One of the constant exhortations of Paul is to “walk after the Spirit.”  I like the way he puts it in Galatians 5:25.

Galatians 5:25 (ESV)
²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Keeping in step with the Spirit should be the daily goal of every Christian.  It has to do with living by the teachings of the Spirit that are revealed in the word of God.  Paul emphasized the value of this in Romans 8.

Romans 8:1–4 (KJV)
¹ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  ³ 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: ⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The result of keeping in step with the Spirit is to be in a state of “no condemnation,” appearing before God as if we have never sinned.  Sin is what condemns man by separating him from God (Isaiah 59:1-2); however, when we are walking according to the Spirit, and thereby keeping in step with Him, we are holy and blameless before God (Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:21-22).

Paul put it a little differently in ver. 4.  He tells us that when we walk according to the Spirit, we fulfill the righteous requirement of the law (ver. 4).  The law that Paul is referring to is the Law of Moses which demanded sinless living to escape condemnation.  Those of us in Christ meet that requirement when we walk according to the Spirit, not because we are sinless, or even innocent, for that matter, but because we have been justified of our sins.  Our sins have been removed by the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5); thus, we appear before God as if we have never sinned.

Another part of walking or keeping in step with the Spirit is setting our minds on the things of the Spirit, resulting in life and peace.

Romans 8:5–6 (KJV)
⁵ 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. ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

This condition is opposed to the death that comes by living according to the flesh.  Living by the flesh means being controlled by the old man who was corrupted by sin—the man that Paul tells us he crucified when he obeyed the gospel of Christ (Galatians 2:20).  If we belong to Christ, we too have put that old man to death, along with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24).

Now that the old man has been put to death, we can keep in step with the Spirit, and He will dwell in us because we have been made righteous or justified (declared not guilty) in Christ (ver. 10).  This is why we have life and peace, living in a state of “no condemnation.”  It is the power of keeping in step with the Spirit.  How are you walking?

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.