Have you ever thought about what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:17)? For many, these words conjure up a slightly hazy, unclear sense of walking in obedience—abstaining from sin and perhaps partaking in spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, and bible reading. But is that really what Paul means? Is the call to “walk by the Spirit” primarily a call to avoid sinful behaviours and try really hard to discipline ourselves to live obediently? Many people have understood this passage that way, but when Paul wrote these words, I believe that he had something different in mind.

Throughout the New Testament, the language of “walking” is often used to denote the idea of “living” or “abiding” in the power of someone else. Therefore, to “walk by the Spirit” means to live in light of the work of the Spirit. And what is the work of the Spirit? First, it is to unite us to Jesus and his perfect righteousness, and then, it is to give us supernatural power to live according to God’s ways. In light of this, we can understanding walking by the Spirit in two ways—