By Roy Ciampa, Ph. D.
Armstrong Chair of Religion, Samford University
WALKING WITH THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:16–25
When we walk by the Spirit, we reflect Christ’s character and contribute to a healthy, God-honoring community.
Walking by the Spirit keeps us from fulfilling sinful desires. (16–18)
Paul reminds us if we rely on the Spirit’s power to obey God, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh (the desires of our fallen nature). To “walk by the Spirit” is to lean into the empowering presence of the Spirit rather than following the desires of our fallen nature. The Spirit and our flesh (our sinful tendencies) are at war with each other, both seeking what the other opposes.
This conflict takes place “so that you don’t do what you want.” That is, it takes place so we don’t do the evil things our flesh leads us to desire. Those who have received and are led by the Holy Spirit are in Christ and under the New Covenant provided by Christ’s blood on the cross, and so we are not under the old covenant and law of Moses. And since we are not under the law, we are not condemned by the law but enjoy the life-giving power of the Spirit thanks to Christ.
Walking in the flesh leads to sinful behavior. (19–21)
Paul warns us about vices that undermine the health of any church. Paul calls them “the works of the flesh,” behaviors that result when we allow our fallen human nature to indulge our sinful desires. Most of them relate to interpersonal relationships, behaviors that destroy relationships and communities.
The vices break down into three or four categories. The first three reflect a rejection of sexual boundaries and restraints (sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity). The next two (idolatry and sorcery) reflect a refusal to respect religious boundaries and restraints. The largest group is composed of divisive and self-centered behaviors that are corrosive to any healthy community (hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy). The last two (drunkenness and carousing) may belong in the previous category, as they also result in destroying healthy relationships, or they may simply be two other vices that reflect a breakdown in social inhibitions.
Walking by the Spirit produces Christlike character. (22–25)
After providing a contextualized list of vices that were tearing away at the Galatian community, Paul provides a list of the virtues that prevail when the Spirit is allowed to bear fruit among us. Once again, most of these virtues are ones that relate to interpersonal relationships rather than behaviors of individuals in isolation. Paul calls these virtues the “fruit” of the Spirit, suggesting they are naturally produced when the Holy Spirit is given the opportunity to work within us without being squelched. The first of these, love (agapē), is the key to the rest, as Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7.
Paul mentions the law again because he is pointing out the Spirit doesn’t lead Christians to transgress God’s law but to act in ways the law would approve rather than condemn. That is, the Spirit promotes more godly living, not less godly living. Paul wants us to see the death and resurrection of Christ serve as the paradigm for our lives as well. Christ experienced crucifixion, and if we belong to Him (as established by the presence of the Spirit as a seal of confirmation), we have also experienced a kind of crucifixion, one seen when we act as though we are dead to the seductive powers of our passions and desires.
But as with Christ, that crucifixion is followed by resurrection life, and so we now “live by the Spirit” and must learn to march to the beat of the Spirit’s drum. If we do not allow ourselves to be filled with the Spirit, we will find we are full of ourselves and dysfunctional in our relationships with and attitudes toward others.
Share with others: