DailyRhema

Daily Rhema is a teaching ministry for Christians, centered on the finished work of Christ. It posts inspiring teachings and testimonies on weekdays. These short and systematic messages are suitable for personal devotion or Bible Study.

Sunday, December 09, 2007

8.86 Walking in the Spirit is the opposite of walking in the flesh

To keep the works of the law is to walk in the flesh. It is to depend on self-performance without the empowerment of the Spirit. This is antithesis to walking in the Spirit.

The following verse contrasts “walking according to the flesh” to “walking according to the Spirit”. It also tells us that the law could not produce results because of the weakness of the flesh. So Jesus had to first overcome sin, and then come to live inside us through His Spirit. Today we can walk according to the power of Christ in us.

(Rom 8:3-4)
For what the LAW could not do in that it was weak through the FLESH, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not WALK according to the FLESH but according to the SPIRIT.


The New Covenant is about depending on His empowerment. To depend on the Holy Spirit is to live out of the righteousness of Christ in us. When we do so, the righteous requirements of the law may be fulfilled in us and manifested in our walk.

When the Bible says that we are not under law, it does equate to being under sin. We are now under the law of the Spirit of life. It means that we should be bearing fruit of the Spirit which results in true transformation; something which the law is incapable of.

The law cannot transform us but the Spirit can. In fact, the sinful passions of the flesh were aroused by the law, bearing fruit to death.

(Rom 7:5)
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the LAW were at work in our members to bear FRUIT TO DEATH.


On contrary, the Spirit who is called the “Spirit of holiness” in Rom 1:4 helps us to bear “fruit to holiness” or “fruit of the Spirit” (Rom 6:22; Gal 5:22-23). These are the attributes of God manifested from within us.

(Gal 5:22-23)
But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW.


Today, Christianity is not about walking under law. It is all about walking in the Spirit. This is the revelation that will help us to reign in life through Jesus. It is not about trying harder for Him in self-effort, it is about surrendering and depending more on Him.