This document contrasts walking in the spirit versus walking in the law. Walking in the spirit means imitating God through love, changing behavior by focusing on relationships rather than rules, and allowing the Holy Spirit to empower inner renewal rather than relying on human effort alone. In contrast, walking in the law focuses on outward displays, rules, and trying to please God through self-effort, which often leads to frustration. The document encourages readers to stop struggling in their own power and instead discover the new self already created within them by God.
4. WHEN WE WALK IN
THE SPIRIT . . .
We walk using God as our model.
itators of God, as b eloved children;
1. Therefore be im lso loved you and
2. and walk in lo ve, just as Christ a
gave Him self up for us . . .
Ephesians 5: 1
Verses 2-9 explain some of the changes
we’ll make in how we conduct ourselves.
6. EPHESIANS 5 TELLS CHRISTIANS
WALKING IN THE SPIRIT–
D on ’t steal
Avoid immorality,
Yeah,
ounds li
right! S Testament,
ke
impurity, greed–
ld
usual O
the
joy-ki
le
lling, Bib sk
a
Allow no filthiness, silly
s, if you
legalism e! talk, coarse jesting–
m
Do n’t be foolish . . . nor
participate in the
un fruitful deeds of
darkness
9. You couldn’t
be more WRONG,
mister! Walking in the
Spirit is a whole
different experience
from following the
Law.
11. Chan
ging
and beha
unde vior
Spir r the unde
it dif influ r the
fer t ence Law
hree of th
e
MOTIV way
s:
E
MEANS
METHOD
13. MOTIVE
LAW
Focus on the Self
Fear of God’s
wrath-Deut 30:17
Hope for God’s
blessing– Deut 30:16
Pride–Matt 23:25
14. MOTIVE
LAW
Focus on the Self
SPIRIT
Fear of God’s
Focus on Our Relationships
wrath-Deut 30:17
Hope for God’s
Love/God–(5:1)
blessing– Deut 30:16
Worthiness–(5:5)
Pride–Matt 23:25
Gratitude–(5:10,20)
Respect/husband–
(5:22)
Love/Wife–(5:25)
16. MEANS
LAW
Earthly
Human effort–
(Romans 7:21-5)
Will power–(Romans
7:21-5)
17. MEANS SPIRIT
Heavenly
God’s effort–(Phil 1:6,
2:13)
LAW
God’s gifts–(Eph 1:17)
Earthly
God’s design–(Eph
2:10)
Human effort– God’s power–(Eph
(Romans 7:21-5) 3:20)
Will power–(Romans
7:21-5)
19. METHODS
LAW
External
Outward displays
o f religiosity–(Matt
23:25)
B odily Discipline–(1
Tim 4:8)
E thical Decrees: (Col
2:20)
E motional Excess:
(Col 2:20, Rom 10:2)
20. METHODS
LAW
External SPIRIT
Internal
Outward displays
Learn Christ–(Eph
o f religiosity–(Matt 4:20)
23:25)
odily Discipline–(1 Know Christ–(Phil
B 3:8+10)
Tim 4:8)
thical Decrees: (Col Renew Minds–(Eph
E 4:23 vs. 4:17)
2:20)
motional Excess: Put off the Old Self
E (Eph 4:22)
(Col 2:20, Rom 10:2)
Put on New Self–
(Eph 4:24)
22. sible Outc omes of
Pos nder Law
ighte ousness U Woe to you
Pu rsuing R scribes and
phar isees . . .
1. The Hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Matt 23)
or of Peter (Galatians 2)
2. The Virtue-Without-Love Syndrome
(I Cor 13)
3. Continual Frustration (Romans 7:24)
decre es . . .
Why do you submit yourself to
I have become a noisy gong . . .
You were run
n ing well–who
hindered you
...
w ay . . .
You did not learn Christ in this
24. Possible Outcomes of Pursuing
Now I shall s
a more exce
how you
llent way . . .
Righteousness By The Spirit
1. We walk in love (Eph 5:2) as imitators of
God and as the children of God (Eph 5:1)
2. We live as God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10)
3. We bear spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22)
4. We are strong in the Lord (Eph 6:10)
That I may k
and the pow now Him
er of His res
and the fello urrection Live by the Spirit and
wship of His
sufferings . . walk by the Spirit . . .
.
ness ...
love, joy, peace, patience, kind
It is God who is at work in you . . .
Rejoice in the Lord always . . .
26. In essence, the difference between
these two pathways to righteousness
boils down to this:
Working in the flesh to please God amounts
to performing CPR on A CORPSE:
Our old, dead crucified-with-Christ self.
We struggle to clean this corpse up and
make it worthy of God’s grace and
acceptable in His sight.
No wonder we’re frustrated with our lives!
27. In essence, the difference between
these two pathways to righteousness
boils down to this:
28. In essence, the difference between
these two pathways to righteousness
boils down to this:
29. In essence, the difference between
these two pathways to righteousness
boils down to this:
Working in the Spirit to please God amounts
to DISCOVERING OUR NEW SELVES:
Which God has already created!
We live to discover and put on this already-
in-existence New Self, made in truth to
reflect God’s righteousness and holiness.
Stop CPR! Walk in the Spirit!