So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16
Galatians 5:16 is a part of a letter written by the apostle Paul to the Galatians, a group of early Christian communities in Asia Minor. In this verse, Paul is exhorting the Galatians to live a life guided by the Spirit, rather than by their own desires.
In the context of the letter, Paul is addressing a controversy that had arisen among the Galatians over whether they needed to follow Jewish customs and laws in order to be saved. Paul argues that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through adherence to the Law. He goes on to describe the nature of the Christian life, contrasting the desires of the flesh (i.e. our sinful nature) with the fruit of the Spirit (i.e. the virtues that result from the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives).
In this verse, Paul is urging the Galatians to live according to the Spirit, rather than giving in to their own sinful desires. By doing so, they will be able to resist the temptations of the flesh and avoid sin. In essence, he is encouraging them to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide their actions and decisions, rather than their own flawed human nature. This is a central theme throughout the letter to the Galatians and in much of Paul’s teaching in the New Testament.
