Pastor Luther Walker continues teaching from Galatians chapter 5 on walking by the Spirit. Verse 16 instructs believers to walk by the Spirit so they will not fulfill the strong desires of the flesh. The works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality (adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness), religious superstition (idolatry, sorcery), and self-seeking attitudes (hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of inner burning anger, selfishness, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, and carousing). These stem from the sin nature.
In contrast, the singular fruit of the Spirit—produced by the Holy Spirit—includes love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness (objectivity of mind), and self-control. Against such there is no law. Christians who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and strong desires through immersion into Christ’s death (Romans 6). The old man in Adam was crucified so the body of sin might be rendered ineffective, freeing believers from slavery to the sin nature.
Believers are to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), set their minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8), and put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. A mind framed on the flesh produces death and cannot please God, while a mind framed on the Spirit produces life and peace. Sinful passions are aroused by law; therefore Christians must avoid placing themselves under law, which strengthens the flesh.
Victory comes by focusing on who we are in Christ—crucified, buried, and raised with Him—rather than directly fighting the flesh. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ as an outer garment and make no provision for the flesh. Step by the Spirit, following the track already laid by Christ and the oracles of God. This involves seeking things above (Colossians 3), possessing one’s vessel in honor, abstaining from fleshly lusts that war against the soul, and living out resurrection life. The desires of the Spirit, when fulfilled, weaken the pull of the flesh, leading to victory and maturity in holiness.
