So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16 NIV
Paul’s letter to the Galatian churches was in response to those advocating that the Gentile believers must be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses. He was adamant that those who have come to faith in Christ have been set free from slavery to the Law. But that can lead some to believe they are free to do whatever they want. A position that Paul opposed and addressed in Galatians 5:13-26. Here, Paul contrasts two ways of life: walking by the Spirit and living to satisfy oneself.
In this passage, Paul is primarily concerned with life within the body of Christ. Rather than using our freedom from the Law to do whatever we want, we should serve one another in love. Paul goes on to describe the consequences of living to please self (Gal. 5:19-21). And all of them result in division within the body. Then he details some fruit the Spirit produces in those walking by the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). And this fruit has the opposite effect of living to satisfy self. Rather than being divisive, this fruit helps to unite and build up the body of Christ.
And I believe that is one key to understanding how to walk by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead you to live in a way that will promote the unity of the body as it pursues carrying out the commission Christ gave to us (Matt. 28:18-20). If your actions build up and enable the body of Christ, then you are walking by the Spirit. But if not, then you are living to satisfy yourself.
