“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5: 22-23)
It is God’s design that the Christian produce the fruit of the Spirit, and that it can only be generated in his heart by the indwelling Holy Spirit. In other words, the Christian becomes the instrument by which the Holy Spirit works through to accomplish divine righteousness. These characteristics are in contrast with the works of the flesh as described by Paul:
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19–21)
Note also that the empowerment is different: these deeds are produced by the flesh, by the individual himself without any supernatural assistance. Nowhere in this passage does Paul defer personal responsibility, as some might claim that “The devil made me do it!”
Paul explains that the Christian has been given a choice to make concerning his faith: to be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14)[2] or to indulge themselves “in the desires of the flesh and of the mind” (Ephesians 2:3). To this he provides an ultimatum:
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
Notice how Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, neatly envelops the teaching of the Fruit of the Spirit with the phrase walk by the Spirit in two verses, 16 and 25. The genius of this is that both words for walk are different in the Greek for the purpose of fully illustrating the Biblical concept of walking by the Spirit.
In verse 16 the word in the original is peripatéō [περιπατέω]. Generally meaning “a stepping movement of the feet.”[3] Of the 95 instances in the New Testament, half refer to the literal meaning of this word. But here it is used figuratively and “refers to the act of conducting one’s self, or ordering one’s manner of life or behavior.”[4] The usage of this word is something which Paul expands upon throughout his writings (Romans 14:15a; Ephesians 5:2 & 8b; Colossians 2:6).
In this passage, the ordering of one’s ‘manner of life’ is to be implemented “by the Spirit”. When Paul states “walk by the Spirit” it is not merely a suggestion, it is a command. Biblical commands must always be obeyed, and not just when we are being watched. Dr. Chafer describes what this manner of life requires of the believer:
Walking by means of the Spirit is simply walking by a definite reliance upon the ability and power of the One who indwells...true spirituality is, then, an unbroken reliance upon the Spirit to do what He has come to do and what He alone can do.[5]
The mechanics of walking by the Spirit should also be considered. For in the physical realm walking depends upon ones balance and stability, so it is in the Spiritual life, as duly noted:
We move forward in the Christian way of life through the stability provided by the Spirit-filled life; “in [by] the Spirit,” an instrumental case in the Greek. The Holy Spirit is the means of walking in the Christian way of life.[6]
Stability in the Christian life comes from learning God’s Word and applying it in our daily lives. Our Lord made this point during His ministry when He challenged Satan: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). And James stresses the believer’s application of the Word when he asserts: “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” (James 1:22). Dr. Francis Schaeffer suggests that this walk of faith is “doing the Lord’s work in the Lord’s way,”[7] which presupposes that we should not impede the work of the Spirit by doing things our way.
A further aspect of stability is contained in this passage: walking by the means of the Spirit ensures us that we “will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” The word ‘not’ is a double negative in the Greek making it emphatic and could be translated “in no way.” W.E. Vine explains it in this manner:
The sentence may be read...as an assurance to the believer that if he walks by the Spirit, i.e., if he submits to the leading of the Holy Spirit of God, refusing to order his life according to the promptings of the flesh and the conventions of the age, then he shall not be overmastered by the desires of the flesh, but on the contrary shall have the victory over, and be enabled to live superior to, them.[8]
Considering one’s obedience of this command, Paul states in verse 25 that “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Here Paul uses a different word for walk, stoichéō [στοιχέω]. Its meaning is slightly different than peripatéō, it is a military term meaning “to stand or go in order, advance in rows or ranks”[9]; “to keep in line, to march in rank and file.”[10]
A paraphrase this verse can be rendered in this way: “‘[I]n view of the fact’ or ‘seeing that’ we live with reference to the Spirit”[11] then let us also take our marching orders for the Christian way of life by means of the Holy Spirit. With this, Paul has provided a fitting response to the preceding verse:
“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24) [12]
By wrapping these two verses, 16 and 25 with the two different words for walk, around the discussion of the believer’s necessity to produce the Fruit of the Spirit or the alternative, to practice the deeds of the flesh, Paul provides a complete harmonization of the principle of the Spirit controlled life. We are commanded to live our lives under the controlling and stabilizing influence of the Holy Spirit and to do so by falling in line with all believers following the Spirit’s leading.
Conclusion
The greatest gift, the supreme service that we can impart to believers and unbelievers alike is to live a life that produces the fruit of the Spirit. By walking by the Spirit—centered in Christ and producing His fruit—we exhibit the normalcy and naturalness that this life of faith affords: an eternal relationship with our Creator in time and in eternity. This is how we can then be dynamic witnesses of the gospel and a vivid expression of the reality and purpose of our existence here on earth.
[1] Chafer, Lewis Sperry (1967). He That Is Spiritual. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, p. 45-46.
[2] For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:14)
[3] Ebel, Günther (1986). The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (ed. Colin Brown), Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 3.943.
[4] Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 3.153.
[5] Ibid, Chafer, p. 96-97.
[6] R. B. Thieme, Jr., Unpublished notes from Galatians recording #416.15 02/09/1962.
[7] Schaeffer, Francis A. (1985). The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 3.50.
[8] Vine, W. E. (1996). Collected Writings of W.E. Vine. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Gal. 5:16.
[9] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, G4748.
[10] Lenski, R.C.H. (2001). Commentary on the New Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 8.295.
[11] Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 3.162.
[12] Note also Colossians 3:5ff.
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