Overview
Romans 8 connects being led by the Spirit with knowing that we are sons of God. Rev. Rico Magnelli explains that spiritual leading happens in the present moment: believers recognize their identity in Christ, listen for God's direction, and respond to what is directly in front of them with confidence and peace.
Transcript
Sons of God Are Led by the Spirit
Please turn to Romans chapter 8, led by the Spirit. Being led by the Spirit can be directly tied into who we are. And understanding that we are sons of God in the moment boosts our confidence in that moment to partner with God and listen to Him. We deal with things that are right in front of us in light of who we are. Because we can only live one moment at a time. This puts us in the best position to be led by the Spirit. And we can see the present tense emphasis of being led by the Spirit and the connection with being a son of God and knowing who we are here in Romans chapter 8.
In Romans chapter 8, it says in verse 14, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. And what's so unique about this verse is the two verbs that are used, led, is an indicative present, passive. And what that means is that it's a continuous action in the present and where the subject is being acted upon by an outside source. We can't lead ourselves actually. We must be led by the Spirit, which is God at work within us.
But it's a present tense. It's in the moment. It's right now. It's not yesterday. It's right now. And this is a lifestyle that we build, but a key component to this is in the latter part of the verse, they are the sons of God. And the verb are is also in the present tense, but it's in the active voice. So the subject has to take that action, has to claim that we are the sons of God in the moment. It's a present tense reality, but oftentimes the world encroaches and we get talked out of who we are in the moment.
And that's why our identity in Christ is so important. But keep your finger here. I wanted to show you this regarding Jesus Christ. Look at Matthew 3, please. Matthew 3 and how our Lord and Savior set the pattern here and God got involved directly here in the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3 in verse 16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straight way out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him.
How confident building that must have been for him to see that. And then it goes on to say in verse 17, and lo, a voice from heaven saying, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. So what we see here is the Spirit lighting upon him and then the recognition, the acknowledgement that he is the Son of God. Then we see the next verse in chapter 4, verse 1, then was Jesus led of the Spirit. And that sequence is pretty interesting. Because what we see is Jesus receiving the Spirit, God validating and authenticating and authorizing him as the Son of God.
Identity in Christ Builds Confidence to Listen
And the next action we see is the Spirit leading Jesus back to Romans. Well, what does that mean to us? Well, it makes Romans stand out even more significantly. Because for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. And to be led here means to bring, hence to lead, like to a destination. And what's so interesting is the leading happens in the moment, moment by moment. And it is a lifestyle that we can build in our life as we recognize that when we go to work, we're actually a son of God.
When you go to recreate, you are a son of God. When you're driving on the road, you are a son of God. When you're in that airplane, you're a son of God. When you're at the grocery store, you are a son of God. Wherever you are. God designed it that the Spirit would never leave us. And then it's up to us to have the recognition and the acknowledgement that that Spirit is in us because we are sons of God. And then God can lead us in the moment. Beautiful, the way that God set it up.
It says in Romans eight in verse three for what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh. God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and force and condense in the flesh. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. When we are led by the spirit, we walk by that spirit. There is a demonstration that the law has been fulfilled in us. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit.
For to be kindly minded is death and everything that comes with that sin, recognition, fear, everything. But to be spiritually minded is life and peace. This spiritually minded is interesting. Because this word minded means how we formulate opinions on the inside in order to take action. How you and I formulate our opinion, our viewpoint, hence it does tie into purpose. Why we're doing something? Why are we doing something because we're spiritually minded? We're not carnally minded. We're spiritually minded. I confess that I'm a son of God is to be spiritually minded.
And to be led by the spirit doesn't always follow a conventional pattern. In other words, a spiritually minded person may or may not have any physical evidence to substantiate why they do or don't do something other than God is at work within them. It may make no sense to others, but it does to them. That spirit goes with you everywhere. And it's in you active. Now the carnally minded person needs experiential knowledge. In order to formulate an opinion in order to take action or physical evidence to substantiate an opinion in order to take action or corroborating opinions in order to formulate an opinion to take action.
Spiritual-Mindedness Is Life and Peace
Now none of these things are wrong. Experiential knowledge, physical evidence, corroborating opinions, they can move right with the spirit of God, but with the spirit of God they are not absolutely necessary. None of these things are wrong and God can work with these, but we have to understand he can also supersede these. There is no formula. Now why are we talking about this because it's so important. If we are taking on the responsibility of guiding of being examples. We want to be led by that spirit within us. And for us, it's clearly linked, like it says in Romans eight 14 to being sons of God in the moment.
That's why, when I said, we deal with things that are right in front of us in light of who we are, not what the circumstances say. Look at verse 15. For we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you receive the spirit of adoption whereby we cry out the Father. So we're not tethered to this earthly existence and bound by fear in our lives. We're not afraid what people are afraid of. The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, because we're led by that spirit because we believe that we're the sons of God.
And if children then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer or endure with him that when we may be also glorified together. Now it gets to the bigger picture as sons of God. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation waited for the manifestation of the sons of God. The entire existence of the universe is poised, speaking figuratively, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God that will set in motion a series of events that will resolve this entire issue for all humanity.
Amazing. Let's close in 1st John. That's why it behooves us to build deep who we are as sons of God, to build deep who we are in our identity in Christ. Not in positions or titles or bank accounts or anything else. Those are all temporal and they will not necessarily give us the purpose and strength that we need. But here in 1st John chapter 3, again we see our sonship so clearly. Behold what manner, verse 1, of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God.
Now if we're the sons of God, we're the sons of God. So we're the sons of God when I wake up in the morning, we're the sons of God and when I wake up in the middle of the night I've got to get a drink of water. We're the sons of God everywhere, all time 24-7. It's a lifestyle that we build deep within our hearts. And why is that so important? Because it's tied directly into being led by the spirit in the moment. Therefore the world knoweth us not. The world cannot experience you as a son of God.
Living One Moment at a Time
Why? Because they cannot experience God. Because it knew him not. They have not experienced God as their father. Therefore the world will not corroborate who you are or you being led by the spirit in a category. You've got to know God to recognize his children. Beloved, now are we the sons of God in the moment, right now. This is a present tense verb, are we now? The word now is the word now. And it does not yet appear what we shall be. It's not fully visible yet. But we know that when he shall appear, Jesus Christ in the clouds.
We shall be like him, we shall see him as he is. He will be in full display to us. We will see the full totality of the magnificence of the son of God at that time. We'll see him face to face. Because we will have a new body that has increased or will increase our capacity to understand beyond any mathematical equation that I can think of. Watch this. And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself even as he is pure. Any man or woman that has the hope living within him to such a degree because they know that they're a son of God now in the present will be pure and keep themselves pure from the contaminations of this world.
And that is a great way to lead people. That is a magnificent example to set for others to remain uncontaminated, to remain pure from the distractions and the issues of this life so people can see what it looks like when someone believes they have eternal life.
Key Takeaways
- we can see the present tense emphasis of being led by the Spirit and the connection with being a son of God and knowing who we are here in Romans chapter 8.
- In Romans chapter 8, it says in verse 14, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
- what that means is that it's a continuous action in the present and where the subject is being acted upon by an outside source.
- the subject has to take that action, has to claim that we are the sons of God in the moment.
- The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, because we're led by that spirit because we believe that we're the sons of God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main message of “Led By the Spirit”?
Romans 8 connects being led by the Spirit with knowing that we are sons of God. Rev. Rico Magnelli explains that spiritual leading happens in the present moment: believers recognize their identity in Christ, listen for God's direction, and respond to what is directly in front of them with confidence and peace.
Which scriptures are central to this teaching?
The teaching draws especially from Matthew 3.
How can believers apply this teaching?
Receive the truth presented, verify it in Scripture, and live it out with faith, humility, and love. The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, because we're led by that spirit because we believe that we're the sons of God.
Scripture References
Matthew 3
This text was prepared from the teaching audio or source document. Please verify scripture references against your own Bible.
