What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?

Answer  
  

Believers have the [indwelling Spirit](indwelling-of-the-Holy-Spirit.html) of Christ, the Comforter who proceeds from the Father (John 15:26\). The Holy Spirit assists believers in prayer (Jude 1:20\) and “intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:27\). He also leads the believer into righteousness (Galatians 5:16–18\) and produces His fruit in those yielded to Him (Galatians 5:22–23\). Believers are to submit to the will of God and walk in the Spirit.  
  

  

A “walk” in the Bible is often a metaphor for practical daily living. The Christian life is a journey, and we are to walk it—we are to make consistent forward progress. The biblical norm for all believers is that they walk in the Spirit: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25, KJV; cf. Romans 8:14\). In other words, the Spirit gave us life in the new birth (John 3:6\), and we must continue to live, day by day, in the Spirit.  
  

To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to His control, we follow His lead, and we allow Him to exert His influence over us. To walk in the Spirit is the opposite of resisting Him or grieving Him (Ephesians 4:30\).  
  

Galatians 5 examines the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. The context is freedom from the Law of Moses (Galatians 5:1\). Those who walk in the Spirit “eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope” (verse 5\) and are free from the Law (verse 18\). Also, those who walk in the Spirit “will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (verse 16\). The [flesh](the-flesh.html)—our fallen nature under the power of sin—is in direct conflict with the Spirit (verse 17\). When the flesh is in charge, the results are obvious (verses 19–21\). But when the Spirit is in control, He produces godly qualities within us, apart from the strictures of the Law (verses 22–23\). Believers “have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (verse 24\), and now we walk in the Spirit (verse 25\).  
  

Those who walk in the Spirit are united with Him and are the bearers of the fruit the Spirit produces. Thus, those who walk in the Spirit *walk in [love](fruit-Holy-Spirit-love.html)*—they live in love for God and for their fellow man. Those who walk in the Spirit *walk in [joy](fruit-Holy-Spirit-joy.html)*—they exhibit gladness in what God has done, is doing, and will do. Those who walk in the Spirit *walk in [peace](fruit-Holy-Spirit-peace.html)*—their lives are not defined by worry or anxiety (Philippians 4:6\). Those who walk in the Spirit *walk in [patience](fruit-Holy-Spirit-patience.html)*—they are known for having a “long fuse” and do not lose their temper. Those who walk in the Spirit *walk in [kindness](fruit-Holy-Spirit-kindness.html)*—they show tender concern for the needs of others. Those who walk in the Spirit *walk in [goodness](fruit-Holy-Spirit-goodness.html)*—their actions reflect virtue and holiness. Those who walk in the Spirit *walk in [faithfulness](fruit-Holy-Spirit-faithfulness.html)*—they are steadfast in their trust of God and His Word. Those who walk in the Spirit *walk in [gentleness](fruit-Holy-Spirit-gentleness.html)*—their lives are characterized by humility, grace, and thankfulness to God. Those who walk in the Spirit *walk in [self\-control](fruit-Holy-Spirit-self-control.html)*—they display moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to the flesh.  
  

Those who walk in the Spirit rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them in thought, word, and deed (Romans 6:11–14\). They show forth daily, moment\-by\-moment holiness, just as Jesus did when, “full of the Holy Spirit, \[He] left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness” to be tempted (Luke 4:1\).  
  

To walk in the Spirit is to be filled with the Spirit, and some results of the Spirit’s filling are thankfulness, singing, and joy (Ephesians 5:18–20; Colossians 3:16\). Those who walk in the Spirit follow the Spirit’s lead. They “let the word of Christ dwell in \[them] richly” (Colossians 3:16, ESV), and the Spirit uses the Word of God “for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16\). Their whole way of life is lived according to the rule of the gospel, as the Spirit moves them toward obedience. When we walk in the Spirit, we find that the sinful appetites of the flesh have no more dominion over us.  
  

