Walk in the spirit

Walk in the Spirit, 
and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (1)

The word “flesh” here must speak of that source within us of inordinate desire that we inherited naturally. It’s those desires that go beyond the moral limits set by God. The word "lust" means to crave. It’s a sense of want, inclination, or propensity. “Spirit” is of the Divine: it is of God. It is a result of the new birth. Jesus said, “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3.6). Unless you are born again, you can not experience that of what Paul speaks. You only experience a battle of your conscience of relative morality and responsibility.

This "spirit" is probably best seen as that which is opposite to the flesh being the new spirit one receives by the new birth (John 3.6). This new spirit is contrary to our flesh or the “sin that dwells”  in us of which Paul spoke in Romans 7.17. Flesh and spirit are seen in contrast. These are in opposition to one another. The conflict is evidence that this natural inclination has not been eradicated at the new birth; and it is why we don’t always do what we wish to do, that being what the new spirit craves to do.

Since both crave within us, we are not empowered by the craving itself. One can sense in themselves a drawing to a lust of the flesh, but not until one entertains that lust does it become sin. Lust entertained may not manifest itself in some overt action, but the entertaining of the lust or the overt action is sin—though overt action can have a greater consequence.
When you sense a lust of the flesh, and you entertain it, or feed it with what it desires, then it is fulfilled in your life. If you continue to feed it with what it craves, it will become more dominating and controlling. The spirit craves the things of God, and if you entertain that craving, it will satisfy and long for more, and it will become stronger. If you satisfy the flesh, then the works of the flesh, which are evident, will be manifest in your life. If you satisfy the spirit, then it’s fruit will be manifest.

Walking in the spirit involves time spent in the word so that one is transformed by or governed by the truth of the moral character and will of God, especially as seen in Jesus Christ.  We see this in 2 Corinthians 3.17-18: 17  Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.  18  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  We see this also in Romans 12.2:   2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. We again see it in reference to the “new man”:  Colossians 3.9-10: 9  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old  man  with his deeds,  10  and have put on the  new  [ man ] who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.  This walk involves discerning all things by the word of God: 2 Cor 5.10b:  bringing  every   thought  into captivity to the obedience of Christ; and 1 Cor 2.15a:  But he who is  spiritual   judges all things.

Walking in the spirit would seem to parallel what 1 John talks about concerning “walking in the light,”  “knowing God,” “abiding in him,” and “walking as He walked.”  God is light, which speaks of both his moral purity and the revelatory nature, and to walk in the light is to walk according to God’s moral will and to respond positively to what he reveals to you--such as sin in your life acknowledging it when that happens. Knowing God is indicated by keeping his commandments, because doing what God says reveals you are living according to knowledge of what He wants, just like in a marriage relationship—your actions reveal whether you know or understand your spouse.  Walking in the light, abiding in Christ, or knowing God would also be the same as fellowship with God, since fellowship is a sharing and agreeing with another, and all this involves knowledge being renewed from God’s word.

The flesh seeks justification by law because it corresponds with exalting self, while the spirit corresponds with the truth about salvation through grace and by faith alone. Walking in the spirit has as its foundation a clear grasp on salvation through Christ alone, with a constant firm grasp on that truth and growing in it. This is why Paul warns of going back to the law for justification in Galatians. Such is seeking perfection by the flesh—it is the desire of the flesh to seek righteousness by the Law. Such is to depart from Christ and fall from Grace. Christ will profit them nothing. It is bondage and not liberty.

Walking in the spirit involves praying for God’s help that you are not taken captive by those things that facilitate the lusts of the flesh.

(1)  Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.