What does it mean to “walk in the Spirit?” This is the second of a series on what we do once we are saved, how a believer should live. Let us not forget, though, this is not what saves us. It is by God’s grace, the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood on the cross making atonement for our sins. Believing in Him from the heart is what saves us. As a believer, we want to live in a way that honors Him and a way that we can grow spiritually and be a testimony to others.
- Walk in the Spirit. Live in a way that honors Him as the Spirit leads you.
When we are saved, the Holy Spirit will come into us and indwell us to guide us (see my post, “The Role of the Holy Spirit”).
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
We who are in Christ now longer live “in the flesh.” Our desires have changed to live for Christ. We are changed and “a new creation” being guided by the Holy Spirit. We have been given a promise that through the Holy Spirit we no longer need to be in bondage to sin or to have fear, but we are sons of God and heirs. We inherit eternal life with God our Father.
Romans 8:8-17
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
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. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
As followers of Christ, we receive the fruit of the Spirit. As we live following Christ, we will obtain characteristics of the Holy Spirit as we grow. These characteristics are known as the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Walking in the Spirit is trusting in God, treating others as you would be treated, humbling ourselves and following the prompting of the Spirit.
My Daily Scriptures 