“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

The term “walk” is literally translated from the Greek as “be in line with” or “keep in step with”. The term is common in ethical sections of the Apostle Paul’s Letters.

The term “flesh” literally refers to a body or a human being, but Paul uses the term often to mean our “sinful nature” as inherited from our parents. Our broken, sinful nature has self-seeking desires that oppose God. However, it is important to realize that Paul does not mean that the physical world is inherently evil, which is a teaching in Greek culture and in later Gnosticism.

Bottom line … the only consistent way to overcome the “desires of the flesh” is to live step-by-step in the power of the Holy Spirit. “Will not” is a striking promise. Walking each moment by faith in God’s word under the Spirit’s control assures absolute victory over the desires of our sinful nature.

Christian freedom means living daily by the Holy Spirit’s power and leading. Our sinful nature, consumed by self-importance, instinctively looks down on others and inevitably causes interpersonal tensions. At Baptism, we were united with Christ, who died to set us free from sin and the way of the Law.

God’s blessings on your day…

Crown of Life Lutheran Church | 3856 E 300 N, Rigby, ID 83442 | (208) 745-2616

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