Walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18) | Bible Class on the Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit
Paul doesn’t describe the fruit of the Spirit in a vacuum. Instead, he sets up a contrast between the acts (notice the plural) of the flesh and the fruit (notice the singular) of the Spirit. If we’re to understand how the fruit of the Spirit operates in our lives, we need to understand two things: 1) How we walk in the Spirit; and 2) How we avoid the acts of the flesh.
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (v 16). The Galatians were having difficulty with circumcision. Notice Galatians 5:1-6. In response to their legalism, Paul reminds them they “were called to be free” (v 13). Instead of using their freedom for their own advantage and causing fights among themselves, the Galatians were to serve and to love one another (vv 14-15). It’s in a background of legalism and fighting against one another that Paul urges walking in the Spirit.
How do we walk by the Spirit?
“Walk by the Spirit” has two important implications:
One: This is present active imperative in the Greek.
The most appropriate translation would be “Keep on walking.” In other words, this is not a walk that someone does for a while and stops. Instead, he keeps on keeping on. Why is it important to keep walking? How does one keep walking by the Spirit?
Two: With few exceptions, first-century folks walked everywhere they went.
Walking may be the slowest form of travel available; however, every step forward is progress. Therefore, if we are continually walking by the Spirit, we are making progress. What are some steps we can take to make sure we are making progress? What are some characteristics of progress?
If we walk by the Spirit, we “will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Do notice that Paul is not instructing the Galatians not to gratify the desires of the flesh in this verse. Instead, this is a promise. Walking in the Spirit will keep us from gratifying the desires of the flesh.
Why would we not want to gratify the desires of the flesh? Gratifying the desires of the flesh is “fun” (cf. Heb 11:25). What harm comes in this life from gratifying the desires of the flesh? What harm comes in the next life from gratifying the desires of the flesh?
Why are the flesh and the spirit opposed to each other?
How do we know when we are walking by the flesh? How do we know when we are walking by the Spirit?
Because of the conflict between Spirit and flesh, “you are not to do whatever you want” (v 17). Why can we not do whatever we want? Doesn’t God want us to be happy? If God wants me to be happy, why cannot I not do whatever I want?
It seems that we, as a culture, have adopted the idea that happiness is man’s highest good. The truth is that obedience to God is man’s highest good. Ecclesiastes 12:13.
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (v 18). This is a place where context is absolutely crucial to understanding a passage. Some might be tempted to say that Paul says we do not have a law under which we Christians live. We hear that idea frequently in many ways. How do people claim that we have no law under which we live?
“Law” in context is the Law of Moses. Remember Paul has been talking about circumcision (Gal 5:2-6). If we are led by the Spirit, we do not live by the Law of Moses.
In what way(s) are we led by the Spirit?
PowerPoint Presentation
This Bible class was originally taught by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.