The Spirit Will Lead Me

Living in the Spirit means living as a child of God.

a. “These are the sons of God”: It is only fitting that the sons of God should be led by the Spirit of God. However, we should not think that being led by the Spirit is a pre-condition to being a son of God. Instead, we become sons first and then the Spirit of God leads us.        

• The Apostle Paul didn’t say, “As many as go to church, these are the sons of God.” He didn’t say, “As many as read their Bibles, these are the sons of God.” He didn’t say, “As many as are patriotic citizens, these are the sons of God.” He didn’t say, “As many as take communion, these are the sons of God.” In this text, the test for sonship is whether or not a person is led by the Spirit of God.  

How does the Holy Spirit lead us?

· We are led by guidance.

· We are led by drawing.

· We are led by a governing authority.

· We are led as we cooperate with the leading. “It does not say, ‘As many as are driven by the Spirit of God.’ No, the devil is a driver, and when he enters either into men or into hogs he drives them furiously. Remember how the whole herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea. Whenever you see a man fanatical and wild, whatever spirit is in him it is not the Spirit of Christ.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)   

Where does the Holy Spirit lead us?

· He leads us to repentance.

· He leads us to think little of self and much of Jesus.

· He leads us into truth.

· He leads us into love.

· He leads us into holiness.

· He leads us into usefulness.

b. “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption”: Living as a child of God means an intimate, joyful relationship with God, not like the bondage and fear demonstrated by the law. A child of God can have a relationship with God so close that they may cry out, Abba, Father! (Daddy!)

c. “We cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” It is easy for us to think of Jesus relating to the Father with this joyful confidence, but we may think we are disqualified for it. However, remember that we are in Christ – we have the privilege of relating to the Father even as Jesus Christ does.        

• “In the Roman world of the first century AD an adopted son was a son deliberately chosen by his adoptive father to perpetuate his name and inherit his estate; he was no whit inferior in status to a son born in the ordinary course of nature.” (F.F. Bruce)        


• Under Roman adoption, the life and standing of the adopted child changed completely. The adopted son lost all rights in his old family and gained all new rights in his new family; the old life of the adopted son was completely wiped out, with all debts being canceled, with nothing from his past counting against him anymore.

Based on the Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik