What does the phrase mean "Walk by the Spirit?" In a word, to be so yield- ed to Christ that the Holy Spirit shall fully dominate the believer (Cf. Rom. 6:11-14). The mightiness of the Holy Spirit within is enough to deliver the believer from the dominion of the flesh. (2) The Believer's Condition, v. 17. What a battle! Not so much a struggle on the part of the believer, as the fact that the believer himself becomes the battle ground in a struggle between two mighty foes, each struggling for su- premacy. There is (a) The Flesh. The Scripture term for the old nature in every believer. This nature is antagon- istic to the new nature imparted to the believer by the Holy Spirit upon believ- ing; this old nature resists the new na- ture and seeks to prevent the walk which is " b y the Spirit." (b) The Spirit. More properly this term means, the new nature. This new nature de- I sirés against and resists the effort of the flesh; these are contrary, the one to the other; they are in unceasing warfare and the. outcome is " i n order that ye might not do the things that ye would" (v. 17 literally). (3) Thè Believer's Position, v. 18. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the believ- er is now no longer under the dominion, power, or sentence of the law (Cf. Rom. 6:14). The law is good but its divine office is to condemn (Cf. Rom. 7:7-14). It was not made for a righteous man (Cf. Rom. 6:14-15); but for the fleshly man (Cf. 1 Tim. 1:9). It is the truant- officer leading to Christ (Cf. Gal. 3' 24), but the believer is no longer un- der it (Cf. Gal. 3:24, 5:4-5). Christ ful- filled the law in our place, bore the curse of a broken law in our stead (Cf. Gal. 3:13). In Him, tke believer stands uncondemned (Cf. Rom. 8:1). The ne- cessity is now for victory in the life. In this the law has no function. The Holy Spirit has been given to accom- plish this work. He sets free from the law of sin and death (Cf. Rom. 8:2) and now we are guided and empowered by the Spirit of God (Cf. Rom. 8:4-14). (4) The Believer's Instruction, v. 19- 23. There should be no difficulty in rec- ognizing the difference between the flesh and the Spirit. The flesh reveals itself in works; the Spirit reveals Him- self in fruit. The flesh seeks to please self, continually craves gratification in sensual things, loves money, fame, show, pleasures, ease, is content with out- ward, formal, sentimental worship. The
3:1-3). | M perfection in Christ, but now lapsed into legality, therefore going back, not into sin, but to an elementary religion (Cf. • chap. 4:8-11). 2. Communication: (1) Vindication: This is in part the purpose of Paul's Epistle. Paul vindicates his office as an apostle (chap. 1) and de- clares his gospel to be a revelation from God (Cf. 1, 1:1, chap. 1:2-10). (2) Cor- rection: This is the main purpose of the Epistle; it is a corrective. A study of Paul's Epistles in the light of 2 Tim. 3:16-17 will reveal the fact that we have three classes of epistles written by this author: (a) for doctrine and instruc- tion, i. e. Romans, Ephesians, Thessa- lonians. (b) for reproof, i. e., Corin- thians, Philippians; (c) for correction, i e. Galatians, Colossians. Space forbids more than a mere mention of an import- ant fact, viz: the doctrinal epistles are followed first by an epistle of reproof, reprooving believers for departure in practice from the doctrine given in the preceding epistle; thus Romans, a Doc- trinal Epistle, is followed by Corinthi- ans—reprooving for departure in prac- tice from teaching given in Eomans. Corinthians is followed by Galatians, an epistle for correction —to correct on the part of the believer a departure in doc- trine set forth in Romans. What is the doctrine set forth in the Roman letter? Justification by Faith apart from works of the law (Cf. Rom. 1:16-17, 3:21-28, 4:1-5, 5:1, 6:23, etc,) From this truth the Galatians had departed and entered into the error of legalism. Paul writes to correct the erroneous view. Salvation is by faith without the deeds of the law (chap. 2:10, 3:12), and sanctification takes place through the agency of the Holy Spirit and not through legalism. The rule of the believer's life is grace, not law (chap. 3:25, 5:26). XX. EXPOSITION. 1. Description, v. 16-25. (1)- The Believer's Submis- sion, v. 16. The believer is to "walk "by the Spirit" (literally). The inward thoughts and the outward conduct is to be in submission to the Spirit; the re- sult will be, the believer will not fulfill the desires of the " f l e s h ." To submit to the bondage of legalism is not con- ducive to strength and power over sin. Victory is secured in another w a y - through the Spirit given unto us by vir- tue of the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, who is the believer's strength (Cf. Rom. 8:1-4, 13-14). Positionally they |
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