is it possible for one to always walk in the spirit and never lapse back into the flesh? how? or why not?

Answer 1

I believe it is possible to walk in the spirit at all times and as Paul says "to captivate every thought" without sinning.
This happened to me when I was going through a very difficult time and I was spending 7 to 8 hours a day in prayer (early morning and late night) for a few months. I found that even my thought life was under control, something that had never happened before.
I had lived a fairly mediocre Christian life before that, so this was quite a revelation to me. I was also able to hear the voice of God very clearly.
Some will tell you it separates you from other people, but quite to the contrary I found people drawn towards me because of the way I was able to handle myself in difficult situations.
I haven't prayed that much consistently for a lot of years, at most now a few hours a day. I do notice that my ability to avoid sin is directly related to how much time I spend in the Spirit.

Answer 2

I don’t see how a more spiritual path need exclude a life in the flesh.

A lot of your answers seem to have assumed a Christian outlook, so I’ll give you a Buddhist perspective for some variety.

In Buddhism we perceive three levels of fulfilment: sensual, form and formlessness.

Sensual desires are your “lapses of the flesh”. Fulfilment on the level of the form is somewhere between your spiritual path and pleasures of the flesh and is basically the satisfaction you gain from living a healthy life or the pleasure you get from physical achievement such as climbing a mountain or something. Then there’s fulfilment of the formless, which is the spiritualness you speak of. This is the fulfilment of being at one with the world and achieving a connection that transcends the body.

Now, obviously the latter is much harder to achieve, more worthy and ultimately deeper reaching. But Buddhism teaches that your can achieve fulfilment on all levels. Sure, there are those (especially Buddhists) who believe the truest life is lead by sitting on a hilltop and leaving the flesh to find rapture only in the formless. But I think this is cop out, and isn’t living at all. I think that most people need much more spiritualism in their lives, but that shouldn’t be at the expense of exploring the sexual, sensual and other physical capacities of our bodies.

To put it in Christian terms, I admire those who wish to follow the path of Christ in peace and love and charity. But I don’t understand those who believe that God gave us a body as a test of faith, and that its natural desires are ones that we should resist. God surely gave you a body to use. Otherwise, what a waste.

Answer 3

Most families like to keep their family secrets a secret. Yet
amazingly, you've barely dipped a toe into Matthew's Gospel when you
realize that Jesus hails from a less-than-perfect family. Rahab was a
Jericho harlot. Grandpa Jacob was slippery enough to warrant an
electric ankle bracelet. David had a personality as irregular as a
Picasso painting - one day writing Psalms, another day seducing his
captain's wife. But did Jesus erase their names from the list? Not at
all. Why did He hang His family's dirty laundry on the neighborhood
clothesline? Because your family has secrets too. A cousin with a
prison record. A dad who left and never came home. A grandparent who
ran away with a co-worker. If your family tree has damaged fruit,
Jesus wants you to know "I've been there." The phrase "I've been
there" is Christ's theme song. To the lonely He whispers "I've been
there." To the discouraged, He nods His head and sighs "I've been
there." The absence of Joseph in the adult life of Jesus suggests
that Mary may have raised Him and the rest of their children alone.
Jesus was not reluctant to call His ancestors His family - and He's
not ashamed of you either! Jesus, who makes people holy, and those
who are made holy, are from the same family. "He's not ashamed to
call them His brothers and sisters." That means He's not ashamed of
you; nor is He confused by you. Your actions don't bewilder Him. Your
family secrets don't trouble Him. So go to Him. After all, you're
part of the family.

Answer 4

No.I know some "Holy Joes" will disagree ,but no.We have the Old Nature always with us,and our New Nature really has no power of it's own.So there is a constant battle ,worse for some easier for others depending on your background.We were completely bathed at the time we were "Born Again" but we still need to wash up now and then.That's why 1 John 1:9 tells us when we sin,Jesus is just and able to forgive us.
It is a stuggle ,that's why Paul could cry out "O wretched man that I am,who shall deliver me from this body of death!"
He was using the example ,some Roman courts if you murdered someone would chain the dead body to you until it rotted off,you were infected from the rot and you would die a slow death.That's our old man.Without the power of God we drag that old corpse around with us.

Answer 5

What is "flesh"? What is "spirit"? Why is the pejorative term for all that is negative about human beings a synonym for "body"? Didn't God make the body, in your theology? So why can't you "walk in the flesh" and be happy about it? Why do Christians think that the purpose of life is to deny incarnate existence?

Answer 6

We are of the flesh...so it is inevitable. Walking in the spirit may bring us closer to God...but it will alienate us from our fellow man while we live our lives here on earth. Living in the flesh and walking in the spirit are not mutually exclusive...and one may inspire the other in positive, life changing ways.

Answer 7

No, not as long as you are in the flesh.
Its not a "lapse back" - you ARE in the flesh.

Answer 8

only if you keep your eyes closed, ears covered, mouth shut, nose plugged and brain functions off. We are made of flesh and bone. How can we live as anything else? Stop pretending things you enjoy are evil. Depriving yourself when others aren't physically capable is a sin. It's called wasting what god gave you.

Answer 9

I find it difficulte to walk when the spirit is in me....I just keep falling over....as to 'lapse back into the fleash' what does that mean?

Answer 10

Yes Join a Convent.