“Walk Not According to the Flesh”
“That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit”.
Romans 8:4
The outcome of the Holy Spirit’s work in the life is love, for “the fruit of the Spirit is love” (Galatians 5:22). And also what the law requires is summed up in Christian love, for “love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10). Consequently, life according to the Spirit means a life in which the righteous demands of the law are fulfilled. This is a life of love to God and love to man.
Love to God means keeping the first four commandments (Exodus 20:2-11) and love toward our neighbor means keeping the last six (Exodus 20:11-17). Love fulfills the law by making law keeping a delight (Psalms 40:8). People. that are truly in love. find it a joy to please those whom they love.
Love is the acid test of our relationship with God and man. Jesus said,” If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). It is impossible to love the Lord and not keep His commandments, because the Bible says, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3). And John adds, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4).
To set the mind on the things of the flesh and thus to live a life of self-assertion and self-indulgence means a walk that is hostile to God and out of harmony with His will (James 4:4). Such a course leads to separation from God the source of life—a separation that leads to death. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries” (Galatians 5:19-21).
This hostility against God is the opposite of the peace that comes to those who live in the Spirit. For “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22,23).
The fruit of the Spirit is not the natural product of human nature, but of God’s power.” For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). The Believer receives this changing power when he has a daily relationship with the Lord through the study of His Word and prayer (John 15:4).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
