Overcoming Sin

​What does the Bible say is our only defense against our proclivity for sin?  Is it embracing law?  Or is it hiding from the world?  As I pointed out in the previous post the Apostle Paul used his personal experience to demonstrate that does not work.  Read Romans 7:7-12 for yourself and see what I mean. No, the answer is living by faith, resting in the protection of the Holy Spirit.  Paul put it this way in Galatians:     
Galatians 5:16-17 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
 
What does it mean to walk (live) in the Spirit?  Walk in the Spirit is actually one of several descriptive phrases Paul uses to describe how to live by faith.  In this case I believe he was elaborating on his earlier statement in Galatians 2:20 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.   
 
And he also gave us a list of outcomes that come from walking in the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-25
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. These are not skill we have to develop, but manifestations of the Spirit’s presence in us.    
 
V. 25 makes the connection between everlasting life (if we live in the Spirit) and walking in the Spirit.  Both are the results of faith.  We receive everlasting life by believing Jesus Christ for life and we walk in the Spirit by believing Him for living that everlasting life. What we have to believe is what God has revealed to us in the Bible.  Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  So, knowledge of God’s word is key to walking in the Spirit. 
Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. That is another descriptive term for walk in the Spirit.  We know that because it produces similar outcomes: v. 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Notice Colossians 3:16 does the same:  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Knowledge of God’s word is essential to walking in the Spirit.