Have you ever wondered what the real difference is between living life what looks to be the world’s way, compared to the way a true born again by the saving grace of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection lives life? In other words, do you honestly know how a Christian should live as stated in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (ESV).
The book of Galatians speaks of walking by the Spirit in order to not give in to the desires or lusts of the flesh: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” Galatians 5:16 (ESV). Also “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” Galatians 5:16 (KJV).
What are the desires or lusts of the flesh? “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these…” Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV). As if we need more confirmation as to why we should refrain from such, verse twenty-one explains “…I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” Galatians 5:21 (ESV).
Okay, so how then should we live? In other words, what does it mean to walk in the Spirit? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,…” Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV). Again, do we need further confirmation as to why walking in the Spirit sounds so good? “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” Galatians 5:24 (ESV).
Honestly, just reading through the list of the fruit of the Spirit makes sense and leaves no doubt in my mind how good life can be for the Christian who realizes just how truly blessed we are.
Despite it being lengthy, should the English Standard Version not be convincing enough, maybe reading Galatians 5:16-26 in The Message will be:
“16-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?
19-21 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.
This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.
22-23 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
23-24 Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.
25-26 Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.” Galatians 5:16-26 (MSG)
Blessings!
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