Mission Venture Ministries

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) 

First, the Holy Spirit is a gift given to all believers in Jesus without exception, and no conditions are placed upon this gift except repentance and faith in Christ. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Second, the Holy Spirit is given at the moment of salvation (Ephesians 1:13). Galatians 3:2 emphasizes this same truth, saying that the sealing and indwelling of the Spirit took place at the time of believing.

Third, the Holy Spirit indwells believers permanently. The Holy Spirit is given to believers as a verification of their future glorification in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30).

Those who walk in the Spirit follow the Spirit’s lead. They “let the word of Christ dwell in them richly” (Colossians 3:16), and the Spirit uses the Word of God “for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Their whole way of life is lived according to the statute of the gospel, as the Spirit moves them toward obedience. When we walk in the Spirit, we find that the sinful appetites of the flesh have no more dominion over us.

A true born believer has the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the Comforter who proceeds from the Father (John 15:26). When this takes place, the Holy Spirit “intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:27). He also leads the believer into righteousness (Galatians 5:16-18) and produces His fruit in those who surrender to Him (Galatians 5:22-23). As we see, believers are to submit to the will of God and walk in the Spirit.

To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to His control, we follow His lead, and we allow Him to exert His influence over us. To walk in the Spirit is the opposite of resisting Him or grieving Him (Ephesians 4:30). 

Galatians 5 examines the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. The context is freedom from the Law of Moses (Galatians 5:1). Those who walk in the Spirit “eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope” (verse 5) and are free from the Law “if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (verse 18).

Those who walk in the Spirit “will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (verse 16). The flesh, our fallen nature under the power of sin, is in direct conflict with the Spirit “for the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh” (verse 17). When the flesh is in charge, the results are obvious (verses 19–21). But when the Spirit is in control, He produces godly qualities within us, apart from the strictures of the Law (verses 22–23). Therefore, “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (verse 24), and now walk in the Spirit (verse 25).

Those who walk in the Spirit are united with Him and are the bearers of the fruit the Spirit produces. So let us take a look at how a believer should walk – those who walk in the Spirit walk:

•  In love, they live loving God and their fellow man (Mark 12:30-31).
•  In joy, they exhibit gladness in what God has done, is doing, and will do (Psalm 100:2).
•  In peace, their lives are not defined by worry or anxiety (Philippians 4:6).
•  In patience, they are known for not losing their temper (2 Timothy 2:23-26).
•  In kindness, they show tender concern for the needs of others (Colossians 3:12).
•  In goodness, their actions reflect virtue and holiness (1 Peter 1:16).
•  In faithfulness, they are steadfast in their trust of God and His Word (Matthew 25:23).
•  In gentleness, their lives are characterized by humility, grace, and thankfulness to God (Colossians 3:12).
•  In self-control, they display moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to the flesh (2 Timothy 1:7).

Those who walk in the Spirit rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them in thought, word, and deed. “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:11-14).

Therefore, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Such a marvelous relationship will surely transform our lives knowing “that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

******