In my desire to continue to learn about “walking by the Spirit” I’ve been reading in Galatians 5.  The chapter focuses on the difference between Law and Grace.  My thoughts immediately go to how we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-10 NIV1984) and how we are not under law, but under grace (Rom 6:14 NIV1984).  Law has the idea of obligation, rules, and punishment whereas Grace is receiving from God His unmerited favor bringing freedom from the yoke of slavery. 

Galatians 5 and 1 Corinthians 10

Gal. 5:1-6 NIV1984

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is required to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

Gal. 5:13-14 NIV1984

“13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature;  rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”

Gal. 5:16-25 NIV1984

“16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

1 Cor. 10:23-24 NIV1984

“Everything is permissible” — but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” — but not everything is constructive. 24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

1 Cor. 10:31-33 NIV1984

“31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God — 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved“

Key Ideas That Define “Living by the Spirit”

(Gal. 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-25; 1 Cor. 10:23 24, 31-33)

• 1. Live by faith expressing itself through love (Gal. 5:6)
• 2. I am called to be free so do not be yoked again to slavery (the Law) (v. 13)
• 3. Living by the Spirit means that I do not use my freedom to indulge the sinful nature (v. 13)
• 4. Serve others in love (if I don’t want to indulge the sinful nature I should serve others) (v. 13)
• 5. If I am led by the Spirit, I am not under law (v. 18) (see section below for deeper explanation)
• 6. Those who live to indulge the sinful nature will NOT inherit the kingdom of God (v. 21)
• 7. Seek to produce the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (vv. 22-23)
• 8. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their sinful nature with its passions and desires (v. 24)
• 9. If I live by the Spirit, I need to keep in step with the Spirit (obedience!) (v. 25)
• 10. I have freedom in Christ to do anything but not everything is beneficial or constructive (1 Cor. 10:23)
• 11. I should not seek my own good, but the good of others (1Co. 10:24)
• 12. Whatever I do, do it all for the glory of God (1Co. 10:31)
• 13. In my freedom, do not cause anyone to stumble (1Co. 10:32)
• 14. Don’t seek my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved (1Co. 10:33)

Walking in the Spirit: Law or Grace?

”Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is required to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace” (Gal. 5:3-4 NIV1984).

These two verses (Gal. 5:3-4) are also key to my understanding of walking in the Spirit.  God gave the Law to point to Christ.  There is no way that a person can perfectly obey, follow, and keep all the commandments in the Law.  This leads me to see that I need a Savior because according to the Law I am guilty and worthy of God’s wrath, punishment and ultimately death.  But I now know that through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for all who would believe and call on His name, salvation is mine thus averting the wrath and punishment of God.  For it is by grace I have been saved, through faith—and this is not from myself, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that I cannot boast (Eph. 2:8-9 NIV1984). 

In wanting to learn how to walk in the Spirit I’ve been trying to find the right formula, the right words, the right actions that would enable me to do so.  What I’ve actually done is fallen away from grace and looked for laws that would set me free from my sinful nature.  The truth is that I am already free! 

Walking in the Spirit, walking by the Spirit, living by the Spirit – it all comes down to living according to the calling God has placed on everyone who believes which is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31 NIV1984, Jesus quoting Deut. 6:5 NIV1984). 

So “living by the Spirit” is not following a set of laws in order to gain freedom.  It’s loving God with everything I am.  It’s seeking God in his Word.  It’s listening to the Holy Spirit.  It’s becoming so attuned to God and falling deeply in love with him that I desire to please him in everything I think, say, and do!  To live by the Spirit is to listen and obey him with joy in my heart without compulsion. It’s dying to self, crucifying the flesh, following Jesus with everything in me, and sacrificially loving my neighbor – doing it all to the glory of God. 

“Then [Jesus] said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23 NIV1984).

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That’s How to “Live by the Spirit!”

It’s loving God with everything I am.  It’s seeking God in his Word.  It’s listening to the Holy Spirit.  It’s becoming so attuned to God and falling deeply in love with him that I desire to please him in everything I think, say, and do!  To live by the Spirit is to listen and obey him with joy in my heart without compulsion. It’s dying to self, crucifying the flesh, following Jesus with everything in me, and sacrificially loving my neighbor – doing it all to the glory of God. 

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