Galatians 5:25-26 (ESV Strong's)
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Tag: In the Spirit Equates to Walking With the Spirit
Paul has gone to great lengths to show the contrast between a walk in the flesh and a walk in the Spirit. He is writing to a group of believers who are being persuaded by false teachers to return to trying to complete their righteous living by doing works of the flesh. Paul wants them to know that the things that please God can only be accomplished by walking by faith in the Spirit. Just prior to the imperative in the above verse Paul wrote to these believers and outlined the “fruit of the Spirit.” Having outlined what the Spirit does in our lives, Paul now simply tells us that if we live by the Spirit (and we do), then we are “keep in step with the Spirit.” There are two ‘let us” statements:
1. Let us - keep in step with the Spirit. This is the positive and tells us that the fruit of the Spirit will be produced in our lives as we live in faith. We are to “let” that happen.
2. Let us - not become conceited, provoking or envious. This is the summary of the works of the flesh Paul just outlined, earlier in this chapter. These three characteristics are the things that are opposed to the list of the fruit of the Spirit.
We have an obligation, by faith, to let the Spirit work in our lives and to not continue to walk in the flesh ... which is what these hearers were doing, or about to do. We are to walk and live by faith, by the Spirit of God in our lives. We are to allow the Spirit to override the flesh. When we do that we will be in step with the Spirit.
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