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Saturday, April 28, 2012

The meaning of fully walking with the Lord

Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Today we continue in our study of "5 laws of Bible Study" by considering what is termed: "The Law of Full mention".  So far we have considered the following principles or "laws" of Bible Study:
1. Law of first mention - Where we see a word or idea first mentioned in the Bible
2. Law of illustrative mention - Where we see that idea or word illustrated by a person or an event in the Bible
3. Law of of Progressive mention - How we see that word or idea develop through the progressive revelation of God's Word (through the Bible books)

In this fourth "law", we are interested in chapters or sections that give us a multitude of mentionings.  Often when this occurs, the author is giving us that idea in its full form.  Yesterday we looked at the concept of "walking with God", and noted its progressive unfolding through the th first five books of the Bible.  We can go into the New Testament and find this concept spoken of multiple times in Galatians 5 - i.e Fully mentioned.

Walking with God fully mentioned
Galatians 5 finds its main point at the very end of the chapter in 5:25, where Paul writes: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."  Thus we see a distinction made between living by the Spirit (that is, by the the Spirit's presence in our hearts and lives) and walking by the Spirit (that is, conducting ourselves by the Spirit's power over our hearts and lives).  All Christians have the Spirit living inside them. (John 14:23)  However not every Christian lets the Spirit lead them. 

To walk by the Spirit means to conduct our lives as followers and He as the Leader.  But now the whole of Galatians 5 gives us a full treatment of this concept of walking by the Spirit. Consider the passages:

a. Galatians 5:1 - "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery". Walking with the Lord includes standing firm for Him

b. Galatians 5:7 - "You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?" Walking with God also means running for Him.  Running can only be maintained when the truth of the Gospel is central in our hearts and our actions.

c. Galatians 5:16 - "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."  Walking with the Lord means not just living by principles and morals, but having His power and majesty operating in our lives.   

d. Galatians 5:18 - "if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality".  Walking with the Lord includes the idea of holiness.  Holiness is an attitude that desires to be like the Lord Jesus Christ in thought, word or deed.  When we walk with the Lord, our "walk" should matach with our "talk".

e. Galatians 5:25 -  "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit"  Thus Paul takes the conviction of 5:1, the consistency of 5:7, the change brought about in 5:16 and the character of 5:18 to bring the "fullness" of what it means to walk with God here in 5:25.

As you can see, this tool is valuable in that it helps you get the "full view" of a given teaching or truth in the Word of God.  May you this day walk in the Lord as you aim to live in Him, and He in you.