Walking vs. Living

I came across a verse. Wow! Very profound, I know. "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galatians 5:25

Well, in my mind at least, living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit are basically the same thing. Our walk through life is what we are living, so living out our life is what we walk. Simple enough. So then why did Paul repeat himself? First, I went back and read the context: Paul is writing to the Galatian church, and is encouraging them to give up the yoke of slavery, self, that separates them from Christ. He goes on to tell them that once they are following Christ, to refrain from turning that new found freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but rather a chance to serve one another. He then urges then to act not in accordance to their own desires, the flesh again, but by the will of the Spirit of God.

So, I wonder if there is a difference between walking and living...

"But I say walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please." Galatians 5:16-17

"He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those whoa re according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." Romans 8:3b-5

"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest." Ephesians 2:1-3

So it appears that walking, refers to following our fleshly desires. So then, walking by the Spirit would to give up walking by our fleshly desires. I wonder what living is...

"For all who are being led by the Spirit, these are the sons of God." Romans 8:14

"So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh, for it you are living according for the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." Romans 8:12-14

"Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God." 1 Peter 4:2

"For it is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him." 2 Timothy 2:11

“I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.” Galatians 2:20

“For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we are the Lord's.” Romans 14:7-8

Living, is similar. It is a death of our fleshly desires. But even more than that, after the death of our fleshly desires, it is fully following God, and His will and plan. We are alive only in Christ. Living in Christ leaves no room for our own desires. Once we are walking by the Spirit, dying to self, we need to take the next step and live by the Spirit, allowing Him to be in full control of our lives. As a good friend put it, “We can walk the path, be so-so, but when it becomes an integral part of every bit of our whole being, then we are living it.”

So then I checked another translation which was helpful:

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Got it...uh, wait, the moment I say that...well how about this: I think I understand that verse for now. The more I learn, the less I know. Seriously. For each new thing I learn, I catch a glimpse of the vastness of the knowledge about that thing that DON'T know. I love learning. It's humbling...