Walking In The Spirit

Here is an important question we must ask ourselves, “Am I in Christ?” If the answer is yes, then “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

The individual who is “in Christ Jesus” does not walk after the flesh, but after and in step with the Holy Spirit. He walks according to the guidance of the Spirit. To be “filled with the Spirit” is to be under the control of the Spirit. Every believer has the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is to be yielded to Him. He has the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. The result of our justification through faith in Christ is a new creation, no longer under the control of the flesh, but in the spirit, a spiritual person.

No, God does not eradicate the flesh. It is still there striving and warring against the Spirit, and it will be there until the Christian is taken up into heaven to be with God.

That apostle Paul tells us the person who is “in Christ Jesus” commits himself to the guidance and control of the Holy Spirit. He gives us guidance, encouragement, correction, and leads us in the paths of righteousness so that we become more like Christ.

Another important question for the believer is, Am I walking according to the flesh? Or, Am I walking in the Spirit? Our response determines what we produce in our daily lives.
The apostle Paul said, “Do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4).

How do you know the difference? “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (v. 5).

Is my life conduct under the control of the Spirit? If so, I will produce the fruit of the Spirit in my life (Galatians 5:22-23). It will be the opposite of the works of the flesh (vv. 19-21).

How is your walk? Your walk is determined by your thinking. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Set your mind on the things of the flesh, let it be dominated by fleshly thoughts, and you will produce the works of the flesh. Let your mind be under the control of the Holy Spirit and you will produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Kenneth Wuest translates Romans 8:5, “For those who are habitually dominated by the sinful nature put their minds on the things of the sinful nature, but those who are habitually dominated by the Spirit put their minds on the things of the Spirit.”

Does the Holy Spirit or the flesh habitually dominate your mind? You will know by what your life is producing. Set your mind on the flesh and you will produce flesh. Let it be under the power and control of the Holy Spirit and you become like Jesus Christ in your behavior.

The only way to not walk in the flesh is to change masters of the mind. “Be transformed by the renewing of the mind” (Romans 12:2). Edgar Goodspeed translated Romans 8:5b, “People who are controlled by the spiritual think of what is spiritual.” When we set our minds on the Spirit we produce spiritual things that are pleasing to God. Kenneth Taylor paraphrased this verse, “Those who follow after the Holy Spirit find themselves doing those things that please God.”

The Amplified Bible reads, “For those who are according to the flesh and controlled by its unholy desires, set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh. But those who are according to the Spirit and [controlled by the desires] of the Spirit, set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the (Holy) Spirit.”

Where do you choose to let your thoughts dwell? You are what you think. Will you not now choose to bow your mind to the control of Spirit of God? Let Him control your thinking.

Let the desire of your heart be to depend not upon yourself, but on Christ alone. That is the work of the Holy Spirit within you. We have everything we need to live the Christian life in Him and what He chooses to provide. Our inner resource is God Himself—the Hoy Spirit. Let Him control your mind, your heart, and your actions will pleasing to God.

The text of Romans 8:5-8 in different translations:

Romans 8:5-8 (NCV) Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want. But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about the things the Spirit wants them to do. If people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if their thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace. When people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, they are against God, because they refuse to obey God’s law and really are not even able to obey God’s law. Those people who are ruled by their sinful selves cannot please God.

Romans 8:5-8 (HCSB) For those whose lives are according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those whose lives are according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. Those whose lives are in the flesh are unable to please God.

Romans 8:5-8 (MSG) Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored.

Spiritual Maturity (Part 2)

Spiritual maturity should be a priority for us. "Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" (Hebrews 5:13-14). As a believer, we are not to be milk-fed. Instead, we are called to chew on the "meat" of God's Word. Discover God's truth by in-depth Bible study and feed ourselves spiritually. Then apply that sustenance to our life as we walk in the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual Maturity - Living In Christ
In order to experience spiritual maturity, we must also understand that growth comes by grace and it is God alone who is your resource. (2 Peter 1:3-9) reminds you that God is the source. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

When one becomes a child of God, we were given all you need "in Christ" to become a spiritually maturing believer. However, we are responsible to make a choice! Will we choose to use and apply God's principles to our life? The wonderful thing about being in submission to God's maturing process is that we will be changed! We don't have to worry about becoming mature. God does the changing! He will conform us to the image of Jesus Christ as we humbly surrender to His Holy Spirit and learn His Word.