Walk by the Spirit.

      In the seventh chapter of Romans, we are shown the futility of self effort, trying to do right in our own strength. Many people will try to reform their conduct in an effort to please God. They know what they ought to do, and out of fear they attempt to change, but being selfish at heart they soon fail and revert back to sinful behavior.  Even Christians can begin in the Spirit, but find themselves struggling in the flesh, trying to live an overcoming life in their own strength. A battle rages within us. The flesh opposes the Spirit, and the Spirit the flesh (Gal 5:17).  Left to ourselves we find  that we know what is right, we want to do what is right, we try to do what is right, but our flesh wins out. Apart from Christ we can do nothing!
     Paul asked the painful question "Who will deliver me from this body of sin and death?", and then answers it "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord" . Romans 8 is the chapter of the victorious Christian. In it we see that the key to victory is to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. The requirements of the law are fulfilled in those who walk by the Spirit. The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, the mind set on the flesh is death. The mind set on the flesh is in oposition to God. It will not and cannot submit to Him because it is in rebellion to Him.
     Those who walk in the Spirit (order their lives by, live in submission to) will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16,18,25). In fact the opposite will be true. Their lives will be filled with the fruit of the Spirit,(vs 22,23), the moral requirements of the law will be lived out in those who follow the Spirit's leading (Romans 8:4). It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are to put to death sin in our lives (vs 13). Those who are led by the Spirit, are the sons of God (vs 14).
     This is not to say we will never fall, we will never face temptation, the battle is over. The scriptures warn us to take heed that we do not fall. When we get comfortable and begin to feel safe, we are in danger (1 Cor 10:12). throughout the scriptures we are told to be alert, stand guard, watch, pray, resist, stand firm, etc. Paul watched himself lest after he preached the gospel to others he would be found castaway! We face the battle everyday. Temptations are very real. The possibility of sin, and falling remain, but our strength is found in Christ. We must make the choice to follow the Spirit. We must walk His way, in His strength, setting our minds on things above, not on the things of this earth. We have died, and our lives are hid with Christ in God (Col 3:1-3). Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its desires (Gal 5:24). Count yourselves as dead to sin and alive to God (Rom 6:11). In Christ we have everything we need to live in victory!