How do we begin in the Spirit?

We begin in the Spirit by believing the Gospel—Paul's Gospel through faith plus nothing. It is not by the flesh, legalism, or the oldness of the letter. Having begun in the Spirit, believers are not to move into a deeper spiritual life by fleshly efforts or Law-keeping.

Les explains that the believer is delivered from the Law, which was an administration of death, so that we should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter (s542-s552). The question of how we get there is answered: Believe the Gospel (s560-s562). Galatians 3:3 asks if, having begun in the Spirit by Paul's Gospel through faith plus nothing, they would now move into a deeper spiritual life by the flesh (s566-s570). In the Galatian churches, the flesh wants legalism and Law (s571-s578). It is part of the old Adamic nature to want to be under some kind of Law (s576-s578).

Galatians 3:3

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

What does 'having begun in the Spirit' mean?

It means the believer’s spiritual life began by Paul’s Gospel through faith plus nothing, not by the Law or flesh. The Spirit starts salvation; attempting to grow deeper through fleshly legalism contradicts that beginning. It is newness of spirit versus the oldness of the letter.