The True Gospel is Reaffirmed to the Galatians Volume 23

Paul Exhorts the Galatians to live by the Direction of the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:16-18 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. KJV

As we learned from Paul in the previous study, he declared these Galatian believers and us today to be liberated “in Christ” by virtue of the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Paul now tells them and us to “walk” in the Spirit. What exactly is he writing to them with this exhortation? Well we know at the moment of every sinner’s regeneration and new birth, the Holy Spirit comes into the heart or “inner man” to abide, continue, and remain forever in the believer. However, just as He (God the Holy Spirit) does not force any sinner to repent or turn to Christ, He also does not force the believers will into obedience to Christ after salvation. This is what we see happening here with many of the believers throughout Galatia, they have grieved and quenched the Spirit’s work in their lives and by so doing have gone away from the truth of the Gospel into this heretical teaching by the Judaizing men of adding circumcision and Mosaic Ceremonial Law keeping to the Gospel of Grace.

Paul’s use of the English word “walk” is in connection with the course or way these Galatians and us today are to live. The Greek word translated for “walk” is peripateo which means a path to tread upon; figuratively it means to live or behave in a certain manner. Paul is literally telling them to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead and guidance as His devoted and loyal companion being occupied with Him completely and then they will not find themselves being led into doctrinal, theological, or practical error as our Lord Jesus spoke of His Spirit with these words, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (John 16:13).

The Galatians had lost the ability to discern truth and this led to their infighting, backbiting, and devouring one another with quarrelling and arguments and also led to them being about to accept the error of the Judaizing teachers. Paul declares to them with the use of  “ye shall not” and this phrase is translated by the Greek word ou me which is a strong double negative which expresses an absolute denial meaning not at all or any more or never again. Paul is saying here that the believer who purposes his will to be controlled by the Divine Influence of the Spirit of God dwelling in them will not satisfy the cravings or the intense desire of the “old nature” which leads to sin, disobedience, and rebellion as James wrote of sin in this manner, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”  (James 1:13-17).

Paul wants the Galatians and us today to know that the “new nature” we received at our “new birth” is at all times opposed to sin of any kind and he now points out to them and to us the continual and on-going conflict that wars in the “inner man” and “inner woman” of every true child of God. This lust of the flesh against the spirit Paul proclaims here is not a conflict of the “old nature” with the Holy Spirit, for there is no power or force that can war successfully against God the Holy Spirit, but Paul declares the “old nature” and the “new nature” at war with one another in the heart of the believer. Note: God the Holy Spirit is everywhere at all times on the earth and in the vast universes that He created (Genesis 1:2) and in the heart of every born again believer all at the same time, this is a Divine mystery to us that we cannot explain, but by faith trust and believe.

The very reason “in my opinion” our Lord Jesus Christ left our “old nature” in us after our new birth is that we would learn day by day to do this very thing Paul is exhorting the Galatians to do and that is to “walk in the Spirit” being constantly, continually, and completely controlled by Him. We find our Lord Jesus Christ showing us how this is done with His conflict with Satan as documented by Matthew 4:1-11 and Mark 1:12-13 and Luke 4:1-13. Our Lord Jesus did not fight against Satan here using all He is as God, but He fought against and defeated Satan as the Son of Man filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1). Paul declares now to these Galatians and to us that in like manner we too can be victorious over sin and Satan as did our Lord Jesus Christ being filled with and led by God the Holy Spirit.

Paul used the English phrase “ye be led” which is translated by the Greek word ago a primary verb meaning to lead or to keep or to induce someone to act in a particular way or do a particular thing i.e. to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead and direction which will always lead away from sin and the gratifying of the old man as Paul wrote this to the Roman believers, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:11-14). The “sons of God” are under grace and not under law any longer (Romans 6:14), but it is our responsibility to yield to God the Holy Spirit that this might be fulfilled in us because He will never force us to yield, NEVER.

My own Personal Note: Every true child of God knows the sweetness of yielding to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and leading that leads to life and peace, but at the same time every true child of God knows the crushing in their spirit’s when they do not yield and they then experience spiritual death or disconnect from God the Father (Romans 8:6). When our minds are set on the flesh or “old nature” we cannot and will not be subject to the Moral Law of God  and in so doing we will not please our Heavenly Father (Romans 8:7-8), therefore, it will serve each of us well if we every day read and meditate on these words spoken by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ when He said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

“The sheep is a clean animal and avoids garbage, while the pig is an unclean animal and enjoys wallowing in filth (2 Peter 2:19-22). After the rain ceased and the Ark settled, Noah released a raven which never came back (Genesis 8:6-7). The raven is a carrion-eating bird and found plenty to feed on. But when Noah released the dove (a clean bird), it came back (Genesis 8:8-12). The last time he released the dove and it did not return, he knew that it had found a clean place to settle down; therefore, the waters had receded. Our old nature is like the pig and the raven, always looking for something unclean on which to feed. Our new nature is like the sheep and the dove, yearning for that which is clean and holy. No wonder a struggle goes on within the life of the believer! The unsaved man knows nothing of this battle because he does not have the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).” Warren Wiersbe

“We all know it as a familiar experience that the surest way to conquer any strong desire or emotion is to bring some other into operation. To concentrate attention on any overmastering thought or purpose, even if our object is to destroy it, is but too apt to strengthen it. And so to fix our minds on our own desires of the flesh, even though we may be honestly wishing to suppress them, is a sure way to invest them with new force; therefore the wise counsels of sages and moralists are, for the most part, destined to lead those who listen to them astray. Many a man has, in good faith, set himself to conquer his own evil lusts and has found that the net result of his struggles has been to make the lusts more conspicuous and correspondingly more powerful. The Apostle knows a better way, which he has proved to his own experience, and now, with full confidence and triumph, presses upon his hearers. He would have them give up the monotonous and hopeless fight against the flesh and bring another ally into the field. His chief exhortation is a positive, not a negative one. It is vain to try to tie up men with restrictions and prohibitions, which when their desires are stirred will be burst like Samson’s bonds. But if once the positive exhortation here is obeyed, then it will surely make short work of the desires and passions which otherwise men, for the most part, do not wish to get rid of, and never do throw off by any other method.” Alexander MacLaren

“The spiritual life derived from Jesus Christ and lodged in the human spirit has to be guarded, cherished and made dominant, and then it will drive out the old. If the Spirit which is life because of righteousness is allowed free course in a human spirit, it will send forth its powers into the body which is ‘dead because of sin,’ will regulate its desires, and if needful will suppress them. And it is wiser and more blessed to rely on this overflowing influence than to attempt the hopeless task of coercing these desires by our own efforts. If we are still dependent on the desires of the flesh we are still but children, and if we are walking in the Spirit we have outgrown our childish toys. The enjoyment of the gifts which the Spirit gives deadens temptation and robs many things that were very precious of their lustre.” Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…