Holy Spirit - Part 19: Guiding the Believer into Life as a Son

Romans 8:14

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God”.

Here in this small passage Paul shares with us the moment in which the life of each believer comes under the control of the Spirit. An honest and real Christian life is one conducted by the divine Spirit of the Lord. Believers must consider it a privilege, not a burden, to be absolutely set free from the worries of sin and death, for from the moment the Spirit moves into us, those worries are then reduced to zero if we trust and surrender.

Christian life is not one governed by a long set of rules made outside of us, with the dread that we may in an unguarded moment break one or more and then therefore no longer be His. That life, which is actually lived by many professing Christians, is a life of awful bondage. Such a “rule centered” existence is not faith but is legalism and harkens us back to the Pharisees in the time of the earthly ministry of the Lord.

Romans 8:15

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear...”.

Our lives are to be led by a holy guide, leading us constantly deeper in the Word, and continually conforming us to the image of His Son, and by that conformance we are made co-heirs with Christ to the kingdom. In that process, as we surrender more and more to the Spirit guidance, we become sons. 

YES, we will continue to sin as we remain in mortal and carnal bodies. But our sin will not result in our condemnation. 

Romans 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus , who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit”.

Paul had earlier made the most profound point in this matter and we must never overlook it as we consider these things.

Romans 6:14

“For sin shall not have dominion over you...”.

If, therefore, we find ourselves in the presence of some spirit leading us to do something that is contrary to the teachings of Jesus, or His Apostles, we may be sure that this spirit trying to take us astray is not the Holy Spirit. 

1 John 4:1

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: Because many false prophets are gone out into the world”.

As we are led by the Holy Spirit we should take great joy that we are not toddling or immature children of the Lord but have come under His drawing, His saving, and His granting our guide and teacher. We have moved beyond the child stage, and have been declared sons. We have the privilege of not any longer being under the bondage of law or rules and have entered into the joy of the liberty of life as His adopted sons.

There is a further teaching on this matter that is important for our consideration.

There are two witnesses to our sonship, first, our own spirit, taking God at His word.

John 1:12

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God...”.

Here is scriptural proof to His promise.

But there is another witness to our sonship, which is the Holy Spirit. He bears witness TOGETHER with our spirit. Notice He does not bear witness “to” our spirit, but stands with us and bears witness “with” our spirit.

Gal 4:6

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, ABBA, Father”.

He is our Father and He alone in all the universe loves us as no earthly father ever can.