“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans‬ ‭8:1‬.

When it comes to the pattern and precedent of “walking in the Spirit”, where do we see this modelled perfectly in the Bible? In the example of Jesus Christ. Jesus became flesh so that He could demonstrate to all men that it is possible to be flesh, but still walk according to the Spirit. For though He lived as a man, and though He walked as a man, He lay down His own mind, emotions and will, and His body, (His flesh), in favour of the leading of the Spirit.

As both a lesson and encouragement, Jesus deliberately became flesh to show us that we can all likewise choose between the flesh and the Spirit. With this goal in mind, God first sent His Son, and then He sent His Spirit to help His Son live and walk according to the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). And we know this to be true for it is written: “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, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”‭‭ Romans‬ ‭8:3-4‬.

So what is the flesh? And how do we walk according to the flesh? Just like God is a tripartite being, so is man. And we get this from 1 Thessalonians 5:24. Man is a three-way construct of spirit, soul and body. Our soul is again a three-way composite of mind, emotions and will. And “the flesh” is the combination of the soul and the body. And we walk according to the flesh when we set our minds on the things of the flesh. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”‭‭ Romans‬ ‭8:5‬.

From this scripture, we can see that there are two ways we can all walk in life. Either according to the flesh. Which is the low road. Or according to the Spirit. Which is the high road. And the way we walk is determined by what part of the many parts of man we predominantly live in. If we live in the flesh, we will walk in the flesh. And if we live in the Spirit, we will walk in the Spirit. Which is the same choice the first Adam faced with the two trees. One was the high road. And one was the low road. And whereas the first Adam failed, by choosing to eat from the fruit of the tree of the flesh, whilst the last Adam faced exactly the same choice, He showed us a far better way and outcome.

For we know that Jesus was led by the Spirit because, firstly, God declared — as a trumpet shout from heaven unto all of creation — that Jesus is His Son. “And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”” Matthew 3:17. And we know that God tells us plainly what it takes to be His son. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”‭‭ Romans‬ ‭8:13-14‬. So we know from this that, as a Son, Jesus not only put to death the deeds of His body. But, secondly, that in all things, He was led only by the Spirit of God, as opposed to by His own mind, emotions and will.

And we know this to also be true because when His emotions were fraught with tension and trepidation to the point of sweating blood, is it not written that He said: “Nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done”? Which is to lay down His own emotions and will in favour of His Father’s. And did He also not say in John 7:16 that the word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me? Which is to speak the thoughts of His Father’s mind, not His. For was it also not said, “I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.” John 12:49. Which is to lay down His own mind and thoughts in favour of the leading of the Spirit. And is it not written: “So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” John 5:19. Which is to lay down His own actions and body and do only what He sees His Father do.

Which is why it is written that we are to take up our cross and follow Jesus up the mountain. Which is to follow Jesus up to the high road that is at the top of the mountain. Which is to follow Jesus up to where the Spirit dwells. Which is at the top of the high mountain of the LORD. “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills“ Isaiah 2:2. Which is to be led by the voice of the Spirit rather than by the low road of the voice of the flesh. For both will produce fruit after its own kind. As represented by the two trees put forward before Adam in the Garden of Eden.

For just like for Adam, the two trees in the garden of our own lives are the Spirit (the tree of life) and the flesh (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil). For God is a just God. Do we think that God would subject one man (Adam) to a test like that, and not subject any other man to the very same test? Is it not written that God detests unbalanced scales? “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight.” Proverbs 11:1. And of the fruit of the one, the LORD forbids that we eat from it — because we shall die. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans‬ ‭8:13‬.

And for those who want to know how they will know if they are walking in the Spirit, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” Romans‬ ‭8:16‬. And if the Spirit bears witness that we are children of God, then, by God’s own definition of a son, we also then know that these are all those sons and daughters who are led by the voice of the Spirit. Which is to have one master. One voice. For it is also written that “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.“ Matthew 6:24. And for all those who are led by the voice of the Spirit, of them it is written: “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” ‭Romans‬ ‭8:19-23‬.

Which is when all the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. Habakkuk 2:14.

"For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, that ye should FOLLOW HIS STEPS; who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." I Peter 2:21-23.

Paul exhorts us to "Put off the old man (or works of the flesh) with his deeds," and "put on the NEW MAN (to live and walk in the Spirit), which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him." Colossians 3:9-10.