MAY I ask for an explanation of the following texts? (1.) In Col. 4:22Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Colossians 4:2) what are we to understand by “Watch in the same?” (2.) What is it to “walk in wisdom?” (v. 5.) (3.) “What is the salt?” (v. 6.) (4.) What is it to “walk in the Spirit?” (Gal. 5:2525If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)) and how may I know that I am walking in the Spirit? ―R.H.
1. Watching in the same with thanksgiving is here connected with continuing in prayer. The exhortation is that we should not grow weary or careless in prayer, and, while persevering in supplication to God, to watch His dealing with us concerning our requests: to watch in faith, in earnestness, in self-judgment, in expectation of answers. In Ephesians we have “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with al perseverance,” &c.
2. We are to “walk in wisdom toward them that are without”―those who have not openly confessed Christ―so that nothing on our part may stumble them, cause the Lord’s name to be reproached, or tend in any way to hinder their receiving that blessed Saviour, whom to know is life eternal.
3. Our conversation should not merely be moral and gracious, or even orthodox, but savory. It should savor of Christ according to the energy of His Spirit; not only according to the letter of Scripture, but in the temper and spirit of that grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ. Practically abiding in Him alone qualifies for this.
4. We are not exhorted to live in the Spirit, because every believer has life in the Spirit. It is the essential characteristic of a Christian―his life is hid with Christ in God. But because we have “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:22For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)), we are enjoined to walk in it―to walk in “newness of life.” Such have all their resources in Christ, draw from Him, obey Him, and glorify Him. The Holy Spirit testifies of Christ, and glorifies Him. He always brings the soul into God’s presence, in dependence on Him for wisdom, strength, and everything else. The atmosphere, power, motive and object connected with walking in the Spirit, are always associated with Christ, and entirely outside the working of the flesh.
A person is not walking in the spirit who is legal. The Spirit never puts a soul under the law. “If ye are led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” (Gal. 5:1818But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Galatians 5:18).) “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty” ― blessed liberty of sons, and deliverance from sin, self, law, death, and curse, ―a “liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.” (Gal. 5:11Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1).) Again, if a person is walking in the Spirit, he may be detecting and judging the flesh, but he will not be walking after it; he will be mortifying the deeds of the body. “If ye, through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body,” &c. “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:1616This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16).)
If then, dear friend, you are glorying in the Lord, and not in the flesh, standing in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, drawing from Christ wisdom, strength, grace, and all you need, obeying His word, and seeking to honor and glorify Him, you are certainly walking in the Spirit.