If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25, NKJV).
Fish Out of Water
The passages in Galatians 5:16-26 we've been looking at begin and end with the concept of "living in the Spirit". This, the second to last verse propels us inescapably toward the following conclusion: beings thrive best in the environment they were made for; like fish in water, birds in trees, and born-again Christians in the Spirit.
Until conversion we were dead in trespasses and sins, not physically, at least not for the brief span of our earthly lives, but in a far more important spiritual sense. In Christ, we have been made alive again "in the Spirit". If, once we have been regenerated spiritually it makes no sense to go back to that dead fleshly milieu. It's anti-survival. It would be like a dog returning to its vomit, or a swine wallowing in the mud. Or like a man finally freed from the rotting corpse strapped to his back struggling mightily to pick it back up and cart it around again.
But because of that war between our flesh and spirit that we fight on a daily basis, we can loose ground and slip back under the oppression of our sinful nature. It is, in fact, a piece of cake to do so, undoubtedly because we are so naturally skilled at rebellion against God and His perfect will for us. It is what our old man did best, and still does, UNLESS we comply with Paul's exhortations in these verses. We must consciously "cast off the works of darkness" and "put on the armor of light". We must "put to death the deeds of the body", "crucify our flesh", and cultivate the "fruit of the Spirit".
It all makes perfect sense, actually. That which is fed and nurtured, grows. That which is starved will not. "For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Galatians 6:8, NKJV).
While I am no fan of formulaic behavior, I am a firm believer in spiritual principles as they are presented in Scripture. The resulting aphorism is this: if you feed the flesh you will weaken the spirit; if you feed the spirit (on God's word, fellowship, prayer and setting your mind of things above), you will weaken the flesh. Weak opponents do not do well in battle.
Again, please understand that Paul is not saying our bodies are evil. Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, and God intends them for good. It is our carnal, earthly nature that is hell-bent toward destruction. Christ has delivered us from that "body of death". It only makes sense that we strive to live like it.
