A common quote from the new testament among believers is Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Yeshua.”  This is usually stated to encourage us in our failures, but the sentence does not end there. It goes on to say “who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

If we want to claim that we are in Yeshua and therefore no longer under condemnation, we need to ask the question “What is walking according to the Spirit?”

If you have attended church in the past, you may already have a good idea of what you believe walking in the Spirit should look like.  Usually, it is whatever we “feel” is the right thing, but I would like to challenge each of us to take a close look at how the Bible defines these terms.

Apostle Paul, who wrote Romans, had just wrote in the previous chapter Romans 7:14

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.”

This law mentioned is a reference to the law of God, also called Torah.  The law of God is spiritual!  If we want to walk according to the Spirit, we need to walk according to the law.  Paul meant for us to understand this as he continues in Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus/Messiah Yeshua has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

This is not implying that the Spirit has freed us from the law. God’s law does not lead to death.  The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4).

Romans 8:3-4

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law (death….Romans 6:23) might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” 

Notice Paul is repeating himself in case we missed it the first time.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”  This language comes right out of the law/Torah.  Deuteronomy 30:15 “See I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.”  Life for walking in God’s ways set forth in the Torah, and death for turning away your heart so that you do not hear the words and keep them. Thus Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  We see Paul was teaching right from the law of God and the prophets.  As Nehemiah 9:20 says

you gave your good Spirit to teach them”

when referring to the Israelites who stood at the base of Mount Sinai as they received the Torah.  So we see the Spirit connected to the Torah again.  And Nehemiah 9:29 makes it clear that this is the “Spirit of Life” Paul referred to in Romans.

You warned them, in order to bring them back to your Torah/law, yet they were arrogant.  They paid no attention to your commandments, but sinned against your rulings, which, if a person does them, he will have LIFE by them.”

Walking according to the Spirit is walking in the law of God, Torah!   This is what the word of God tells us!