⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 4 min read
Walking by the Spirit and Not by the Flesh
Show: Contending for the Word Q&A
Host: Dave Jenkins
Date: January 11, 2026
Show Summary
Every Christian experiences the daily conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. In this episode, Dave Jenkins explains what it means to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh, drawing from Galatians 5, Romans 8, and other key passages. Walking by the Spirit is a lifestyle of dependence on God, submission to Scripture, repentance, and growing in Christlike character.
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Episode Notes
- Depend on the Spirit rather than self-effort (Galatians 5:16).
- Submit to God’s Word because the Spirit never leads contrary to Scripture.
- Put sin to death by the Spirit’s power (Romans 8:13).
- Cultivate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).
What Does It Mean to Walk by the Spirit?
To walk by the Spirit is to live under the ongoing influence, guidance, and power of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul commands believers in Galatians 5:16, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” This command assumes a continual, daily pattern of life. Walking by the Spirit is not a one-time experience, nor is it a mystical feeling detached from God’s Word. It is an active, intentional life of faith.
The flesh refers to our fallen nature the sinful desires and habits that remain even after conversion. Though believers are united to Christ and justified by faith, the presence of indwelling sin means the battle continues. Walking by the Spirit is God’s provision for this ongoing struggle.
Depending on the Spirit Rather Than Self
One of the clearest marks of walking by the Spirit is dependence. The Christian life is not lived by willpower, discipline, or self-reliance. Paul does not say, “Fight the flesh harder,” but rather, “Walk by the Spirit.” Victory over sin flows from reliance on God’s power at work within us.
This dependence means trusting God more than our feelings, our wisdom, or our perceived strength. It means confessing our weakness and leaning daily on the grace God supplies through His Spirit.
Submission to God’s Word
The Holy Spirit never leads contrary to Scripture. Jesus taught in John 16:13 that the Spirit guides believers into all truth. Walking by the Spirit, therefore, always involves submission to God’s revealed Word. Any claim of spiritual leading that contradicts Scripture is not from the Spirit of God.
Walking by the Spirit means saturating our lives with Scripture reading it, studying it, hearing it preached, and reminding one another of its truth within the context of the local church. The Spirit uses the Word to convict, correct, and conform believers into the image of Christ.
Putting Sin to Death
Romans 8:13 makes clear that walking by the Spirit includes active resistance to sin: “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Sanctification is not passive. Believers do not drift toward holiness; they pursue it by God’s grace.
Putting sin to death involves repentance, obedience, and accountability within the body of Christ. The Spirit empowers believers to say no to sin and yes to righteousness, not through legalism, but through gospel-driven obedience.
Bearing the Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22–23 describes the visible evidence of walking by the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These virtues are not produced by human effort alone; they are the Spirit’s work in the believer.
The Spirit does more than restrain sin He forms Christlike character in God’s people. As believers walk by the Spirit, they grow in maturity, bear lasting fruit, and increase in usefulness for God’s glory.
Why This Matters for the Christian Life
Walking by the Spirit is essential for faithful Christian living. It shapes how believers respond to temptation, suffering, relationships, and service. The Christian life is Spirit-empowered, Scripture-guided, and Christ-centered.
This walk is not marked by perfection, but by progress. It is a daily journey of grace, obedience, repentance, and reliance on Christ until the day we see Him face to face.
Call to Action
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Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
