Christians live the spiritual life because they have been born again.
We were spiritually dead, but now we are spiritually alive. We have new spiritual life from the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer empowering the new life. We are dependent upon Him.
Scripture speaks of this life as a new walk.
“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the Law” (Galatians 5:16-18).
This text that reveals the way of the new walk also warns of inner danger. Yes, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but we also have the lingering remnant of our old nature – the flesh – present within. Therefore, every Christian will experience an inner battle. The flesh was defeated by the finished work of Christ on the cross.
The future hope of the coming of the Lord holds with it the hope of our glorification – and the final removal of the old nature.
But, until that day, the flesh maintains a powerful presence in us. It will always encourage us to sin; it will always direct us away from the truth of God, it will always seek our ruin. However, the Holy Spirit has been given to us and sealed in us to secure our victory in Christ. Scripture encourages us to “walk by the Spirit” and to “be led by the Spirit.” This leading in our lives is spiritual, but very real. We are to be directed by the power of the Holy Spirit in hearing, believing, and obeying the Word of God.
The Spirit guides us in the truth – and empowers us to be obedient.
Without the Holy Spirit, all would be lost. We would always fail. But, with the Holy Spirit, our victory is secure. Even so, we are reminded of the need to depend upon the Spirit of God every day. We pray to Father in the name of the Son – asking for the knowledge, wisdom, direction, power, and protection that He gives through the Holy Spirit. This involves conscious awareness of our need of the Lord every minute of the day. If we depend upon our own resources to live the Christian life, we will end up serving our flesh. But, if we depend upon the Holy Spirit, then the Lord God will empower us to walk in the victory of Christ. Let us walk by the Spirit!