Be Fruity - part 2

As promised here is the next part of what I like to call the "Be Fruity" series. I'm not sure how many parts there will be; I hope several. However, time will tell.: ) Okay, first things first. After reading my initial introduction from the previous post, you have a general overview of each subsequent post. There is so much in this one passage of Scripture that one broad sweep of an explanation just simply will not do. This post I will focus primarily on the first verse.

Galatians 5:16 (ESV), "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

This verse seems incredibly simple, and I believe this essentially has two points for my purpose. The first is in order to "walk by the Spirit" one must first know, and be known by, the Spirit. The second is the command to "walk by the Spirit" in order to live a life worthy of our calling as children of the most High God.

So, number one - in order to "walk by the Spirit" one must first know, and be known by, the Spirit (that is God). I've heard several people claim to know God only to discover later in life that they did not in fact truly know Him, or believe in Him. This is what I mean by also being known by God. One can maybe have a legitimate belief that there is a God without ever accepting it as Truth. If a person thinks that there must be a "higher power" but does not accept Jesus as Lord, that person does not receive eternal life from the Creator. Matthew 7:21-23 says, " 'Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?" And then will I declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."' " (ESV) In order to have eternal life, in order for God to "know" you, you must accept that there is only one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit, and that Jesus the Christ is the Son of God. That He did come to the Earth in a miraculous way, live a perfect life, died for our sins, and on the third day rose again to life. You must then confess that you are a sinner, that you need a Savior, and ask Jesus to save you.

That is essentially the only way any of these posts will work in your life. If you do not believe in Christ, you may certainly learn from His word, but it will not save you or give you eternal life.

Now, the second part is the command to "walk by the Spirit" in order to live a life worthy of our calling as children of the most High God. To "walk by the Spirit" is basically to follow His teachings from His word, weighing everything by Scripture and prayer. The fruits of the Spirit are a wonderful guideline to begin with. If all Christians (including myself) lived in this way, the world would be a better place. The verse says that when (not if) we "walk by the Spirit" then "you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." It is a command, not a suggestion.

All of that being said, when we come to know Christ as Lord, we are commanded to live by the Spirit. If we rebel against this command, there is no reason for us to call on God as our Father. Maybe it seems kind of harsh, but for goodness sake, He created us, He provides for us, He offers us eternal life through the horrific death and resurrection of His only Son. I think living by His rules is greatly in our favor! He deserves nothing less.