So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and
daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:14
Christians may wonder how to know if the grace of God has been poured out upon them. One way to be sure is if the Spirit is leading them. But what does that actually mean? Sometimes people phrase it differently: what does God have in store for my life? The answer to that question goes beyond the context of Paul’s statement. We cannot know God’s plan for our lives horizontally, and the Bible reminds us not to worry about that. Being led by the Spirit is a vertical concept, which means that the Spirit helps believers become more righteous as a reflection of Christ. Righteousness is only found in Jesus Christ, and the context of this epistle is centered around Him. So, let's go back to the original question: how can we tell if the Spirit is leading us? How can we know we are children of God? The answer is a small ray of light. You won’t find it by looking for perfect obedience. You won’t find it by looking for the perfect love of God either. However, if there is a tiny ray of light in the darkness of your heart shining on the things of God, then the Spirit is in you. And whatever work He begins in you, He will complete; that is a promise.
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