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I. THE NATURE OF THE ACT.

1. Distinctions premised.

(1) It is either common or peculiar. There is a leading which extends to all creatures. For all of them, by His Divine power, are to the glory of the Creator and the good of the universe. This also may be said to extend to all men; as He, the first Cause and Sovereign (Acts 17:28), in a common and providential way, orders all their several actions. Now, most certainly, this is not that "leading" in the text, for many are thus "led by the Spirit" who yet are far from being "the sons of God"! The leading here intended is, therefore, peculiar to God's people.

(2) The special leading of the Spirit is extraordinary or ordinary. Prophets and apostles were "led by the Spirit" as they were immediately inspired and guided by Him in their work (2 Peter 1:21). But this was extraordinary, and so limited and temporary. The latter leading appertains to all God's children, and at all times.

(3) This act of the Spirit may be considered either as it is exerted at conversion or after. He leads at and in order to conversion; as He irradiates the mind, inclines the will, spiritualises the affections, and so leads the whole soul to God and Christ. Then He leads all along in the whole course of a Christian's life.

(4) There is the having of the Spirit, and the leading of the Spirit (ver. 9). Now, although these be inseparable, yet they are distinct. To "have the Spirit" is to be made a possessor of Him in His indwelling in us; to be "led by the Spirit" is our partaking of His directive influence, after we are made possessors of Him.

2. The special acts included in the Spirit's leading.

(1) Something on the Spirit's part.

(a) His special guidance (Isaiah 30:21; Isaiah 48:17; Isaiah 58:11; Isaiah 61:8; Psalm 25:5; 37:23; 83:24; 143:10). What the cloud was to the Israelites, what the guide is to the traveller who knows not his way, that the Spirit of God is to believers.

(b) His powerful inclination. He leads not only by a naked guidance or directive light (Colossians 1:9; Ephesians 5:10), but also by the efficacious inclining of the heart, the bowing and bending of the will, the overpowering of the affections, to close with and follow His guidance in the doing of what is good, and in the shunning of what is evil (Psalm 119:35, 36).

(c) His co-operation and corroboration. When one leads another both have their proper action and motion, and both unite and concur therein (Isaiah 26:12; Philippians 2:12, 13). So His leading resembles the mother's or nurse's leading the child. They take it by the hand, hold it up, join their strength with its weakness; and so they enable it to go (ver. 26; Ephesians 3:16).

(d) His Agency. Where He governs, there He leads. It is like a general leading an army: they are subject to his will, steered by him in their motions, as the ship is by the pilot, or the chariot by him that drives it.

(2) Something on the creatures' part. And that is their yielding up of themselves to this guidance. Without this, it is not "leading"; for that imports motion after something that goes before. And that motion must be voluntary, or else it is being dragged, not "led" (Isaiah 2:3; Song of Solomon 1:4).

3. Four things opened about the Spirit's leading.

(1) What the Spirit leads unto — truth and holiness (John 16:13; Ephesians 5:9; Psalm 23:3). This holiness includes holy affections, the exercise of the several graces (2 Thessalonians 3:5), and the avoiding and mortifying of sin (Romans 8:13).

(2) The rule by which He leads — the written Word (Proverbs 6:22, 23; Psalm 119:105, 133; Micah 6:8), which is the Christian compass by which he must steer his course, the star that must direct him in all his motions (Isaiah 8:20). The Spirit gives light and life to the Word; and the Word gives evidence that the guidance is from the Spirit.

(3) The manner of His leading.

(a) With power and efficacy. The person led shall certainly follow Him (Ezekiel 26:27; Jeremiah 31:18).

(b) With all sweetness and gentleness. The will is determined, but so as that not the least violence is done to it, to the infringing of its liberty (Psalm 110:3; Hosea 2:14).

(4) The extent of His leading.

(a) In regard of the subject or person led. It extends to the whole man; first to the soul, understanding, will, and affections, and then to the body, yea, to the whole conversation.

(b) In regard of the object or matter that the Spirit leads unto. The whole duty of a Christian; to all that he is to know, believe, and do.

(c) In regard of the degree and measure of it. All have the thing in the necessary and substantial part of it, yet some have more and some less.

II. SOME PRACTICAL INQUIRIES ABOUT IT.

1. What inducements are there to excite men to attain and live under this leading?

(1) The excellency of the thing. The person leading, the great Spirit of God; the act, Divine and supernatural leading; the object, the loving of God, delighting in God, conformity to God.

(2) The necessity of it. What becomes of the blind man that has none to guide him? of the weak child that has none to uphold it?

(3) As the natural guide is defective and insufficient, so there are other guides which are destructive and damnable. Such as Satan, depraved nature, indwelling sin, the flesh, the world.

(4) Weigh the way and manner of the Spirit's leading —

(a)  With great exactness and wisdom (Isaiah 11:2; Psalm 32:8).

(b)  With infinite truth and faithfulness (Proverbs 4:11; Genesis 24:27, 48; Psalm 107:7).

(c)  Safely, in reference both to the way and to the end (Psalm 78:53).

(5) The blessings that result from this leading.

(a)  Inward peace and comfort.

(b)  A readiness to all duties of holiness.

(c)  Sonship to God.

(d)  The glory and blessedness of heaven (Psalm 73:24).

2. How may this leading of the Spirit be attained?

(1) There must be the having of the Spirit before there can be the leading of the Spirit. Therefore attend upon the gospel, by which He is conveyed.

(2) The first leading of the Spirit must be had before the secondary leading. He must first lead you to God by conversion.

(3) Be willing to follow the motions of the Spirit.

(4) Let your dependence be upon God and His Spirit for guidance (Psalm 25:9; Proverbs 3:5, 6; Job 18:7; Proverbs 20:24).

(5) Pray much for this grace of the Spirit (Psalm 143:10).

3. What duties are incumbent upon those who are led by the Spirit?

(1) They should more and more follow the leadings of the Spirit.

(a)  More exactly (Numbers 9:18, 21).

(b)  More fully (Numbers 16:24).

(c)  More uniformly and constantly.

(d)  More readily and freely.

(e)  So as to make further progress in the way.

(f)  With stronger resolution and purpose of heart.

(2) Let it be your great and constant care and endeavour to get the Spirit's leading continued to you.

(3) Labour after the having of the leading of the Spirit in a higher degree and measure.

(4) So live as that it may appear to others that you are led by this Spirit.

(5) Be very thankful for this glorious mercy.

4. May such who are led by the Spirit fetch comfort from it? Undoubtedly —

(1) It is a clear evidence, a deciding argument, of your being the sons of God.

(2) As it is certain evidence of sonship here, so it is a certain pledge of heaven and salvation hereafter.

(J. Jacomb, D.D.)

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KJV: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

WEB: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.