ADDRESSES ON ROMANS
Some people think these words disprove the truth of eternal security. They think this says to Christians, "You shall die if you live after the flesh." But read verse 14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." These words prove that verse 13 is a warning to mere professors. If a man is born of God, the Spirit leads him in the way of holiness. I do not care who the man is or what he believes, if he lives after the flesh, week in and week out. month in and month out, with no desire to please God, he only dem- onstrates that He is not led by the Spirit. He is in the flesh . He is not in the Spirit. He is not a child of God. Consequently he will die. If a man does not follow after the Spirit of holi- ness, if he follows after the things of the flesh, it is evident that he is an unregenerated man. This is a timely warning in verse 13. THE SPIRIT OF SONSHIP 8 : 14-17 The Holy Spirit not only counteracts the power of sin in this life and guarantees complete deliverance for all eternity; He also leads us as "the sons of God." He takes from our hearts all fear of God, teaching us how to address Him in prayer. He bears witness to our hearts that we are "the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." What wonderful words are these! "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Please note that this leading by the Spirit of God does not make us sons. It is evidence that we are sons of God. And because we are sons, we know in a measure, at least. something of the leading of the Spirit. Notice the progression in the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit, as we have seen it presented in this epistle. He sets us free from bondage to sin and the law. He enables the believer to "mind . .. the things of the Spirit." He puts to death the deeds of the body. He leads the believer into an experimental [Page 145
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