Rev. Ron Thomas
The Holy Spirit
The Apostle Paul gives three related commands in this section: walk by the Spirit (v. 10), live by the Spirit (v. 25a), and keep in step with the Spirit (v. 25b). Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come to believers. In John 14-16 He gives several descriptors of the Spirit and how He works in our lives:
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth… He dwells with you and will be in you” (14:16-17).
“The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (14:26).
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me” (15:26).
“And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (16:8).
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come” (16:13).
The Holy Spirit is our advocate, helper, counselor, intercessor, guide, conscience, teacher, wisdom, and witness to Christ.
The Flesh and Sin
Our natural tendency is not to listen to the Spirit but to listen to the desires of our sinful, fleshly nature. The flesh is opposed to the things of God. Verses 19-21 list some of the works of the flesh—“sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies.” And lest we don’t identify with any of those traits, Paul adds “and things like these.” This list is just the tip of the iceberg.
Some have implied that Christians are not susceptible to the temptations of the flesh, but Paul speaks of his own struggles in Romans 7:
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me” (vv. 18-20).
In Colossians 3:5-8 he instructs us to “put to death what is earthly in you,” because “on account of these the wrath of God is coming.” Sin is serious. It is not just a “failure,” “mistake,” or “slip up,” it is rebellion against the One true God and defiance of His holy law and authority. Sin has consequences. It hurts us, it hurts others, it hurts the Church, and it hurts Jesus Christ. It was because of our sin that Jesus had to die on the cross in order to reconcile us with God.
“Sin is not an unfortunate slip or a regrettable act; it is a posture of defiance against a holy God” (Max Lucado, A Gentle Thunder, 77).
“Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 56).
We live in a world that is darkened by sin, and we’ve become accustomed to the sin around us (Romans 1:18-21). We often forget that we are to be different and are to live in the light rather than the darkness. We need to remember the source of true light, Jesus Christ. On our own, we too live in darkness and sin, but in Christ there is forgiveness and holiness. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:1-2).
How Do We Walk in the Spirit?
Paul writes in his other letters:
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:15-17).
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worth of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8).
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with on another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3).
Walking in the Spirit requires a mind that is set on Christ rather the self. With sin, the focus is always on the self above all. Living by the Spirit is not a matter of self-effort, trying to be a better person and do good things. It is a matter of depending on the Spirit instead of ourselves. When we are relying on the Spirit, His fruit becomes evident in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (v. 22-23). We don’t simply try harder to be kind and patient and good. Those traits develop as we seek God’s will and listen to the Holy Spirit within us. Christians are often tempted to view the fruit of the Spirit as another to-do list— “I really need to work on patience and gentleness.” But remember what Paul has said in the first four chapters of the letter. We are not made righteous by our own efforts but by faith in Jesus Christ. Each aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit points to Jesus Christ, the only Person who has perfectly exemplified this life of communion with the Father and the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit is to become more like Christ.
Often in life we seek pleasure rather than seeking God. Even Christians are inclined to seek blessings from God rather than relationship with God Himself. We’re like little children in the toy store. Our Father always has His hand reaching out to us in love while we run after our own interests. God alone is the source of “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3).
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (v. 25). Temptations will continue throughout this life. We haven’t fully arrived at perfection yet, but if we are truly Christians we should be moving in that direction as we press on toward the goal (Phil. 3:12-13). We are on the winning side and we have God’s Spirit within us to make us more like Christ day by day.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:12-17).
Application Questions
1) Is your life more characterized by the works of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit? How might your spouse or fellow church members answer that for you?
2) Are there specific sins you need to repent of now? Are you trying to produce fruit in your own effort or are you asking God to change you from within?
3) Are you keeping in step with the Spirit by seeking His guidance in the Word and prayer? How might you make space in your daily life for God to lead?
