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I. WHAT IS IT TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT?

1. Our answer must depend on our idea of the nature of the Spirit of God and His relations to us. Men speak of the Spirit as a mere influence, an effect of the outgoing of Divine energy. But, according to the New Testament, the Spirit of God is God, regarded especially as within us and in communion with our spirits. His presence is not discerned by mystic signs: we do not see it in a burning bush or in cloven tongues of fire, we do not hear it in a mighty rushing wind, or in a still small voice; but as we do not sea the air above us, nor even hear it in the calm of summer, yet we perceive its existence by the gentle stirring of the trees, the strong flight of birds, the slow sailing of great clouds; so the unseen and silent Spirit reveals His presence by the life He brings, the influence He exerts.

2. The leadership of the Spirit must be regarded as the influence which is thus exerted over the souls of men, and freely yielded to by them. All who choose to follow are led. It depends upon our will and action (ver. 13). It implies following the Spirit —

(1) As a guide for the intellect — seeking light in prayer, and humbly searching the inspired Scriptures.

(2) As a leader for the will, and yielding self-will to the voice of God in the conscience and in revealed law.

(3) As the loving presence of God, with the over-ruling of earthly passion by the love of God.

II. THE PRIVILEGES OF DIVINE SONSHIP TO WHICH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SPIRIT INTRODUCES US. By nature we are all God's children, and cannot cease to be so. Yet we may be practically orphans when we wander far from our Father and live in rebellion against Him. To be reconciled to God is practically to be made sons again in a fuller sense than that in which unfallen man was a son in the ignorance and tutelage of childhood. St. Paul regards this as an adoption (ver. 15), St. John as a second birth (John 1:12). The effects of this are many and great.

1. Liberty in deliverance —

(1)  From the bondage of sin,

(2)  From the slave-like obedience of the subjects of mere law (2 Corinthians 3:17).

2. Security from fear, either —

(1)  Of God as an avenging judge, or —

(2)  of any evil in life, since now we are safe in our Father's care (ver. 15).

3. Restoration of the love of God in our hearts. We now cry, "Abba, Father." This restoration is the source of our deepest joy.

4. Heirship of glory (ver. 17). The son is not simply saved, he is honoured. The returned prodigal is not treated as a hired servant, but as a privileged child (Luke 15:22, 23).

(W. F. Adeney, M.A.)

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KJV: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

WEB: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.