What does that mean to walk after the Spirit?

What does that mean to walk after the Spirit?

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

What does that mean to walk after the Spirit?

Let me use ‘leading the blind’ as an example. If I'm a blind man, how do I live my life? I need someone else who has eyes to take me by the hand and lead me through this world. Now, in this context, who’s the blind man? That's us: we're blind. We need the Spirit to be out in front of us leading us through life saying, do this and don't do that. And where do those instructions come from? It’s all in the Word of God, and more specifically, in Paul’s epistles. We just need to learn it and know it, and then yield your members unto that leading. 

To be led by the Spirit is not complicated. Paul said the following in Corinthians,

1Cor.12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

Did you see that last part? Paul says we are to drink into one Spirit. If that is the case, then give me the cup? What is the cup? The cup is the written Word of God.

Joh.4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Not only is the written Word our water, but it is bread for the soul too. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Then He prays, “Give us this day our daily bread.” What do you think he was talking about? Partaking of that Spirit. It’s all about reception or infilling of the Spirit of God. To confirm this even more, Jesus said, 

Joh.6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

Paul is teaching us that to walk after the Spirit we are to find that leading of the Spirit through the knowledge of the Word. This was milk to the Corinthians, but Paul also tells the Ephesians, “Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”

So, through walking after the Spirit, we begin to take it in; we begin to drink it in day by day, and slowly, by the renewing of the mind, day by day, we will begin to be filled with God's Spirit. This is not something that's given to us when we get saved. We are instantaneously justified by the grace of God when we believe the grace gospel, but our walk is a different matter. We grow in sanctification, through seeking to learn God’s Word, drinking it in, being filled with its knowledge, then submitting ourselves in obedience to it. This is the Spirit of God; it is holy and perfect. This is how we walk after that Spirit.

Those that are led of that Spirit; taking it in, drinking it, submitting to it, they are the sons of God. Paul says, 

Rom 8:13-15  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  (14)  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  (15)  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.