The Will of God (Part 6b): Further Critique of the Individual Will [P.S.]

One important issue about the individual will which I forgot to address in yesterday's post is the "leading" of the Holy Spirit. This is one of the most common ways in which people in the traditional view claim to receive instruction and guidance for God's individual will.

Scripture clearly teaches that one of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit is to lead the believer. But the question that must be asked is, "In what way does the Spirit lead?".
Lets take a look again at Scripture to find out.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 

(Romans 8:14 ESV)

Here in we see the phrase "led by the Spirit. The key to understanding this verse (as with most other misused and misinterpreted Scripture) is to take the verse in context. In Romans 8 Paul is writing about what the life in the Spirit looks like versus the life in the flesh. Those who are "led by (live according to) the flesh" (the unbelievers) do the things of the flesh (i.e., sin and ungodliness), but those who are "led by the Spirit" (believers) do the things of the spirit (i.e., "put to death the deeds of the body"). So, we then conclude that Paul is teaching, basically, that those are "led by the Spirit" are believers, and that being led by the Spirit is simply being controlled by the Spirit and no longer living in the flesh (doing the deeds of the flesh).

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

(Galatians 5:18 ESV)

Once again we come to a verse that is too often taken out of context. In Galatians 5 Paul is also comparing the Sprit vs. the flesh as he did in Romans 8. When read as a whole unit of thought, we can clearly see that being led by the spirit is being controlled by the Spirit in your actions. Verse 15 is clear when it says that by "walking in the Spirit" we will not "gratify the desires of the flesh (i.e., sin)." If you are at all familiar with this chapter you will know that the "Fruits of the Spirit" are listed in vs. 22 and 23. So it is beyond question that the "leading of the Spirit" a control and leading to righteousness, and not necessarily specific guidance in regards to God's individual will.

To quote Gary Friesen:

"...the problem with the traditional view is not that it recognizes the reality of inner impressions, but that it requires too much of them. Since it is impossible to define with certainty either their source or their meaning, it is also impossible to derive from them objective guidance pointing to one 'right' decision. God's Word does not grant authority to subjective sources of knowledge. We must not either." (Although they lack authority, this does not mean that impressions lack value.)

Now, I say all of this with caution. I am aware that this likely goes against what many of you may believe or have been taught about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. My goal is in no way, though, to diminish the power or work of the Spirit, but to examine scripturally what it is He really does.