of verse 22 with the opening of verse 19. One is the works of the flesh and the other is the fruit of the Spirit. The Christian life is not a product of our endeavors, it is the product of a new life in Christ. It comes first by being bom again. No one can have a deeper life in Christ until he is first of all in Christ. No one can be spiritual until he first has been bom of the Spirit of God. Pointing out the difference between the life of the flesh and the life of the Spirit, Paul indicates how this blessed life of the Spirit may be maintained, “And they that are Christ’s have cruci fied the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (vv. 24 and 25). The walk of verse 16 and the walk of verse 25 are entirely two different words. The first pictures one walking around in a circle so that he may be seen from every angle. It is like a mannikin in a department store which revolves so that the garments may be observed from every angle to good ad vantage. The word walk in the 25th verse is a military term which means to be “on the beam,” and ready to go at a second’s notice. If we are bom again we are to march forward for the Lord at His immediate bidding. As an example, suppose we are in a church meeting and a vital issue is at stake. There are disagreements and sides are taken. Feelings run high and emotions are tense. This provides a perfect set ting for anger and hatred. But, the Christian, instead of becoming angry and “blowing his top,” by walking in the Spirit gains the victory. This is walking in the Spirit, defeating the de sires of the flesh. Thereby the fruit of the Spirit is produced. “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another” (v. 26). The mark of the spiritual life is that of calmness, meekness and quietness. Is this the result of speaking in tongues? No! it is the result of walk ing, step by step, in the Spirit. May this be the earnest desire of each of our hearts day by day until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 14
Tongues (continued) not under the law” (Gal. 5:16-18). In life there are two conflicting ten sions. There is the constant pull of the upper nature against the lower. If we by faith have received the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, we have been creat ed new creatures (II Cor. 5:17). But having this new nature doesn’t mean that the old nature is dead. In fact, the old will do everything possible to block the progress and fruit-bearing of the new. A war is constantly going on in our bodies and minds. Paul said, “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” Any thinking Christian will want to know how to overcome this. We are to be led by the Spirit. He leads us through the Word of God. When we study the Bible, exposing ourselves to its pages, we grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Himself. Peter says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow there by” (I Peter 2:2). By “flesh” we do not refer to the bones, muscles and sinews. The word flesh in the Biblical sense means things that are just as spiritual as the word Spirit itself. Flesh refers to the thinking part of man, the feeling part of man, and the growing part of man. All of these are in total rebellion against God. In verses 19 through 21, Paul gives us the marks of a carnal man, the one who is living in the flesh. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, un cleanness, lasciviousness, I d o l a t r y , witchcraft, hatred, variance, emula tions, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, re- vellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the king dom of God.” Contrariwise, he con tinues by defining the marks of the spiritual life: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith, Meekness, temper ance: against such there is no law” (vv. 22 and 23). Compare the opening
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