“Jesus I Know. Paul I Know. Who are you?” – Part 2

In the previous Blog, I introduced the concern that some Christians seem to rely inappropriately on subjective impressions and feelings. 

My concern is not that there is a degree of subjectivity to our Christian experience, but that it is too often treated as unquestionably authoritative.  There was a person in my ministry that seemed often to do this.  I tried to nail down specifically how they were attempting to relate to the Spirit. The best I could come up with is that if this person prayed, or was in prayer, the first thought that came into their mind, they took as God telling them something.  They would then seek to obey without question.  They also treated the unusual or even the spontaneous as indicators of God's guidance. 

I had a pastor friend who was infamous for preparing sermons on Saturday night.  Several times he would come to preach on Sunday and announce that the Lord changed his message.  Can God do that?  Yes.  But normally when a pastor attends to the Word of God with diligent study, the message doesn't fly in like a PowerPoint transition:  the message comes from the careful exegetical work in the text.  This man was often applauded for his spontaneity rather than exhorted for his laziness.

Treating subjective experiences as authoritative concerns me.  I plan to cover this subject by guiding us through these main points:

1. I will make a propositional statement.

2. Evaluating the texts inferring the leading of the Spirit.

3. Subjectivity implied in Scripture.

4. Offering some practical and pastoral advice.

I – PROPOSITIONAL STATEMENT

The point that seems clear in New Testament life in the Spirit is this:

Fallible vessels are the conduit for the infallible work of the Spirit 

and out of necessity must rely on an infallible source to validate their claims.

II – EVALUATING THE TEXTS INFERRING THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT.

The following passages are often cited to support authoritative subjective direction.   Let’s look at some of them:

1. Romans 8:14 (ESV), ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Undoubtedly the casual reader would quickly affirm that God’s children are those who are guided by the Spirit.  This verse seems to make that clear.  But is this giving sanction to make decisions based on subjective revelation?  Let’s examine the context.  We, of course, would agree that Paul has been discussing sanctification.  From chapter 6-7 he has given to us the framework for dealing with sin in our lives.  Chapter 8 is truly about the alternative to a life of sin as contrasted with a life in the Spirit.   He has just established that to be a Christian is to have the Spirit of God (8:9) and it is only through this Spirit that we can truly mortify (kill) sin in our lives (8:13).

The immediate context is verses 12-14.   Let’s read it:

 “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:12–14, ESV)  

The sentence “For as many …” is part of the whole thought starting: “So then, brothers . . ..”  These verses form an exhortation regarding the two ways to live, the consequences of which Paul had already fully outlined. To live after the flesh is death; to live after the Spirit is eternal life.  Stated otherwise, to be led by the Spirit is synonymous with “if by the Spirit ye put to death …” The reality is that the evidence that one is a Christian is that they put to death sin in the body by the Spirit. 

John Murray[1] comments correctly on this:

“Those who by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body are led by the Spirit of God. But those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. . . .  It is taken for granted that those who by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body are led by the Spirit of God and it is categorically asserted that as many as are led by the Spirit these are the sons of God."

So, in this case, if someone said, “I am led by the Spirit”, the result ought to be the mortification of sin as the Spirit is putting to death the misdeed of the body.  Contextually, we are not talking about a choice of college or a life’s marital partner.  This leading of the Spirit is what He does to kill sin in our lives.

In the next Blog we will consider another text referring to the leading of the Spirit.

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[1] Murray, John, The Epistle to the Romans, Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich., 1975, Page 295