Newberry).  “But I say (this is what I mean) walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”  

“Walking by the Spirit” is the rule and the power by which behavior is to be regulated.  It could equally be read “in the Spirit.”  In this case, the Holy Spirit is regarded as the sphere within which, and the path along which, the life of freedom is to be lived.

“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”  In this verse, Paul is not referring to the Spirit’s leading in assembly meetings.  He is, however, referring to personal living.  References to the leading of the Spirit in collective testimony are found in 1 Corinthians 12-14.  Here in Galatians 5, the Spirit of God is seen working in the believer, rather than through the believer.  This has to do with the development of one’s character.  Subjection to the directives of the Holy Spirit will produce fruitfulness, which is the fragrance redolent of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  To enjoy life by the Spirit, we must repudiate the law, and law-keeping, as a means of justification and as a way of life.  Both the law and the flesh are incapable of producing such a spiritual condition, being opposed to the Spirit of God and to the spiritual progress of the believer. In contrast, “to walk by the Spirit” and to “be led by the Spirit,” indicate a purpose of heart and a determination to be under His control in every sphere and phase of life.

In verse 17, the Spirit and the flesh are opposed to each other.  If a full life “in the Spirit” is to be enjoyed, it is imperative that both the flesh and the law be rejected. “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: for these are contrary (opposed) to each other.” Some believers seem to overlook the fact of the Christian’s conflict with the flesh.  They look upon regeneration as a total change or renewal of the old sinful nature.  If this were true, then the believer would have nothing with which to struggle.  The world also would hold no charms for those whose sinful flesh had been changed; and Satan would have nothing upon which to act.

The place that Amalek occupied in the history of the nation of Israel provides typical and vital lessons.  C. H. Macintosh observes, “Had Israel conceived the idea that, when Pharaoh’s hosts were gone, their conflict was at an end, they would have been sadly put about when Amalek came upon them.  The fact is, their conflict had only then begun.  Thus it is with the believer, for ‘all these things happened unto Israel for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition’”  (1Cor 10:11).

From the moment of conversion, a perpetual conflict begins in the life of the believer, and remains to the end of his/her days.  This does not necessarily mean spiritual defeat.  Is it our deepest longing to exclude fulfilling the desires of the flesh – the fallen nature or the sin principle?  Then, this verse provides the answer.  To deal with this conflict, we need a greater power than ourselves.  “It is not a matter of hearing mysterious inner voices or irrational promptings; rather, it is a diligent desire to live according to the Word of God.  After all, the Holy Spirit will not lead contrary to the Scriptures which He inspired” (David Newell).

It is extremely important to understand what is meant in the closing statement of verse 17, “… so that you cannot do the things that you would … to keep (prevent) you from doing the things you want to do.”  This refers to the things toward which fallen nature naturally turns.  These are enumerated in verse 19 as “the works of the flesh.”  The believer has come into liberty from such bondage.  Since the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, it is no longer inevitable that she/he must yield to the evil desires of the flesh.  If the conditions of verses 16 and 18 – walking by the Spirit, and led by the Spirit – are fulfilled, the believer can enjoy happy liberty from such bondage.  By yielding to the guidance and strengthening of the Spirit, the believer is empowered to refuse such promptings, and to yield the “fruit of the Spirit” (v22).  “Walking by the Spirit” will prevent us from fulfilling the desires of the flesh.

 EXPOSITION:

 Those who are "in Christ" are those who have faith in Him, credited with Christ's righteous life, and their sin forgiven by Christ's death in their place.  Such people are new creatures.  Those "in Christ" have become something they were not before.  Their identity has changed from being the fallen version of themselves, to being associated with the righteousness of Christ.  who they are now.

In fact, the old version of a Christian, who they were before they were "in Christ," is not recoverable.  The old is gone, Paul writes.  The new has come.  All the old dreams and ideas and agendas and purposes have ceased to exist and have been replaced by Christ's ideas and agendas and purposes in an entirely new creature called "Christian." 

( borrowed from: BibleRef.com )

INVITATION >>>

If you have not yet found the "peace of God that surpasses human knowledge" I invite you to consider receiving God at His Word today.

God created you and loves you unconditionally, your life is His treasure.  He loves you when you become unlovable, forgives you when unforgivable, and has already prepared your way of escape from a life of disappointments and confusion, and provides deliverance form your sin, guilt and shame.

The Lord Jesus said this to His disciples:

 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father (God) but by me" ( John 14:6 ESV ) 

And also: 

 “Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, whoever hears what I say and believes in the one (God the Father) who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, but has passed from death to life."  ( John 5:24 )

TODAY you can find peace with God and begin a new phase of life, a new way of living, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, and begin to experience life more abundantly.  

We all make many mistakes because we rely on our own limited human understanding.  But, when we receive and accept the Lord Jesus as our personal Saviour and Lord, God begins the needed changes in our life immediately.  

The moment you trust Jesus as Saviour and Lord of your life, the Father applies the 'blood of the Lamb of God' as the full payment for all of your sins, past, present, and future, and you become a 'new creature in Christ' ... you have received the 'baptism of the Holy Spirit' or you are 'born again' ('born from above'). 

We go from dependance on our self-reliance and misguided notions, to dependance on the Word of God (the Bible) and with the leading of The Holy Spirit begin to learn how to make life changing choices, with the help and power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  

The Apostle Paul had personally experienced this transformation and the power of 'New Life in Christ' and said to a terrified jailor who asked Paul and Silas, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'  Paul answered him: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved' (Acts  16:30-31)   And at that very moment that man's life was changed for ever.

I, and a multitude of other men and women, have also personally had this 'life change' and we can assure you that you also can receive the 'Gift of God' and pass from 'death to eternal life' by believing on, and receiving His Son Jesus Christ.  

In John's Gospel, chapter 3, we read these words: 

 16 God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life.  17 God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 

18 Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged, because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only Son. 

35 The Father loves the Son and gives everything into his hands.  36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.  Whoever doesn’t believe in the Son won’t see life, but the angry judgment of God remains on them.” 

I sincerely hope you will think about these words very seriously and ask God to give you the courage to make your choice before it is too late.  Take this moment to thank God for His eternal presence and everlasting love. 

The hymn "Trust and Obey" was written by John H. Sammis in 1887, listed in The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 467.  The meaning of this hymn is fairly self-explanatory as Sammis illustrates the rewards of trusting God’s word and obeying God’s will. 

1

When we walk with the Lord
  In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
  While we do His good will,
  He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey. 

  Trust and obey,
 For there’s no other way
 To be happy in Jesus,
  But to trust and obey.

2

Not a shadow can rise,
  Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
  Not a doubt or a fear,
  Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3

Not a burden we bear,
  Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
  Not a grief or a loss,
  Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.

4

But we never can prove
  The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
  For the favor He shows,
  And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5

Then in fellowship sweet
  We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
  What He says we will do;
  Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey. 

Lyrics: John Henry Sammis (1846-1919)

Music: Daniel Brink Towner (1850-1919)

May God bless you.

This page created by Peter Brenner on Monday, October 23, 2023

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