Walking in the Spirit

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

When we become Christians, born again into the family of God by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, we are indwelt for the rest of our lives by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 1:14). God has given to us the Holy Spirit as “the guarantee of our inheritance” for eternal salvation with our Lord (Eph. 1:14). It is because the Holy Spirit is in us that we have the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23) and the “gifts of the Spirit” (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 4:10-11). God has poured out His love into our hearts “by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5). 

As believers, the Holy Spirit also illuminates our minds to help us understand and obey the Word of God (Psalm 119:18). In this way the Spirit of God guides our thoughts to know and do the will of God (Rom. 12:2). Although we are not perfect, and never will be in this life, God sanctifies us by the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin and helps us to obey God’s Word as we strive to live holy and pleasing to God (Rom. 12:1; 1 Pet. 1:15-16). 

However, God’s Word tells us that although the Holy Spirit dwells within us and we are called to be holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16), we still battle our sinful nature, which has a desire to sin. For the rest of our lives as Christians, every sinful thought, word, and action comes from our sinful nature that remains within us. As we grow in Christ, we will mature in our faith, and the Spirit of God helps us to fight against sin. However, until we die or Christ returns, we are in a spiritual battle that takes place within us, between our sinful nature which has sinful desires, and the Holy Spirit within us who gives us holy desires (Gal. 5:16-18). 

To better understand what it means to live “walking in the Spirit,” it is helpful to remember what Jesus said to His disciples on the night before He was crucified. Jesus promised His disciples that another Helper, parakletos, the Holy Spirit, would be sent to dwell within them. 

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

It was the eternal plan and promise of God the Father and Christ the Son before the creation of the world (1 Pet. 1:20), to send the Holy Spirit to abide in all who are born again and believe in Christ. The Holy Spirit is crucial to the Christian life. If a person does not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within, he or she is not a Christian. It is the Holy Spirit who gives the Christian spiritual life, guides us into all truth, imparts God’s love, joy, peace, wisdom, and the sanctifying power to persevere throughout this life. It is only the believer who is born again by the Holy Spirit who is enabled to live day to day “walking in the Spirit.” 

Now that we have examined what it means for believers to “walk in the Spirit,” how are we to live “walking in the Spirit?” What does Paul mean when he says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). 

In this passage, the Greek word for “walk,” paripateo, is in the present tense and means “continually walk in the Spirit.” To continually “walk in the Spirit,” believers must continually know and obey God’s Word that guides us through life (Ps. 119:105). Remember, we are not saved by obeying God’s Word. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9). However, as Christians, the Holy Spirit gives us the desire to read, know, and obey God’s Word and live “walking in the Spirit.” This is a mark of a Christian. 

As we conclude, what is a good definition that describes the Christian life “walking in the Spirit”? Here is a definition that should be helpful for you. 

Walking in the Spirit is to live moment by moment depending upon the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts by the Word of God in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Beloved, this is God’s will for you as a believer in Christ. That you trust the Lord Jesus Christ and obey His Word so that the Holy Spirit can use His Word to guide you moment by moment as you live the rest of your life “walking in the Spirit.”