I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Living by faith is only possible to the extent that one follows the Spirit. I do not strive to please God in the energy of the flesh, rather I walk by faith. But such a walk is possible only as we make the cross the main focus of our faith. When we do this, we will be giving the Holy Spirit the latitude He needs to empower us to live out in our daily life the victory that Christ purchased for us on the cross. This is the only way that we can live and please God.
Attempting to please God by the keeping of a set of rules is tantamount to walking in the flesh. Coming to Christ and attempting to live by the keeping of the law is the same as walking under the curse, for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." Those who are justified have only one way to live by, it is living by faith.
The blessings of grace are only accessible by faith, as it is written, "that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Though the law is good and holy, yet, it adds nothing to our status in Christ, nor does it bring us into any of the promises of grace. Since grace gives life, and the law pronounces death by judgment, the natural question then will be, why was the law given? "What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator... Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Galatians 3:19, 24.
Having brought us to Christ, the law has fulfilled its function. It is unprofitable for the life of grace, which is lived exclusively by faith in the finished work of Christ. "But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." Galatians 3:25. So, being justified, we live by faith alone, without the input of the law, and to live by faith is to follow the Spirit.
Toni
