16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
It is time God’s church understands that we were saved from sin in order to live in the Spirit. The ultimate purpose of salvation was not to restore us to the nature of the first man before he sinned. God’s plan when He sent Jesus to die was to make a new man who is infused with His nature.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. Ephesians 2:14-16
Jesus came with a master plan to first abolish the conflict that existed between God and man. He first all made peace through the flesh, that is, through His death on the cross. As a result, God made a new man, in this case, a spiritual man whose identity is not connected to the first man Adam who was essentially carnal, but to the true nature of God.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13
Salvation from sin paved the way for the human race to be initiated into the life of the Spirit. The first man yielded to the devil because he was flesh and blood. However, in Christ, your biological nature is supplanted by that of God.
Living In The Spirit Is God’s Will For His Saints On Earth
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Romans 8:6-9
Living in the Spirit is the will of God for us on earth. There is no profit living according to the flesh. You defeat the purpose of God in your life when you think that you’re only human. You have been born again not to live by the dictates of the flesh but of God.
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 1 Peter 4:1-6
God has made it easy for us to live a life that gives no room to the flesh. Don’t let the devil deceive you – there is no joy in walking according to the flesh. We’ve all been there before – in one way or the other, we have experienced how frustrating and depressing the life of the flesh can be.
But God is faithful – He set us free from sin in the flesh and has given us a place in himself through His Spirit. May you enjoy living in the Spirit – where power is made available to have dominion over the works of the flesh. Amen
Read Further: Galatians 5:16-25
Prayer For Today
Precious Father, I thank you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for giving me your life in the Spirit. I thank you for the mastery I have over the flesh. I live on earth by the dictates of your will and not the flesh. Thank you for crowning me with glory and peace. Amen
