Living by the Pneuma of God — A Look at Galatians 5:25

The Book of Galatians invites us to experience fully what it means to live in the grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Where the logic and reason of the world moves us to conclude that to receive anything we must toil, strive, and work to obtain it, Galatians implores us to see that salvation is a gift of God through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Salvation is nothing we can earn. Not only are we struck with this astounding revelation and gift of grace, but we are also then encouraged and invited to live a new life. This changed life is by His Spirit or His pneuma, one that is God breathed and God defined. With this revelation and revitalization of pneuma we then are challenged to no longer walk with the ways of this world, but rather in step with His Spirit.

Galatians 5:25 presents to us the invitation of a new way of life, one that is not led by human desires or driven by productivity and expectation, but one that is defined by God’s Holy Spirit,

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

The word for live in this verse is, zao, meaning, “to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).” This “if, then” opportunity shifts our mindset and trajectory as we operate as adopted sons and daughters of God in a fallen world. We do not merely believe and receive Christ and then go back to our former way of living, we are radically and completely changed. It is not a new formed belief grasped and quickly forgotten, rather, salvation is a pivot marker to live a changed, free, and abundant life led by our Lord.

Walking in step or living zao in step by the Spirit is living by His pneuma. Pneuma in the ancient Greek means, “breath,” and in a religious context for "spirit." It has a Hebrew equivalency in the Old Testament of, ruach which we see time and time again in very distinct and intentional circumstances.

A few of the contexts in the Old Testament of ruach are,

“I will cause breath (Ruach) to enter you and you shall live” Ezekiel 27:5 (dry bones come alive)

“the Spirit of the Lord came mightily on David from that day forward” 1 Samuel 16:13 (the anointing of David by Samuel)

“by the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath (ruach) of his mouth all their host.” Psalm 33:6 (remarking on the creation of the Heavens)

In the New Testament we see pneuma expressed through vivid examples such as,

"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit (pneuma), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" John 3:5 (Jesus explaining what it means to be reborn)

“BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL DELIGHTS; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE WILL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.” Matthew 12:18 (God’s exclamation during the baptism of Jesus)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit (hagios pneuma) has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth” Acts 1:8 (Jesus sharing of the Holy Spirit abiding in the believer)

“God is spirit (pneuma), and those who worship Him must worship in spirit (pneuma) and truth.” John 4:24 (worship in Spirit and truth)

“the Helper is the Spirit (pneuma) of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.” John 14:17 (Jesus promising the Holy Spirit)

When we live by the Spirit we are no longer living by the flesh, rather, by the active, living, breath of God. What is key is that we abide by the second half of Galatians 5:25 in keeping in step or following the Spirit’s lead. The Greek word to walk here is, stoicheō, meaning to march. Think of this like a solider taking marching orders, moving forward not by what their eyes can see, or their minds conclude, but forging onward by the direction given by someone who knows what lies ahead. In the same way it is imperative that we trust God’s leading, not our own sight, for He knows what awaits. Our obedience is more important than our understanding in circumstances such as these, for we do not know all the Lord knows.

When we live (zao) the changed life of life in and through and by the Spirit (pneuma) of God we then have the exceptional gift of experiencing God Authored journeys that offer testimony of His faithfulness in every step.

Sources:

Blue Letter Bible

Logos Bible

https://firmisrael.org/learn/ruach-the-hebrew-word-for-holy-spirit/#:~:text=Ruach%20is%20described%20as%20a,breath%20(12%3A10)