(2)“For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – hath made me free from – the law of sin and death.(3)For what the law could not do – in that it was weak through the flesh – God – sending His own Son – in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us – who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” [Ro.8:2-4]
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth – that shall he also reap! (8) For he that soweth to his flesh – shall of the flesh reap corruption – but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting!” [Gal.6:7-8]
Before we finish our perusal of these two texts – let’s look a little bit at what it means to “walk after the Spirit” and to “sow to the Spirit”. Why? Even because it is the result of doing these things that we “reap Life Everlasting”.
First of all, we know that “walking” and “sowing” after the flesh is a purely Carnal enterprise that reaps only corruption, or spontaneous decay. And, “walking” and “sowing” after the Spirit is actually being led through this world by the Holy Spirit of God. Ro.8:14 tells us that “…as many as are led by the Spirit of God – they are the sons [or, the children] of God.
From 1Cor.2:14-15 we see the “flesh” and the “Spirit” accurately described and contrasted: (14)“But the Natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God – for they are foolishness unto him – neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he that is Spiritual discerneth all things – yet he, himself, is discerned of no man.” The “Natural man” is, in essence, a Carnal man. He is of the flesh. He is definitively unregenerate and spiritually dead! Ro.8:5-6 also contrasts the flesh and the Spirit by this more complete description. It says: “For they that are after the flesh – do mind the things of the flesh – but they that are after the Spirit – the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be Carnally minded is death – but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace.”
So, we are not at all addressing something insignificant and unimportant! What we are looking at literally defines us – as to whether or not, we are genuinely born from above and truly quickened by the Holy Spirit into being true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ! God’s Word clearly says from Ga.5:16: “I say then, Walk in the Spirit – and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh!” There’s no other way – except by the Holy Spirit — to keep from sowing and following the dictates of our fallen-in-sin flesh.
But, what then is it to “Sow to the Spirit”?
It is indeed to follow the words and dictates of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus says from Jn.6:63: “The flesh profits nothing! It is the Spirit that quickens! The Words that I say unto you – they are Spirit and they are Life! And, remember, it is the Holy Spirit of Christ (our God) that has inspired the whole Bible! Lk.18:1 says: “And He spake a parable unto them – that men ought always [meaning: “at every when” and “at all times”] to pray, and not to faint.” Does not this echo 1Thess.5:17 which says: “Pray without ceasing.” Also, this exhortation is in the midst of vs.14-22 which verses encourage us to live according to the workings of the Will of God. Read it! All of which is the practice of “Sowing to the Spirit”…from which we’re assured by the Spirit of God to “reap Life Everlasting”.
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
