Galatians 5:16-17
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The promise here isn't that you'll never feel temptation, but that the Holy Spirit empowers you to actively not carry out those fleshly desires. It's a powerful assurance that living by the Spirit means victory is not only possible, but guaranteed through His power.
Paul is addressing the conflict between the freedom Christians have in Christ and the tendency to fall back into old patterns of sin or legalism. He's just warned them against using their liberty as an excuse for sin, after explaining that freedom from the Law is found in Christ. Now, he provides the positive path forward: live by the Holy Spirit's guidance, which will naturally lead them away from gratifying sinful desires.
Paul doesn't just say 'be spiritual.' He gives a specific kind of direction. What does it actually mean to 'walk by the Spirit'?
Paul uses the word 'walk' (Greek: peripateo), a common metaphor in the New Testament for our daily conduct and habits. It's not about a one-time decision, but a continuous way of living.
Walking 'By' the Spirit
The phrase 'walk by the Spirit' (or 'in the Spirit,' depending on the translation) points to the Holy Spirit as our guide and the standard for our actions. It means:
This isn't about an internal human spirit, but the Holy Spirit, God's own presence and power given to believers.
Paul makes a bold promise: 'you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.' How can he be so sure, and what does 'gratify' really mean here?
This isn't a conditional suggestion, but a confident assurance. When you actively 'walk by the Spirit,' you are guaranteed not to fulfill (Greek: teleo) the desires of the flesh.
What 'Fulfill' Means Here
Understand the original words
peripateō · Greek Verb
The consistent, ongoing manner of one's life or conduct; a metaphor for the Christian's lifestyle which is to be empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit.
pneuma · Greek Noun
The third person of the Trinity, the active agent in the believer's life who convicts, regenerates, indwells, and empowers the Christian to live in holiness.
sarx · Greek Noun
The fallen human nature and sinful disposition that remains in believers even after regeneration; it is consistently opposed to the Holy Spirit and desires independence from God.
Paul wrote Galatians to churches in Asia Minor that were being pressured by some Jewish Christians to adopt Mosaic Law. He emphasizes that true freedom and righteousness come not from following external rules, but from the inner transformation and power of the Holy Spirit. This letter is a passionate defense of the gospel and a call to live according to the Spirit's guidance, a stark contrast to the 'works of the flesh'.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The foundational events of Christianity, marking the sacrifice for sins and the inauguration of the new covenant through the Holy Spirit.
c. AD 33-36
Pentecost and the Coming of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is poured out on believers, empowering them and forming the early church. This event marks the beginning of the age of the Spirit.
c. AD 40-48
Paul's Missionary Journeys Begin
Paul starts his extensive travels, establishing churches throughout Asia Minor and Greece, including the churches in Galatia.
c. AD 49
Council of Jerusalem
A crucial meeting where apostles settled the debate about whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish law, affirming salvation by faith.
This passage echoes Galatians 5:16 by describing the fundamental difference between those who are 'in the flesh' and those who are 'in the Spirit,' highlighting that a spiritual mindset leads to life and peace, directly contrasting with the desires of the flesh.
1 Corinthians 10:13This verse offers a powerful assurance: God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, and He provides a way out. This directly relates to 'walking in the Spirit' as the means by which we can overcome the temptations and desires of the flesh, as Paul encourages in Galatians.
Ephesians 4:22-24Here, Paul describes the spiritual transformation believers undergo, urging them to put off their old way of life—characterized by deceitful desires—and to be renewed in the spirit of their minds. This renewal is the process that enables a person to 'walk by the Spirit' and resist fleshly desires.
Colossians 2:11-12This passage speaks of being 'circumcised with a circumcision by Christ,' signifying a spiritual putting off of the body of flesh. This foundational spiritual work prepares believers to 'walk by the Spirit' and live free from the power of their sinful nature.
1 John 1:8-9cambridgeGalatians 5:16: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
16–26 . The spiritual life of liberty inconsistent with the indulgence of the works of the flesh 16 . This I say then ] After affirming the great law of Christian perfection in Galatians 5:14 and pointing out the effects of its violation, St Paul proceeds to shew how alone the former may be obeyed and the latter escaped. The controversies and heartburnings from which the Galatian Chruch was suf…
barnesGalatians 5:16: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
This I say then - This is the true rule about overcoming the propensities of your carnal natures, and of avoiding the evils of strife and contention. Walk - The Christian life is often represented as a journey, and the word walk, in the scripture, is often equivalent to live; Mark 7:5. See the notes at Romans 4:12; Romans 6:4, note; Romans 8:1, note. In the Spirit - Live under the influences of…
The promise here isn't that you'll never feel temptation, but that the Holy Spirit empowers you to actively not carry out those fleshly desires. It's a powerful assurance that living by the Spirit means victory is not only possible, but guaranteed through His power.
Paul is addressing the conflict between the freedom Christians have in Christ and the tendency to fall back into old patterns of sin or legalism. He's just warned them against using their liberty as an excuse for sin, after explaining that freedom from the Law is found in Christ. Now, he provides the positive path forward: live by the Holy Spirit's guidance, which will naturally lead them away from gratifying sinful desires.
Paul is addressing the conflict between the freedom Christians have in Christ and the tendency to fall back into old patterns of sin or legalism. He's just warned them against using their liberty as an excuse for sin, after explaining that freedom from the Law is found in Christ. Now, he provides the positive path forward: live by the Holy Spirit's guidance, which will naturally lead them away from gratifying sinful desires.
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The victory isn't in never feeling temptation, but in having the Spirit's power to resist and overcome the flesh's ultimate control.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Second Missionary Journey
Paul revisits the Galatian churches, likely addressing the growing Judaizing controversy and instructing them in the faith.
c. AD 53-55— this verse
Paul Writes Galatians
Paul pens this letter from Ephesus or Corinth, urgently addressing the Galatians' drift back to legalism and reminding them of their freedom in Christ.
John addresses the idea of self-deception if we claim to be without sin, but then offers the solution: confessing our sins leads to forgiveness and cleansing. This aligns with 'walking by the Spirit,' which involves acknowledging our ongoing struggles with the flesh and relying on God's faithfulness for victory.
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you fr…" — The promise here isn't that you'll never feel temptation, but that the Holy Spirit empowers you to actively not carry out those fleshly desires. It's a powerful assurance that living by the Spiri…
