Led by the Spirit of God
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Listen to the "Verse by Verse" episode covering this scripture.
In Romans 8 the apostle Paul contrasts the two ways of life.
Humanity, ever since Adam and Eve’s sin, has been following the natural, carnal way of breaking God’s laws—sin. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).
The other way is the way of being led by God’s Spirit. God calls people to repent, be baptized and receive His Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Then those who are led by the Holy Spirit will no longer give themselves to bondage to sinful habits and the misery that produces.
They will instead build habits of obedience that are fitting for a child of the righteous God. Without sin cutting us off from God, we can have the close, family relationship expressed in calling God, “Abba, Father.”
For more on the results the Holy Spirit produces, see “How Do You Know You Have the Holy Spirit?”
