24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Epic battle

Paul is in the practical part of the letter. He’s painted the picture of an epic battle between our flesh (the old nature) and the Spirit. We are in a constant battle. It’s like a dog fight we talked about. Who will win? We can see who’s winning by looking at what we do. Do we see fleshly deeds (sexual immorality, jealousy, strife, etc.) or do we see, not deeds, but fruit…of the Spirit?

It’s dead!

The follower of Christ, those who belong to Him, who abides in Him and His Word and follows His commands (John 15:9-10), is dead. At least the sinful, old nature is dead – along with its passions and desires. Earlier in this letter, Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20) He says something similar in Romans 6:6 – “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;”. 

Do I believe it?

But the question is, “Do we really believe it and live like it?” Paul, himself, as we all do, struggled with it. Think of the scenario referred to in the dog story a few posts earlier. In Romans 7:19 Paul writes of this struggle: “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.”

He also writes later in Romans of how to “fix” the problem. “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Keep in step

Paul leaves no room for doubt. We DO live by the Spirit. Our old self is dead. It’s the Spirit that now gives us life. So, because this is true, we act it out. The ESV says, “keep in step with the Spirit”. What picture comes to mind? I love the picture below of the obedient dog walking with their master, their owner. It’s looking up to the master to pay attention to where the owner is going and to see if they are giving them a command…or a treat! That dog wants to go wherever the master goes. There is a relationship. The picture as an analogy for us with the Lord breaks down because the Spirit of God actually abides in us! (1 John 3:24 and 4:13).

Set pride aside

“Paul concluded this section of walking in the Spirit with this warning, knowing that some will become conceited in their own walk in the Spirit. This can be a masterful stroke of Satan.” (enduringword.com) Just when a believer starts to think and act right, by God’s grace and their grit (see yesterday), the enemy takes a different approach. Rather than the common temptations, the deeds of the flesh of yesterday, He tries to use pride. Very subtle! Be on the alert!

RЯeflection

• If they brought your old self, your sinful nature, to the “spirit medical examiner”, would they pronounce your old self dead? If you are a follower of Christ, they will! But the question is, do we believe it and live like it?
• Are you walking in step with the Spirit? Are you going where He leads and doing what He commands? How can you know? When we study His Word and meditate on it, when we pray, when we fellowship, when we give, when we serve…we have the opportunity to grow in our knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:18, Colossians 1:9-10).