Translation of the Dutch Christian Vault post:
“Walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
— Galatians 5:16
Sometimes you read a text that you have seen many times before, and suddenly one word stands out particularly.
That was the case with the word “fulfill”.
Paul does not say that we as believers will no longer experience struggle.
He also does not say that wrong thoughts or desires will never arise again.
No, he says:
“Walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
That word fulfill means:
carry out, complete, fully execute, bring to action.
And therein lies a profound spiritual truth.
The struggle is still there.
Those who love the Lord often notice just how strong the struggle can be.
Wrong thoughts can arise.
Temptations can present themselves.
The flesh still makes itself heard.
The Scripture says after all:
“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.”
— Galatians 5:17
That means that there is a constant inner struggle between the old flesh and the new life that God has worked in us.
The door of the heart
I was reminded of a simple image.
The desire is, as it were, knocking on the door of our heart.
- The flesh wants us to open the
door.
- Sometimes the door might even
be slightly ajar.
- But the Holy Spirit warns us.
- Our conscience is spoken to.
- We withdraw.
And the door is closed again.
That is exactly what Paul means.
The temptation may arise, but it does not have to be fulfilled.
In other words: it does not have to turn into sin.
To be tempted is not the same as to sin
Even our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4)
The temptation itself was not sin.
Sin arises when we allow the desire, cherish it, and act on it.
That is an important distinction.
- To be tempted is not the same as to sin.
- To experience struggle is not the
same as to fail.
- To have a thought is not the same
as to act on it.
A practical example
Someone gets angry.
The flesh wants harsh words to be spoken.
The old man wants to react.
But the Holy Spirit convinces.
One remains silent.
One prays.
One withdraws.
The anger was present, but it was not fulfilled.
And that is grace.
The proof of spiritual life
Some are discouraged because they still experience struggle.
But precisely that struggle is often a sign that God's Spirit is at work in them.
The natural man follows the flesh without resistance.
The born-again man experiences an inner struggle.
⭕️ He is corrected.
⭕️ He is called back.
⭕️ He learns to flee to God.
That is not proof of spiritual death, but rather of spiritual life.
God works in us.
The comfort is that we do not have to fight this struggle in our own strength.
The Scripture says:
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
— Philippians 2:13
When you close the door to sin again, when you draw back, when you pray and resist, then that is God's work in you.
All the glory goes to Him.
Brothers and sisters,
Perhaps you know this struggle all too well.
Perhaps you thought you had failed because the temptation arose at all.
But remember this:
Paul does not say that the desires of the flesh will never arise again.
He says that we must not fulfill them.
The door may be slightly ajar for a moment.
But by God's grace, it does not have to stay open.
The Holy Spirit warns.
God gives strength.
And sin does not have to win.
Finally:
“Give no place to the devil.”
— Ephesians 4:27
Therefore, keep walking by the Spirit.
Seek the Lord daily in prayer.
Read His Word.
And when the desire knocks on the door, know that God is mighty to keep you standing.
Not because we are strong,
but because He is faithful.
To God be all the glory.
📧
https://t.me/Dutchchristianvault
Pᴀʀᴛ 1 ᴏғ 2 – part two follows ↘️
