" 'The Spirit' vs. 'The Flesh' "

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
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.
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
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.
For to be carnally-minded is death: but to be spiritually-minded is life and peace....
... they that are in the flesh cannot please God." -(Rom. 8:1-8)

This scripture passage, as well as the entirety of the book of Romans, was written by Paul the Apostle to Christians (this is important) in the church at Rome. As you can see, he by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, numerous times makes reference to either "walking after the flesh" or "walking after the Spirit". But what exactly did the Holy Spirit mean by these phrases? I believe there are some deep truths here that are very important for the average Christian to know, so that he can live an abundant life of victory over "the world", "the flesh", and "the devil".
I believe, from what I've seen and heard during the 23 years since I've been a born-again, Spirit-filled believer, that the average Christian has a very nebulous, hazy understanding of these things. For example, "walking after the flesh", to many, means something like... "watching too much tv, listening to pop, hip-hop, or rock-n-roll music, etc.". And "after the Spirit" means something like... "listening for the Voice of God and following the supernatural leadings of the Holy Spirit". I must admit, for a number of years, this was MY understanding. But the Lord has opened up to me something marvelously amazing and wonderful about these terms, and I believe He has showed me the truth, which I would now like to pass on to you if you will receive it by the Spirit of God.

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." -(John 8:32)

We shall start first with...

"WALKING AFTER THE SPIRIT

When the object of one's faith is "CHRIST AND HIS WORK ON THE CROSS, we are then "WALKING AFTER THE SPIRIT", and the Law of the Spirit of Life (the Holy Ghost) in Christ Jesus operates = the Divine Nature (2 Pet. 1:4) and "the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).
"WALKING AFTER THE SPIRIT" means to live solely by grace through faith "in Christ", with "THE CROSS" being the sole object of faith. He is then "IN CHRIST", possessing "the righteousness of God without 'the law'" (Rom. 3:21). This allows THE HOLY SPIRIT TO...1) produce His fruit (Gal. 5:22-23), 2) teach, lead/guide (Jhn. 14:26; Isa. 30:21), 3) empower (Zech. 4:6), 4) give light/discernment (John 16:13), 5) convict him of sin, so that he may be separated from" the world" (John 16:8; 2 Cor. 6:14-17), 6) reveal the Person of Jesus Christ to him (John 15:26; 16:14), and 7) preserve/ keep him (Jude 1,24; 1 Pet. 1:4-5).

"WALKING AFTER THE FLESH":

When the object of one's faith is "self", he is then "WALKING AFTER THE FLESH", and the Law of Sin and Death operates = "the sin nature" dominating, with "the works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19-21). (Remember, Paul was speaking to Christians in the above passage, not unbelievers.)
"WALKING IN THE FLESH" means to live (at least partly) by works of performance, with "self" being the object of faith to carry out those works. He is then walking "in Adam", and possessing self-righteousness (Rom. 10:3; Isa. 64:6). This, in turn, frustrates the grace of God (Gal. 2:21), and allows the sin nature to produce the works of the flesh, and to sink the believer into a state of worldliness (1 Jhn. 2:15-16; Jas. 4:4) and lukewarmness (Rev. 3:15-17): a "miserably saved" mode (not altogether in God's Kingdom, and not altogether in"the world"!).
The key here is "the sin nature". Many in the Church erroneously believe this to be removed from the believer the moment he is saved, and that from then on - if he truly loves and fears God- he should just be able to say "NO" to every temptation of sin. However, it remains, yet is rendered inoperative (or dormant) through faith solely in Christ and the Cross at the moment of salvation. At this point, (the) SIN (nature) no longer has dominion , and the believer is free from it's power (Rom. 6:14). What tends to happen though, is that the Christian strays from THE CROSS as his sole object of faith (and consequently, from GRACE), and replaces it with "self" (and the keeping of "religious laws"). This places him "under the yoke of bondage" and "out of the liberty wherewith Christ made us free" (Gal. 5:1), into a "Romans chpt. 7" experience of "what I hate, that I do" (Rom. 7:15). In that state, because he's saved, he knows that he should hate sin (certainly a plus!), yet through his "works of the law" mode, the sin nature is revived, and he finds some old evil attitudes and passions stirred up, forcing him to sin in some manner (whether it be a temper outburst, gossip, lust, etc.).

Every believer, at some point or another, will go through the "Romans chpt. 7" experience, just as Paul did. And then he will choose one of these three options:

#1) Cry out to God for an answer to deliver him, Who then reveals the "Truth that will set him free (Jhn. 8:31-32). With time, he will then indeed be set free completely from the dominion of the sin nature and live a "Romans chpt. 8" lifestyle of walking "in Christ", "in the Spirit", and "after the Spirit", with abundant Life (John 10:10) and victory over "the world", "the flesh", and "the devil".

#2) "Go through the motions" and remain in a "miserably saved" mode, even though maintaining a lot of religious activity and possibly even faithfully doing the spiritual disciplines such as prayer, studying the Word, fasting, etc. (although, again- the heart is just not "into" it; a lot of "grunt work" involved). In this state, self-righteousness will dominate, and to a great extent there will be a blindness to many of his own sins, while having indignation/enmity towards those of category #1. It was those in this category (the Pharisees) who were responsible for nailing Jesus to the Cross!

#3) Get frustrated to the point where he "gives up" and returns completely to "the world" and a life of deliberate sinning.
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To summarize and simplify the differences between "walking after the Spirit" and "walking after the flesh", here is a quick-reference guide:

Walking in the Spirit/ The Process of Victorious Living---

1) -FOCUS: The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

2) -OBJECT OF FAITH: The Cross of Christ (Rom. 6:3-5)

3) -POWER SOURCE: The Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:1-2,11)

4) -RESULTS: Victory, in every capacity (Rom. 6:14)
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Walking in the Flesh/ The Process of Defeated Living---

1) -FOCUS: Works, & legalism

2) -OBJECT OF FAITH: Self-performance (How well we carry out those works)

3) -POWER SOURCE: "Self" (our own ability and strength)

4) -RESULTS: defeat, worldliness, luke-warmness, condemnation, spiritual dryness

To the Lord Jesus be glory and power and dominion for ever, world without end!