Romans 8:4 –walking

…that the just requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who are not walking in accord with flesh, but in accord with spirit.

The fulfillment of the law is not an achievement of man (= “the flesh”). Regardless of all attempts. The previous chapter showed us how hopeless such an attempt is. ‘Paul’s law’ boils down to this: the more someone tries and fights, the more negative the result will be (7:23 freely).

The good news of this tragedy is that it requires man to look up. Because there and nowhere else the help comes from. Not as a ‘tool’  in our poor attempts but as an termination of our attempts. For only God (‘s spirit) can and will fulfill what the flesh itself is incapable of.

Paul speaks of “walking in accord with spirit” (cf. Gal. 5:16). That verb is significant. The Greek word (peri-pateo) is made up of the elements “around” and “steps”. Walking is not just walking from A to B but ‘strolling around’. Walking is relaxed by definition. The Dutch word is also related to ‘to turn’. Whoever walks ‘changes attention’ and ‘turns around’. If “the flesh” frustrates – then ‘turn around’. and turn to GOD who gives unconditionally!

Delen: