by Shane Carrington
Synopsis: The Holy Spirit leads us through the powerful and transformational word that He revealed (Rom. 1:16-17; 12:1-2), which is described as, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:2).
The Holy Spirit leads God’s people. This we boldly proclaim! “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). The third person of the Godhead leads us!
To discover what this passage means, and how He accomplishes this, we must scrutinize contexts and discern figures of speech. In other words, we must apply elbow grease! “Accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) requires diligence and precision.
Some await a mystical illumination of the Holy Spirit to lead them—as if they were first-century apostles or prophets. However, through Scripture, the Spirit tells us to read and understand the written message (Eph. 3:3-5; etc.). The easy way requires little study and sounds superficially exciting. In contrast, Sacred Scripture is filled with depths and nuances requiring thought and diligent study. “. . .His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us” (2 Pet. 1:3). So, let’s open God’s book and study!
He led the disciples in the first century through inspiration. Jesus assured the apostles that the Holy Spirit would “guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). Both apostles and prophets wrote the inspired word to lead uninspired people (Eph. 3:3-5). When we follow the written word, the Holy Spirit leads us (ibid.; cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17). We have explored this in previous articles.
“Spirit” is found twenty-one times in Romans 8. We should exercise caution when studying this chapter, because there are at least three related uses of “Spirit” in the context (and a fourth found elsewhere in Scripture). Consider. . .
The person called the Holy Spirit. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom. 8:16). The Holy Spirit is a divine person who is involved in our spiritual walk. The next three uses of “Spirit” serve as metonymy for His activity.
The word/teaching revealed by the Spirit. This is referenced as “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:2), and “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). As Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:63). Jesus’s words are “spirit” having been revealed by the Holy Spirit. That is how “the Spirit. . . gives life.” Paul used metonymy in a similar manner when referring to the writings of Moses: “Moses. . . has in every city those who preach him” (Acts 15:21). Preaching Moses meant preaching his writings.
The attitude the Spirit cultivates in us. In Romans 8:5-6, Paul contrasts those who are carnally minded (literally, “minds on the things of the flesh”), with those who are spiritually minded (literally, “mind set on the Spirit”). He continues the contrast, calling these two mindsets “a spirit of slavery” and “a spirit of adoption as sons” (Rom. 8:15). The Holy Spirit cultivates spiritual-mindedness in people who are willing to listen to His word.
The miraculous gifts the Spirit gave. Elsewhere, “the Spirit” refers to spiritual gifts, as Paul wrote, “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you” (Gal. 3:2,5; see also Acts 2:1-4 and John 3:34 where “Spirit” references the miraculous power He bestowed). The Holy Spirit gave these powers to reveal and confirm the word (cf. Heb. 2:1-4, see the previous article).
It is not always easy to determine if “Spirit” refers to the person called the Holy Spirit or one of His activities. Yet, we know this: the divine person called the Holy Spirit gave spiritual (miraculous) gifts to reveal and confirm the word through which He cultivates “the mind set on the Spirit” (Rom. 8:6, NASB [spiritual-mindedness, NKJV]) in disciples. We must allow Him to lead us through the inspired, written word by which He transforms us into those who are spiritually minded.
When God leads us, He never leaves us the same, whether it is Abraham’s pilgrimage from Ur, Israel’s walk in the wilderness, Paul’s evangelistic travels, or the Holy Spirit leading us through the teachings of Sacred Scripture. Walking in the light with God takes us where we have never been and shapes us into what we otherwise could never have become. When “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), we are following the teachings of God’s word, because “faith comes from hearing. . . the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). Let us trust Him rather than our deceptive, human reasoning and emotions (Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23; 17:9)! Follow the written word!
As we follow God’s word, the Holy Spirit, through “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” liberates us from “the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). Rather than being “conformed to this world. . . be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2). How? Through “the will of God. . . which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). The Spirit’s life-changing word (Rom. 8) transforms our. . .
Spiritual focus (Rom. 8:5-6). He changes us from being carnally minded to spiritually minded. We see more clearly with Him as our guide.
Spiritual life (Rom. 8:2, 7, 9-11). The Spirit’s word is called “the law of the Spirit of life,” because He breathes spiritual life into us through that word. The Spirit-inspired gospel “is the power of God for salvation” (Rom. 1:16).
Perspective of the world and sinful things (Rom. 8:7-8). The Spirit converts us to God from being selfish, rebellious, and hostile toward Him. Now we are repulsed by that former life and strive to avoid sinful things.
Walk (Rom. 8:12-14). Rather than living by the enticement of worldly temptation (1 John 2:15-17), we “by the Spirit. . . are putting to death the deeds of the body” (Rom. 8:13).
Sense of belonging (Rom. 8:14-17). Because we follow the Spirit’s guidance, this context describes our new sense of belonging with God and His people as being “children of God” with “a spirit of adoption. . . by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’” We are “heirs of God and fellow heirs of Christ.”
Hope (Rom. 8:16-17, 35; 5:1-5). The Holy Spirit offers the one, true everlasting hope. The world deceptively charms us, appealing to temporary, fleshly desires. Worldly distractions become temptations, drawing us toward carnality. Arrogant pride and sinful pleasures blind us to their seriousness, intoxicating the senses and dulling our spiritual appetites. The Holy Spirit, through the written word (Ps. 119:105; Rom. 1:16-17), enlightens and enlivens us, increasing our faith, hope, love, and peace. What blessed assurance He gives, even strengthening us through our earthly trials. Embrace this hope, live in it, and He will give you peace now and eternally (Rom. 5:1; 10:17).
We “are being led by the Spirit of God” (Rom. 8:14) as we surrender to the word of God, because the Holy Spirit leads us through “the law of the Spirit of life..” (Rom. 8:2). Paul said that, through reading the written word, “you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). We only know what inspired men knew by reading what inspired writers wrote. May we, like Paul, be unashamed of the written word (Rom. 1:5, 16; 16:22, 25-27).
