Leading of the Spirit

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  (John 3:6)

The obvious is the division of what is clean from the unclean, but the Lord would have us know also the separation of that which is Holy (Lev 10:10). If we start to do things because it pleases someone and if it is a good idea, it is clean. Well meaning actions not birth out of intimacy with our Savior is of the flesh. We can be saved and sin having no dominion over us, but the flesh can still move us to perform things which are the enemy of God’s best. The best that flesh can offer is good and clean.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.  (1Co 13:13)

Our best and not God’s best can be result of self driven motivation which faces the danger of self righteousness. Jesus didn’t condemn the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, but said that our righteousness of right being and right doing have to transcend theirs (Matt 5:20). The former is of the letter, the latter of the Spirit. It takes a second birth to be led by the Spirit, but it also takes the dying of the self. Jesus died to forgive our sins, He gave us the cross to put the death the self. The latter is a life time pilgrimage. A sign of a Spirit led life is not just based on faith, but the reduction of self and maturing to selfless love (2 Pet 1:5-7)....'the greatest of these is love'.