Let Us Also Walk in the Spirit

2018-06-09

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)

Some of the Galatians were believing that good works of the Old Testament law played a role in their salvation. Paul had written everything up to this point to convince them that this is a lie that came from false prophets.

Now, if they were not supposed to do good works to be saved, what role do good works play in salvation, and what kind of works? We find out in this chapter.

What does it mean to “Walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16)? I wrote about that previously here. For the Galatians, this meant believing in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and not following Jewish customs. The flesh and the Spirit are mutually exclusive, whether it be faith in circumcision, works of the law, and other the elements of the world system. Having faith in these things produces no fruit for eternity. If we strive to do God’s will, we will fail, as Paul wrote in Romans 7:7-25 in detail. If we are “led of the spirit” (Galatians 5:18), we will see that we are no longer condemned by the law.

Works are fruit, like a tree bears fruit. The flesh has its own fruit, which is our own works and efforts, and the Spirit has His own fruit. This passage speaks of both. Click above to read more about the fruit of the world and of the Spirit.