In Romans 8:14, Paul says:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14)
God’s true, believing sons are those who are led by God’s Spirit – that is what marks them out as sons of God. Concerning such people, Paul says:
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Gal. 5:18)
Thus, the very thing which marks out the true, believing sons of God – being led by God’s Spirit – also means that such people are not under the law.
We may put it briefly thus: If you are a true child of God by faith in Christ, the evidence is that you are led by the Spirit of God. But if you are led by the Spirit of God, then you are not under the law. Therefore, you cannot be a child of God and under the law at the same time.
God’s children are not under the law. We may illustrate this contrast between the law and the Spirit by the example of trying to find the way to a certain place by two different means: one means is to use a map; the other means is to follow a personal guide. The law corresponds to the map; the Holy Spirit corresponds to the guide.
Under the law a person is given a completely accurate and detailed map, and he is told that if he follows every detail of the map faultlessly, it will direct him on the way from earth to heaven. However, no human being has ever succeeded in following the map faultlessly. That is, no human being has ever made the journey from earth to heaven by the faultless observance of the law.
Under grace a person commits himself to Christ as Saviour, and thereafter Christ sends the Holy Spirit to that person to be his personal guide. The Holy Spirit, having come from heaven, already knows the way there and has no need of the map. The believer in Christ who is led by the Holy Spirit needs only to follow this personal guide to reach heaven. He need not depend on the map, which is the law. Such a believer may be absolutely confident of one thing: the Holy Spirit will never lead him to do anything contrary to His own holy nature.
Therefore, the New Testament teaches that those who are under grace are led by God’s Spirit and do not depend upon the law.
We conclude, therefore, that God has never actually expected men to achieve true righteousness by the observance of the law, either wholly or in part.
This conclusion raises a very interesting question: If God never expected men to achieve righteousness by the observance of the law, why was the law ever given to men? We shall deal with this question in the next week.
Lord, thank You for the clear and vivid illustration of the choice between the detailed guidance and signposting of a precise map or the personal guidance by a guide, the Holy Spirit. Asked for that choice, I immediately choose the personal guide that is Your Holy Spirit. Lead me Lord, o mighty Saviour, all my life with Your hand! Amen.
