for as many as are led by [the] Spirit of God, *these* are sons of God.
Paul has just spoken of putting the deeds of the body to death by the Spirit. Now he names the mark of everyone in God's family: a Leader lives inside them and guides them day by day.
The Word "Led"
What does "led" mean here? One writer explains the word with a picture from a royal household:
This word translated "led" has many uses, but the main idea running through them all is "to take care of." The Spirit takes care of us by leading us into right paths. Having such a guide shows that we are "sons of God." A young prince is always in the care of a tutor. The tutor knows how the prince ought to behave in his position. He must act at all times as the son of a king. In the same way the Spirit lives in our hearts, instructing us in the conduct that suits us because we are "sons of God."
A Person, Not an Influence
Some reduce this leading to a state of soul — faith and holiness stirred up in our affections and our life. One writer answers that the verse is about the Spirit Himself. Look at what the rest of the chapter says He does:
The influence of the Holy Spirit shows itself in these things. But what is on the apostle's mind is not the influence of the Spirit only. It is the Spirit Himself. What is on the mind of the writer he answers is a state of soul. In Romans 8:16 the apostle says, "it is the same Spirit," or "the Spirit itself." And again, "the Spirit helps," "the Spirit makes intercession," the Spirit "dwells" in us.
Sons, Not Slaves
The word "sons" is deliberate. It sets the Christian's relationship against the position Israel held under the law:
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." Here we begin to hear of our relationship, in contrast with the place of servants or slaves, which Israel had under law. It also opens the way for the Spirit to appear as a Person who acts, rather than only as what marks out our new nature and standing over against the flesh.
Commentators differ over how "sons" relates to "children," which appears two verses later. Some hold that "son" means a higher, more mature place in the family. Kelly disagrees. He says "son" is the less close of the two words. It marks a public place given by adoption, always set against the place of a slave. "Child" speaks of being truly born into the family.
Not Under Law
Is this leading only for advanced Christians? One writer says it belongs to all of them, and sets it against what came before:
Being led by the Spirit is a favour common to all Christians. It is the principle on which God now deals in grace with His people. Outside the circle where God lives by His Spirit, Satan leads men. Under the law His people were in bondage, kept under a guardian. Now, as a Christian privilege, the Spirit leads: "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law" (Galatians 5:18).
Where the Power Comes From
Verse 13 and verse 14 belong together. One writer asks where the power for a Christian walk comes from:
There is a further lesson here: we may be led by the Spirit. He is not only our power for keeping the flesh in check, for putting our members to death (Col. 3). He also enables us to walk, and so is our power for progress in the divine path. We must hold on to these teachings firmly. From them we learn that we have no natural resource of our own. We depend entirely on the power of the Holy Spirit for the fight and for the walk, as for every activity of the divine life.
Guidance in Everyday Decisions
How far may we expect this leading to reach into ordinary choices? One answer joins real expectation to two safeguards — humility, and Scripture:
I do not doubt this: if we walk with God and look to Him, the Spirit will put in our hearts the special things He wishes us to do. Only it is important that we keep the word of God in memory. It will then guard us against all our own imaginations. Otherwise the Christian who lacks humility will do his own will, and will often take it for the Holy Spirit.
Summary
- Led. The word carries the idea of taking care — a tutor training a king's son to behave like one.
- Leader. What leads is a divine Person living in us, not a mood or a stirring of our own affections.
- Sons. This leading marks a family relationship, not the slave's place Israel held under law.
- Power. The same Spirit who checks the flesh also carries us forward; our own willpower has no share in it.
- Path. Expect real guidance in daily choices. Humility and the written Word keep it honest.