Romans Chapter 8 Vs. 14

Heirs with Christ

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Rom 8:14

Scripture does not teach us that we are led through subjective, mental impressions or promptings to provide direction in making life’s decisions. Instead God’s Spirit objectively leads His children sometimes through the orchestration of circumstances by:

1. Illumination, divinely clarifying Scripture to make it understandable to our sinful, finite minds;

2. Sanctification, divinely enabling us to obey Scripture.

When a person experiences the Spirit’s leading in those ways, he gains assurance that God has adopted him into His family.

That Spirit within us makes us God’s children.

Gal. 3:26 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

Paul then continued his explanation. Those who are led (pres. tense, “are being led”) by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Many Bible students see no difference between the word translated “sons” in Rom. 8:14 and the word translated “children” in Rom. 8:16. However, in Rom. 8:16 the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence attests the believer’s birth relationship to God (tekna, “children,” is lit., “born ones”). But in Rom. 8:14 the Holy Spirit’s control and direction attests the believer’s privileges in God’s family as a “son” (huios means a child mature enough to take on adult family privileges and responsibilities). A son in God’s family is led by God’s Spirit.