Paul’s Footsteps #67

Footsteps #67

Walking (Gal 5:16) is a metaphor drawn from the OT and refers to the way a person should behave. The struggle that Paul describes in vs16-17 is not the struggle of every human being. It refers specifically to the inward tug-of-war that exists in the Christian. Because humans are born in harmony with the desires of the flesh (Rom. 8:7), it is only when we are born anew by the Spirit that a real spiritual conflict begins to emerge (John 3:6). This does not mean that non-Christians never experience moral conflict; they certainly do. But even that conflict is ultimately a result of the Spirit. The struggle of the Christian, however, takes on a new dimension, because the believer pos­sesses two natures that are at war with each other, the flesh and the Spirit. When we are born again (John.3:7) the Holy Spirit sets up a new standard within us – the bar has been raised! Our old nature will always be resident, but it does not have to be president. The two natures declare war on each other, but if we are born of the Spirit, we will have victory over the things of the flesh listed in v19-21. He labels the vice list as the “works of the flesh” but then he calls the virtue list as the “fruit of the spirit.” This is an important distinction because the flesh demands but the Spirit produces.  The cardinal Christian virtue is love and is the key to all other virtues. Love is the preeminent fruit of the Spirit, and it should define the life and attitudes of every Christian (John.13:34-35), however difficult that might be at times. The Ten Commandments are not an alternative to love; they help guide us in how we are to show love, both to God (1st 4 Commandments) and to humankind (last 6 commandments.) However much it might transcend the letter of the law, love is not in conflict with the law. The idea that love for God and love for our neighbour void the Ten Commandments makes about as much sense as saying that love for nature voids the law of gravity.

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