Galatians 5:16-17 - Walk This Way
- Chad Werkhoven
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
It's Monday. Sunday's in the rearview mirror, and continual battles lie ahead. Find hope for the battles you lose.
Galatians 5:16–17 (NIV)
16Â So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Sarx). 17Â For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Canons of Dordt
Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints
Article 2: The Believer’s Reaction to Sins of Weakness
Hence dailyÂ
sins of weakness arise,Â
and blemishes cling to even the best works of saints,Â
giving them continual causeÂ
to humble themselves before God,Â
to flee for refuge to Christ crucified,Â
to put the flesh to death more and moreÂ
by the Spirit of supplicationÂ
and by holy exercises of godliness,Â
and to strain toward the goal of perfection,Â
until they are freed from this body of death and reign with the Lamb of God in heaven.
Summary
It's so simple. If you just walk by the Spirit - that is, if each and every moment you just keep your heart and mind focused on things above (Col. 3:1-2) - then you won't even think about indulging the desires of Sarx (or as it's often translated, your sinful nature). Then you will live a life defined by the fruit of the Spirit, which Paul describes a few verses after today's text.
Most of you will be reading this on a Monday morning, after you've had the privilege yesterday of gathering with fellow believers in the Lord's house and hearing His Word proclaimed. You were reminded of similar principles as you listened to, read and sang scripture: principles calling you to flee from sin and pursue righteousness. These Words strengthened you for the week to come and built up your resolve.
But now it's Monday. Your church clothes are hung up, the bulletin is somewhere in the back seat of your car with a dozen others, and the pepermunt jar is put away for the week. And already your resolve to walk exclusively with the Spirit has been challenged, or even completely abandoned.
What's wrong with you? Why can't you stay on course? It's because, whether you realize it or not, you're at war. At war with yourself - with Sarx. These dueling natures are in conflict with each other. Paul puts it more bluntly in Romans 7... they're not just in conflict with one another, they're at war with each other!
 Dig Deeper Â
As we begin this final and most comforting of the five Doctrines of Grace contained in the Canons of Dordt, you're reminded that you haven't crossed life's finish line yet. As the Canons put it, although you're straining toward the goal of perfection, you have not yet been freed from this body of death.
This means that although each and every Monday you're a little bit older and wiser than the week before, daily sins of weakness will continue to arise, and blemishes cling to even the best works of saints no matter how many bulletins accumulate in the back seat.
But notice also how the Canons frame this bad news. It's not presented as a hopeless reminder you that you'll never really be a Christian; it's not put forth in such a way to clobber you over the head for your continual failure. Rather, it's given as an encouragement; a motivator, even.
This reality gives you continual cause. In other words, it gives you a mantra to live by, a purpose you can attain. Your continual cause is not somehow attaining perfection on your own, but rather daily humbling yourself before God, fleeing to Christ crucified for refuge, so that more and more, by the Spirit's power, you can put Sarx to death.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who has bestowed His Spirit on all who are in Christ;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the continual resolve you need to walk by the Spirit;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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