Leading and Guidance
A Sermon on Romans 8:14
Originally preached Oct. 21, 1960
Scripture
14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Sermon Description
Critics sometimes claim that the Holy Spirit does violence against human will when He leads people to salvation. Since the apostle Paul teaches that the assurance of adoption is based upon this sovereign work of the Spirit, is it then true that the Spirit is culpable of such violence? In this sermon from Romans 8:14 titled “Leading and Guidance,” the answer given by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is a resounding no. By parsing out the language of the Scriptures, he demonstrates that the Spirit’s leading is not a violent power, but a persuasive power. Moreover, the guidance of the Spirit cannot be segregated from the testimony of truth found in the Scriptures. The Spirit’s work of leading and guiding in sanctification is then directly tied to both the Bible and the saving work of Jesus Christ. Regardless of what any person may say about a vision or an experience, if the teaching cannot be found or reconciled with the Scriptures, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that it is a false teaching. Romans 8:14 is a brilliant passage on the assurance of standing as children of God and the sovereign leading of the Spirit. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounds the implications of the Spirit’s work for the Christian life.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon is focused on Romans 8:14 which states "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
- The sermon examines what it means to be led by the Spirit. It emphasizes that it does not mean being driven or compelled by force. Rather, it refers to being persuaded and guided.
- The sermon looks at the original Greek words used in Romans 8:14 and Mark 1:12. It shows how the same words can have different meanings and nuances depending on the context. The translations are not always consistent or accurate.
- Theological understanding should guide our interpretation of Scripture, not just knowledge of the original languages. It is inconceivable that Jesus was driven by the Spirit against His will.
- There are two main views on what "led by the Spirit" means: 1) Guidance in decision making or 2) How we live our lives. The sermon argues the primary meaning in this verse is the latter.
- The Spirit leads us by enlightening our minds to understand the truth of Scripture. He illuminates the truth about God, sin, Jesus, salvation, and God's purposes.
- The Spirit leads us by working on our hearts and desires. He produces a hunger for righteousness and sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts.
- The Spirit leads us by acting on our will. He strengthens our will to live according to God's ways, though the flesh is weak.
- There are false spirits that try to lead us astray. We can test the spirits by whether they align with the truth of Scripture.
- The Roman Catholic church and some evangelicals claim extra-biblical revelation from the Spirit. But the Spirit will not lead us in ways that contradict Scripture.
- Our view of world events and hope in the return of Christ show whether we are being led by the Spirit. The natural man is surprised by world chaos, but the spiritual man anticipates it and hopes in Christ.
- Assurance of salvation comes from knowing we are sons of God, which comes from being led by the Spirit. The sermon will continue to explore marks of the Spirit's leading.
Sermon Q&A
Questions About Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 8:14
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the meaning of "led by the Spirit" in Romans 8:14?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that being "led by the Spirit" in Romans 8:14 should not be understood as being driven or forced. The verb is in the passive voice, but it does not imply compulsion. He explains that the Spirit leads through persuasion rather than violence or force. The doctor spends considerable time distinguishing between being "led" and being "driven," noting that the Holy Spirit never does violence to a person but rather persuades gently. He states, "The Holy Spirit never browbeats anybody. And if your teaching at any point gives this impression of brow beating or force or violence or thrusting, it is a contradiction to the universal teaching concerning the Spirit in the New Testament."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones reconcile the apparent contradiction between Mark 1:12 and Luke 4:1?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses the apparent contradiction between Mark 1:12 (which says the Spirit "drove" Jesus into the wilderness) and Luke 4:1 (which says Jesus was "led" by the Spirit). He explains that the Greek word used in Mark can have multiple meanings, including milder ones "without the connotation of force." He demonstrates this by showing how the same Greek word is translated differently in other passages, including Matthew 7:4 where it refers to gently removing a speck from someone's eye. He concludes that even the stronger word in Mark should be understood as "a strong impulse urging him in that direction" rather than violent forcing, especially since it would be "inconceivable that there should have been any element of force or compulsion in the case of our blessed Lord himself."
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, how does the Holy Spirit practically lead believers?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Holy Spirit leads believers in several practical ways:
- By acting on our minds - He enlightens our understanding of Scripture and divine truth
- By working on our hearts and desires - He shapes what we hunger and thirst after
- By shedding the love of God abroad in our hearts
- By strengthening our will to follow God's ways
He emphasizes that the Spirit leads us "in and through the written word" and always in connection with truth. This leading involves progressive enlightenment about God, about ourselves as sinners, about Christ's person and work, about the Spirit Himself, and about God's purpose for the world.
What test does Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggest for determining if someone is truly Spirit-led?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests a practical test regarding one's view of world affairs. He states: "What do you make of the world situation? Are you surprised at it? Are you amazed at it? Are you disappointed at it? Are you still looking to the statesmen and others to solve it?" He explains that if you're shocked by world troubles and still expecting human solutions to create utopia, you're likely not being led by the Spirit. However, if you're not surprised by world problems, don't put your faith in human councils and conferences, and instead look to Christ's return as your only hope, "you can be certain that you are a child of God." The natural person ridicules this perspective, but the Spirit-led believer understands God has a greater plan that will be fulfilled.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones warn against misinterpretations of Scripture?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones cautions against several misinterpretations of Scripture:
- He warns against relying solely on word studies without considering context and theological coherence
- He cautions against taking one meaning of a Greek word while ignoring its other possible meanings
- He warns against assuming translations are infallible (including the Authorized/King James Version)
- He rejects claims of additional revelations beyond Scripture, whether from Roman Catholic tradition or from supposed visions claimed by evangelical groups
- He emphasizes that "the Holy Spirit works in connection with the truth" and that if teachings "cannot be found in the scripture or reconciled with the scripture... it is to be rejected as false teaching"
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.