Bible Studies

Romans 816

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
04/11/22
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“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16)

This week we look at a beautiful confirmation that we are the children of God by His Holy Spirit, testifying with our spirit that we are His. We see in this scripture that there are two persons involved in this transaction. The Holy Spirit gives His testimony to us, and our spirit receives that testimony.

The Holy Spirit is the third member of the triune God and therefore is equally God and should be revered. The Apostle Paul warns us not to quench the Holy Spirit as this would be the same as denying God and His Son, our Lord, and Savior. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) The Holy Spirit is our counselor who has come from God to aid us in our desire to return to God’s image that we were created.

Paul testified to the Romans that the Holy Spirit was divinely God when they had disagreed with Paul’s teaching. “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers.” (Acts 28:25). The Holy Spirit has the same divine attributes as the Father and the Son. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is eternal (Genesis 1:2); the Holy Spirit is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7), and the Holy Spirit is omniscient. (1 Corinthians 2:10)

The Holy Spirit was involved in the creation (Job 33:4). He has called and sent the prophets of God (Isaiah 48:46). His Spirit was in our Lord and Savior Jesus (Luke 4:18). The Holy Spirit gives us prophecy (Acts 1:16). The Holy Spirit will provide us with spiritual illumination (John 16:14). He works in sanctifying and justification of the saints (1 Corinthians 6:11). He will convict us of our sins (John 16:8), gives us comfort (Acts 9:31), He has the power of resurrection (Romans 8:11), He is the seal of God that provides evidence that we are His (Ephesians 1:13), brings us spiritual refreshment, (John 4:14) zeal, (Matthew 3:11) He guides our thoughts in prayer, (Romans 8:26) the Holy Spirit anoints us with gladness, (Hebrews 1:9) and presents us with spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:4) The essential name of God is His, and let us call upon His name as the attributes of God are His. We should treat the Holy Spirit equally as God because he has God’s full attributes, and we should view Him with all might, majesty, and dominion. With the Holy Spirit, we should strive to be of the same spirit.

The other person in this passage is our spirit. The spirit is either applied to the soul of man, which allows the soul to regenerate. “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) It is the soul of a man that animates the body and enables man’s senses to see and hear, and it is the superior spirit that enables a man to see God and hear His gospel truths. “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5) The soul is the seat of our affections, and our spirit is the reason for our conscience. “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 9:1)

A witness verifies a fact by their testimony. When the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children, He is verifying the fact. It is a great assurance that we have by His testimony that our salvation is a fact, a record in the books of Heaven. This assurance should relieve the temptation of doubt. If the Angel Gabriel came to us, as he did Joseph, would we doubt his testimony to the message that God sent him to deliver? We would be so astonished to believe the angel’s word confidently. Then we certainly should not doubt the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Paul instructs us not to quench the Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) If we accept the testimony of an angel without a doubt, then the testimony of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s Spirit, is true beyond any doubt. “If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son.” (1 John 5:9)

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, is our counselor to guide us in righteous living for the glory of God. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26) So many times when the opposition comes against us, or times when we are witnessing that we fail to recall an essential part of the testimony, it is then that we can, without doubt, rely on the Spirit to equip us with His word. “And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says, And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:15-17)

As we grow in spiritual maturity walking by the Spirit becomes a natural way of living. Our spiritual growth is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit. There is a revolution going on in our minds. We turn away from the old worldly way of thinking and turn to the Holy Spirits’ guidance’s power. It is the difference between living in the flesh and living by the Spirit. Therefore, Paul’s sermon at Mars Hill confidently said that life is in Him and that our existence depends upon Him. “For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.” (Acts 17:28)

Where there was one witness to the truth of God’s Word now, there are two. The Holy Spirit and the follower of Jesus Christ. The Law of God desires that there be two or three witnesses to testify to the truth. (Deuteronomy 19:15) That third witness of the truth is God’s Word found in the testimony of the Word.

The Holy Spirit is not politically correct, as He speaks only that which He hears, which is the truth of God the Father. Whereas, He testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God. How dangerous it would be for the Holy Spirit to witness that we are children of the world, “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” (Luke 16:8)

Would it not be worse if the Holy Spirit witnessed that one is a son of disobedience. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:6) Or a son of the Devil. “And said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?” (Acts 16:10) The betrayer of Jesus was called the son of perdition. (John 17:1-26) The Holy Spirit also witnesses the truth that many are children of Hell. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15)

But of the children of God, the Holy Spirit witnesses them being the children of light. “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” (John 12:36) The Holy Spirit also witnesses that they are children of the bride-chamber. “And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” (Matthew 9:15) As children of God, we have a high honor. The children of God are the heirs of joys, glory, and an eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, October 25, 2018