“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” - Romans 8:14
What does it mean to be “led by the Spirit of God?” In Romans 8:5 the Apostle Paul says we, “…live in accordance with the Spirit.” Then in Romans 8:6 he says, “…the mind is governed by the Spirit.” And finally, in Romans 8:9 he says, “…we are in the realm of the Spirit.” To be led by the Spirit means, based on these passages, that we live according to the Spirit, have a mind governed (ruled) by the Spirit, and live in the realm of the Spirit. This is what makes the Christian and the Christian life different. The unbeliever lives according to the flesh and the flesh governs the unbeliever’s mind. The unbeliever lives in the realm of the flesh. “Flesh” simply means the sinful nature – the nature we were all born with.
An unbeliever has one nature (the old nature, a sinful nature). The believer has two natures (the old nature and a new nature, the flesh and the Spirit). While the Holy Spirit controls your soul once you are saved, sin still wants to tempt and control your body through the flesh. When the Spirit leads you, here is what happens:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” - Romans 8:12
You begin to realize you are not obligated to sin anymore. You don’t have to give in to temptation. You can choose to put to death the sin that wants to rise up in your body. The Holy Spirit will always lead you where the flesh does not want to go. Your flesh doesn’t want to read the Bible or pray. Your sinful nature wants you to continue living as a slave to sin, even though you have been gloriously set free. The Spirit of God leads you away from sin.
Just as we love to give our children gifts, God loves to give His children gifts. The very first gift God loves to give His children is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The moment you give your life to the Son of God, God gives you the Spirit of God. He is your leader in the battle against sin.
Father, thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit. Help me to choose to follow the Spirit and not by sinful nature. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Topics: Holy Spirit
