The closing words of the epistle are rich in promised strength from the Lord. Here we expound the peace and mercy of believers, the 'Israel of God', how we bear the marks of Christ, and consciously keeping our spirit or soul.

The supreme love of believers (enshrining total trust, dependance, dedication and delight) is vested in the cross - the redemptive love of Christ. Here are some of the glories of the cross by which the world dies to us, and we to the world.

'But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.'

Following 'Walk in the Spirit', Paul turns to well-doing, or beautiful deeds, the practical outcome of unselfishness and humility. Here is mutual correction, and burden-sharing which fulfils Christ's law of love. Paul presents these as the great tests of true Christian progress.

'Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.'

Endowments, seen supremely in our Saviour, are hopefully growing continuously in believers by the power of the Spirit as they mortify the deeds of the flesh. Here is the key to our happiness in the Lord and our usefulness for Him.

From defining the command, ' Walk in the Spirit', Paul turns to how the Spirit works, because after conversion the desires of our fallen natures are still within us. Here is the progressive conquest of the old nature by the new, through the work of the Spirit.

It is a magnificent promise, that if we walk in the Spirit we will not succumb to the lusts of fallen nature. Here is the Bible's definition of walking in the Spirit, with the five points of special attention required by the Spirit.

The Gospel of eternal life through the atonement of Christ is the most precious treasure, and believers are called to proclaim and guard it. Here are Satan's methods of hindering and obscuring the Gospel, and the duty of opposing them and those who promote them.

'But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?'