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To live and walk in the Spirit simply means to live and walk in accordance to the word of God (Jesus Christ who stated plainly that; “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” And according to the apostle Paul; “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (John 6:63; Galatians5:25).
Therefore, to live contrary to what is inscribed in the laws of God, is to live in accordance to the flesh, where, everyman does what seems right in his/her own eyes, and walk according to one’s own imagination which unfortunately, is the major cause for the massive confusion that exists in the world, especially in the Christian religion, man has blatantly rejected the laws of God the way by which man should live and holding tenaciously to the customs and traditions of men: Now, where so ever a problem exists, the most effective way to deal with it, is by attacking it from its roots and not simply dealing with the effects.
Now the root cause of our problem is that one is either spiritual or carnal. With the spiritually minded the righteous requirement of the law is being fulfilled in those who do not walk according to the flesh but is walking according to the Spirit. Whereas, the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God: For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:4-5,7).
Now, not only are we to know, understand and believe the truth about the commandments of the Lord in order to avoid being or becoming a victim of deception, but we also have to demonstrate our belief by putting them into practice. For according to the apostle James; “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.'
“But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe --- and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:15-20).
So the way one demonstrates his/her knowledge and belief in the truth about God's commandments is by obeying them. For it is written; “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.” And Jesus said quite emphatically, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (1John 2:3-5; John 14:15).
Furthermore, one should take into consideration the fact that; “sin is not imputed when there is no law and if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us: If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (God) a liar, and His word is not in us” (Romans 4:15; 5:13; 1John 1:8, 10).
Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 7:12; 3:20).
The conclusion therefore is, no one is saved or justified by keeping the law however, it is what defines sin as verified by the apostle Paul who wrote; “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet" (Romans 7:7).
Therefore, knowing the truth about the commandments of God and being subjective to it is a sure way of avoiding being a victim of deception.
To be continued
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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