“Walk in the Spirit”...theWayfarer 2/8/14

“Walk in the Spirit”
  2/8/14

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”

(Galatians 5:16)

Today we go to Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

as with all these letters, or Epistles if you will, guidance is given in specific areas of failure and success of the people of the church addressed.

The 5^th Chapter of his letter to the Galatians is, as are the other letters, still pertinent to those meeting in churches, and calling themselves Christian.  Each of his instructions, and all of his advice to them, is taken from the advice and instruction given by none other than Christ himself.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

(Galatians 5:1)

The bondage that Paul refers to is nothing less than sin, sometimes so subtle that it is not even recognized for what it is, and is justified in the minds of those gathering as Christians who fail to even acknowledge that sin.

“Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

(Galatians 5:2-6)

Paul’s point here is that our salvation is not given through the law of the old covenant. Rather that salvation is now only possible through the love given us by Christ Jesus, when he fulfilled all need of sacrifice, provided the faith exists to believe on him as the fulfillment of the law, which he said he was.

Those who insist on clinging to the points of the law of the old covenant for circumcision and sacrifice and the use of priests descended from the Levites, have not placed their faith in that fulfillment of the law, and are therefore obligated to all points of it.

This advice came about, because of those attempting to add things to the requirement of redemption through repentance, that were, and are, only ceremonial, and no longer hold the significance once held before Christ fulfilled that law.

Faith, which works through love, as was preached by Christ replaces those things, counts to God in their place.

“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwiseminded: but he that troubelth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the cross ceased.”

(Galatians 5:7-11)

Those who have truly found acceptance of Christ Jesus who “run well” will have the guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit, and will know what is required of them, no longer being forgiven through continual sacrifice, only to return to the same sin which again required sacrifice. 

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips: but their heart is far from me.

But in vain they do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

(Matthew 15:8&9)

These words were spoken by none other than Jesus himself! He tells us that the doctrines of men that add to or subtract from  what is required of us, for any reason is unacceptable, and that lip service is  not acceptable worship, only the following of his commandment to love one another, and that simple message preached throughout his ministry, redemption through repentance and faith in Him!
 

Paul borrowed a quote which clarifies this even farther, as to just who Christ’s and, God’s people really are.

Hosea 2 speaks of a time to come, when the laws of God will need no interpretation by man, no elaboration, and a time that no justification of those things. will be acceptable. 

Paul realized that if you are Christian those things will be written on your heart requiring no help to remember them, conscience. will then suffice for those true believers to keep them within those laws.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth;

Ant the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.

And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.

(Hosea 2:21-23) 

When Christ was sacrificed, all the requirements for sacrifice were completed. When, He became our priest, and intercessor, that eliminated the need for earthly priests which were previously required to reach God’s ear with our prayers for forgiveness and guidance.

Paul said it equally well in a letter to the Hebrews:

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.”

(Hebrews 8:10)

This statement goes back to the statement by Christ numerous times that WHOSOEVER believes will in fact be saved and become a part of that people!

Back to the letter to Galatians:

“I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

 For, brethren, ye have been call unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

 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 ye would.

But if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”

(Galatians 5: 12-18)

This means that those led by the Spirit will not justify sin for their own interpretations, but will recognize it for what it is, and if they allow the Spirit to lead will be justified through Christ without having to worry about the law, because the requirements of law are in their heart.

I do not state here that Christians therefore no longer are subject to sin or temptation, far from it!


 What I am saying is that they will no longer willingly sin, and when they know they have, will ask immediate forgiveness for what the flesh has done, despite the soul that would not sin.

It is that soul that is saved, the flesh remains weak, but if you allow the soul to take charge, then there is no need to worry, you have met the requirements of what was written by God on your heart instead of allowing the flesh to have that control.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in tim;e past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

((Galatians 5:19- 21)

Here, Paul, merely restated the words Jesus himself spoke to the Pharisees about where all sin originated… from the heart of man!

If those things do not trouble your heart, sadly you walk only in the flesh, and therefore have not been baptized with the required Spirit of God.

Some will use this passage to justify elaboration that goes beyond the sins given, choosing to teach that sin is inclusive of other things.

These, need to go to the teachings of Jesus, and his statement that what is sin does not come from without, but from within. They need to accept what is literally given instead of adding admonitions not given by my Lord!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

(Galatians 5:22-26)

These last few verses can be summed up with Christ’s commandment to love one another.

If we live in that love, all the other fruits of the Spirit will eventually be manifested in our lives and be recognizable to all.

Again in closing I ask all who profess to be the children of my God, adopted through the blood sacrifice of my savior to have no shame in proclaiming that adoption, and your relationship to both Father and Son by being who you have professed to be, doing what you have been asked by Him to do, praying only what you mean and truly meaning what you pray.

The time to be counted is now, the time for an accounting is far sooner than most would have you believe!

“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

I close in prayer that all heed Paul’s words, but that more importantly they heed the words left us by our Lord and honor His teachings, teaching His teachings, and living His teachings.

I remain ever the same, a simple sinner saved by grace through faith in my Lord, in a Hand that I may never be taken from. I also must remain that same soldier called into this battle that daily rages ever louder and nearer to all I love and hold dear... hoping to take my place on the line... give a proper and true accounting for Him, both here and at the judgment, when He stands beside me, still making the only acceptable plea to the Father despite my human foibles and failures, recognizing the purity only of the soul he holds within His power made pure and perfect, not by me but by that same Lord!

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen.
theWayfarer