By David Wright
Paul says that “all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). What does this mean? Is the leading of the Spirit equivalent to control, or does the person led continue to exercise free will?
Many religious people hold to the view that the Holy Spirit determines the direction of one's entire life, an interpretation supported by the poor NIV rendering of a text in Romans: “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit” (8:9). Here “controlled by” is a mistranslation. Literally, Paul simply says: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit.”
James D. Bales (in his book The Holy Spirit and the Christian, p. 123) gave a bizarre illustration of the unbiblical position that people were controlled by the Spirit. In the fall of 1948, a Canadian girl in her late teens walked down into a river and drowned. When the older sister who witnessed this tragedy was asked at a trial why she failed to help her sibling, she replied, “I made a step and was pushed back by the Spirit.”
The NT clearly shows that this young woman's appalling behavior cannot be blamed on the Lord. His leading always leaves us free to make our own choices. When Jesus said, “Follow me,” Simon and Andrew immediately “left their nets and followed him” (Matt. 4:19-20). The rich young ruler, though, received the same invitation but “went away” (19:21-22). If Christ granted first century disciples the freedom to accept or reject his leading, then surely “the Spirit of Christ” (Rom. 8:9) would give the same liberty to twenty-first century disciples. Stephen, just before his death, charged his accusers: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).
If the Spirit may be resisted, then it is inaccurate to characterize his leading as “control.” Yes, the Spirit leads the sons of God, but he does not suppress human will. Christians follow the leading of the Spirit when they freely seek God through prayer and meditation on his Word.
