Galatians 5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16 is an exhortation from the Apostle Paul to the Galatian Christians to live by the Spirit and not to indulge the desires of the flesh. The passage highlights the conflict between the desires of the flesh and the leading of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.
To better understand this passage and its application to our lives, here are a few biblical cross-references:
Romans 8:5-6 - St.Paul writes that those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. The mindset of the flesh leads to death, but the mindset of the Spirit leads to life and peace.
Galatians 5:19-21 - St.Paul lists the works of the flesh, which include sexual immorality, idolatry, hatred, jealousy, and drunkenness, among others. He warns that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:22-23 - St.Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He affirms that those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires and have been given the Holy Spirit to produce this fruit in their lives.
Ephesians 5:18 - St.Paul urges the Ephesian Christians to be filled with the Spirit rather than getting drunk on wine. This is because being filled with the Spirit enables believers to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and to give thanks always for everything to God the Father.
Walking by the Spirit means living in accordance with the leading of the Holy Spirit, which results in producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. This requires a continual putting to death of the desires of the flesh and choosing to set our minds on the things of the Spirit. By doing so, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh, but rather live a life pleasing to God.
