Romans 8 14-17

(Vs 14.) How are we "led by the Spirit"? After reviewing the last 2 classes, how would you describe it? There is a lot of superstition about the Spirit. Here are some things that being led by the Spirit is NOT.

1.) Being led of the Spirit is not being led by emotion or feelings. In I Cor 2:9-16, the Spirit reveals and searches things, knows, teaches, discerns and judges. These are all functions of the mind. The Spirit leads us by our minds, not by our emotions. We do not "feel" the Spirit.

2.) The Spirit does not tell us individually what to do. God does not speak in a "still small voice" or any other kind of voice, either audible or otherwise today. (I Kings 19:12,13) God has completed (fulfilled, Col 1:25) His word to man. It is written down and preserved for us in the Bible. (II Tim 3:16,17; Ps 12:6,7) No more is being added to it. (Rev 22:18) Revelation of new knowledge from God has ceased because we now have "all wisdom" available in the Bible to make "every man perfect (mature) in Christ Jesus". ( I Cor 13:8-11; Col 1:28)

3.) Neither does God send us signs or circumstances to show us what to do. In the past age God promised signs to Israel, (I Cor 1:22; Ex 34:10) but today He tells us to walk by faith in His word, not by circumstances that we see around us. (II Cor 5:7) We are responsible and privileged to make decisions and value judgements for ourselves, based on an understanding of the word of God taught to us by the Spirit of God. (I Cor 2:15; Col 1:9,10; 3:16,17; Rom 12:2,3,9,10,16)

4.) The only other reference to us being "led of the Spirit" is Gal 5:18, which says that if we are led of the Spirit, we will not be trying to live under the law, that is, trying to gain acceptance with God by doing good works and living by rules. Instead, the Spirit leads us with verses like Gal 5:1,13 and I Cor 6:12&10:23,33 to stand fast in our liberty without abusing it.

Notice that we are led by God the Spirit, not commanded as Israel was in time past. We are to learn how God thinks and then follow Him. (Eph 5:1,2) How different from having every aspect of life regulated by commandments as in Exodus 20-23 or Deut 22-25! Notice too, how different this is from Israel’s future new covenant. Instead of yielding to God’s leading just whenever they choose, as we do now, they will be completely filled and continuously controlled by God’s Spirit. (Jer 31:31-34; Ez 36:26-28; Is 59:20,21; Acts 1:5; 2:4; 4:31,32) God is the same in each time period (Heb 13:8), but He certainly changes how He deals with man. (Dan 2:21a)

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." When we are led by the Spirit (following God’s thinking) we are functioning as adult sons of God, not just as children. There is a big difference. Children are told what to do, adults are expected to think for themselves. Galatians 4:1-7 says it this way: "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world (the law): But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

What is the "spirit of bondage"? It is the mentality (spirit) of the law (bondage). People were told what to do and always had the fear of punishment for disobedience. (Deut 28:58,59) This is how children are treated until they grow up.

What is the "Spirit of adoption"? First, what is adoption in the Bible? Adoption is when the Father publicly declares His child to be His adult son and heir. Before Christ came, God’s people did not have His Spirit indwelling them (John 7:39; 14:16,17,26) and so they were treated as children under tutors and governors (the law). But now, God’s Spirit seals us the moment we first trust in Christ. (Eph 1:13; II Cor 1:21,22) With God’s Spirit, we can know and understand His word. Therefore we can function as adult sons now by thinking like the Spirit and making good value judgments for ourselves. This is how we "walk in love", by choosing the things of greatest value that God loves. (Eph 5:2; II Tim 1:7; Phil 1:9,10)

The Spirit of God, (the Mind of Christ, I Cor 2:16) indwelling us gives us such an intimate mental relationship with God that we can address Him as "Abba, Father". Abba is an inside family term, like Daddy or Poppa. Previously Christ is the only one to call the Father that name in Mark 14:36. Now, being in Christ, we can too!

Notice that we have received the Spirit of adoption and are therefore treated as adults, but we have not yet received our actual adoption. We will be "manifested", publicly declared, before God’s creation, as God’s sons and heirs, when we are resurrected from the dead in Christ’s image of glory. (Phil 3:20,21; I Cor 15:49-55; I Thes 4:13-18) Creation waits for this, (Rom 8:19) as do we. (Rom 8:23-25; Eph 1:14)

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;..." The very presence of the Spirit in us is evidence that we are God’s children and heirs. But also, our spirit is taught by God’s Spirit from His word to know about our adoption. So there is dual evidence that we live in the time period in which saints are treated as adult heirs, living under grace and free from the law. (Rom 6:14; Gal 3:23-25)

What is an heir? An heir is given the possessions of another. As heirs of God, what do we get? Because we are in Christ (by our Rom 6:3,4 / I Cor 12:13 baptism into Him) we are part of everything He has and does. Hence we are "joint-heirs with Christ". And Christ is "heir of all things" (Heb 1:2) "not only in this world, but also in that which is to come" (Eph 1:21)

Eph 1:5,6 says God has "predestinated us unto the adoption of children..." In other words, God’s pre-planned destiny for believers is to publicly declare and display them before all of His creation as His sons and heirs. God plans to put all things in heaven and earth under Christ. (Eph 1:10,11; I Cor 15:23-28; Phil 2:9-11 ) Believers today are that particular church that is His body (Eph 1:22,23; 2:16 ) which He will use to fill "all in all" - all the governmental positions in the heavenly places mentioned in Eph 1:20-23. No wonder He wants us to learn now how to think like He does. We are in training for reigning! (I Cor 6:2,3)