8:12-16 How are we to understand what Paul says here?

Born again Christians are accepted into God's family through their faith in Christ and have the same inheritance rights as Him (CP Jn 1:12-13 with Ro 8:17; Ga 4:4-7 and Eph 1:5-14).

Born again Christians do not obey the behests of their old carnal nature as they used to and are no longer in bondage to the fear of death as they were previously when slaves to sin.

Being led by the Holy Spirit is the hallmark of this relationship (CP Ro 8:1-13).

The Aramaic term Abba Father in both Ro 8:15 and Ga 4:6 is expressive of an especially close relationship to God, conveying a sense of intimacy.

It means Father my Father. (See also comments on Ro 8:1-2, 8:3-4 and Ga 4:1-7, and for a more indepth study on believers' inheritance rights with Christ see comments on 2Cor 1:21-22, 5:5; Eph 1:11-14; 1Jn 5:10-13). "Romans"