Walking in the Spirit

Willard Hears God, Part 2 Praying in the Spirit

Walking in the Spirit

Image_of_the_Holy_Spirit_in_the Church_20230407

Walk by the Spirit,

and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

(Gal 5:16 )

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

The Holy Spirit is not an abstract concept for the Apostle Paul that merely guides interpretation of scripture. Paul sees at least two additional roles for the Holy Spirit: Spiritual companionship and provisioner of spiritual gifts.

Led by the Spirit

Thompson ( 2011, 61) writes: “Paul does not speak of ethics, but of how to walk, the primary term for ethical conduct.” Continuing Galatians 5 cited above we read:

“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Gal 5:18-23)

If our walk with the Lord is a metaphor for ethical living, the Holy Spirit is our walking companion and it is the Holy Spirit that distinguishes our walking ethics from law. Note that the fruits of the spirit appear strongly influenced by the self-described attributes of God: Mercy, grace, patience, love, and faithfulness (Exod 34:6).

Interestingly, it is this walking ethics, not the work of Christ or the strength of our faith, that Paul says distinguishes the church from law. Elsewhere, Paul writes:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor 12:9)

If our conduct falls short, in Christ we are forgiven, but it is not forgiveness in the absence of being “led by the Spirit.” (Gal 5:18) In this sense, stumbling is part of walking.

Everywhere in the ancient world Christian communities were in the minority where their ethical conduct set them apart from the culture around them. Paul writes:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom 12:1-2)

The controlling concept throughout Paul’s teaching is that the church is a holy community, set apart—“A living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God”—in continuity with historical Israel, not by blood, but by faith (Gal 2:21-28). In this context, worship is a holy life, not music played on Sunday morning.

Spiritual Gifts

If the church is an eschatological community established by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), Paul sees the church also sustained by the Holy Spirit through the provision of spiritual gifts. He writes:

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Cor 12:4-7)

Paul follows up with a lengthy list of spiritual gifts, but the list is necessarily incomplete because: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit.” These gifts are unique to each believer, but share the characteristics of being “for the common good.”

Paul likens these gifts to parts of the human body, none of which are extraneous or more valuable than another. Paul writes:

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Cor 12:12-13)

Note the reference to the Holy Spirit given in baptism. Paul’s ecclesiology and ethics are thoroughly spirit driven.

References

Thompson, James W. 2011. Moral Formation according to Paul. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Walking in the Spirit

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