Walking By The Spirit

What does it mean to walk by the Spirit? Romans 8:4 "...in order that the righteousness of the law should be fulfilled in us, those who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

We are not under the Mosaic Law, so we can not use any part of the law to govern our lives. As a matter of fact, we are not under any quality of law when it comes to our approach to or position before God; therefore, fulfilling the law of righteousness cannot be done by living according to the Ten Commandments or any other law we may create. The law of righteousness is fulfilled when we walk by the Spirit.

How we act in our daily lives is directly affect by how we are framing our minds. If we are framing our minds on fulfilling the desires of the flesh, we will not be able to fulfill the law of righteousness because we will produce the works of the flesh, which are contrary to the law of righteousness.

The word for "walk" used in Romans 8:4 is the basic Greek word for walking. It is used in Matthew 4:18 of Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee. In Matthew 9:5 Jesus used this word when asking the scribes when they questioned His healing of a lame man whether it is easier to say, you sins are forgiven you, or stand up and walk. The meaning of the word "walk" goes beyond simply meaning "to walk" to define how a person governs his or her life. In Acts 21:21 "walk" is used for one who follows the Mosaic customs. Or in this case, that the gentiles are not following the customs.

Walking by the Spirit refers to how you are governing your life; what manner of life you live. What is your mind framed on? Are you always seeking to fulfill the desires of your flesh, or do you seek the desires of the Spirit? The desires of the flesh relate to that which is unrighteous: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, religious superstitious awe, enmities, strife, zeal, inner burning anger, disputes, dissensions, heresy, envy, murder, drunkenness, reveling, and such like. The desires of the Spirit relate to what is righteous: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

When we are governing our lives in the customs and manners of the flesh, we are not able to please God. We are not able to please Him because a mind that is framed on the desires of the flesh has set itself against God, Romans 8:7. However, we are no longer of the flesh. "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh, for if we continue to live after the flesh, we are about to die, but if we put to death the practices of the body by the Spirit, we will live. For as many as are lead by the Spirit are the sons of God." Romans 8:12-14.

The Holy Spirit is going to lead us through the desires that relate to our new nature. God does not speak to people today, there is no need for Him to because we have the full revelation. (1 Corinthians 13:8-13. The things we know in part is referring to prophecy. Paul did not possess the entire revelation at the time he wrote to the Corinthians. Scripture was still being written. But now that we have the full revelation the Spiritual gifts that related to prophecy ceased. There were no longer needed. These gift are: prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, healing, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, working of miracles, and discerning of spirits. All of these gifts were use in the giving of the revelation, either to reveal it, or to validate it.) God has provided us with all we need to live godly, we just need to use it. As we take God at His word, and begin to apply it to our lives, the Holy Spirit will begin to produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

"But I say, walk by the Spirit and and you will in no way fulfill the desires of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. For these are contrary to one another in order that you should not do the things you desire. But if you are lead by the Spirit, you are not under any quality of law." Galatians 5:16-18.

We do not need a law anymore. Christians do not have a set of laws that tell them what not to do, like the Mosaic Law. Rather we are lead by the Spirit, through the desires of our new nature, which is not a slave to the sin nature, but rather dead to the sin nature and alive unto God. We are now slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:18.

By setting our minds on things above, Colossians 3:1,2, our actions will begin to line up with who we are in Christ. Remember from Romans chapter eight, how you frame your mind directly affects your actions. So we are lead by the Spirit when our minds are framed on our position in Christ.

In our position in Christ, we have a renewed mind. Romans 12:1,2 "I encourage you, brethren, through the tenders mercies of God, present your bodies as a living holy sacrifice, well-pleasing to God, which is your logical spiritual service. And stop being outwardly conformed to this (legal) age, but be transformed by the renewedness of your mind unto the testing for approval that is the desire will of God for you, the good and well-pleasing, and complete. "

We are to stop being conformed to the legal age and be transformed by our renewed mind. We can know God's desire will for our lives by using what He has already given us. In our position in Christ, we have the ability to receive the things of the Spirit because we share a quality of mind with Christ. "For who has the mind of the Lord, the one being knit together with him? Now we have a quality of the mind of Christ" Since we have a new mind in Christ, we do not have any need for God to lead us by giving us specific instruction. Rather, we can know what God's desirous will is for our lives because of the relationship we now have with God through Christ.

We are lead by the Spirit, not by the letter of the law, so let us walk by the Spirit. Stop using law and start governing your life according to who you are in Christ.