THE HOLY SPIRIT and SONSHIP Devotion 21 of 30 A CONFIRMING WITNESS Therefore, this is a confirming witness. It is a witness already declared by the cry "Abba, Father!" It is confirmed by a new affection, an appetite for the "things of the Spirit," a hatred or all iniquity, and the love of the truth.
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 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." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17, NKJV)
"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit."
The Spirit bears witness with our essential persons the part of us that is "born of God." Our spirit is where the "new man" exists. "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph 4:24), and "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col 3:10).
Our spirit is associated with our "heart," which is the inmost part of our being. " . . . purifying their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:9). And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom 5:5). "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal 4:6).
This is the part of man declared in Job 32:8. "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." There is no more noble understanding than this, that we are the sons of God! Every facet of spiritual life hinges on this understanding, and it can only be ministered and effectively confirmed by the Holy Spirit of God.
The Spirit does not bear witness to our minds, or to our souls, but to our spirits. This is the part of us that can be enlightened from above the part where there is accord with the Living God, and is equated to "the eyes of the understanding" or "heart" (NIV) (Eph 1:18). The spirit is distinct from the soul. However, only the powerful Word of God can distinguish between the two. As it is written, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the DIVIDING ASUNDER OF SOUL AND SPIRIT, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb 4:12). Other versions read, "to the division of the soul and the spirit" (NKJV) and "even to dividing soul and spirit." (NIV). This part of our persons has more capacity than the mind, which is really subservient to our spirits.
There is significance in saying the Spirit "bears witness WITH our spirit." He does not say "to our spirit," as though He were merely instructing or enlightening us. Nearly every version of Scripture says "with our spirit." The Douay-Rheims version says "to our spirit." The New Jerusalem Bible seems to capture the real sense of the text. "The Spirit Himself joins with our spirit to bear witness that we are children of God." The idea is that the spirit of the regenerated person senses its kinship to God through Christ, and the Holy Spirit confirms that spiritual intuition.
The witness of our own spirit is declared a most unique way in John 3:33. "He that hath received His [Christ's] testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." The expression "set to his seal" reads more clearly in the NASB: "set his seal to this." The NKJV reads, "has certified." The idea is that in the acceptance of Christ's testimony the individual will become convinced that God is true. Faith will expel doubt from the soul, bringing joyous confidence.
The Spirit joins with our renewed spirit, confirming what has already been sensed by faith. This drives the truth of our status as sons of God home to the heart, producing the confidence required to finish the course set before us. No child of God can be without the witness of the Spirit. It is a necessity, not a luxury.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for providing the witness of the Holy Spirit. I understand from this that You want me to know I am Your child, and I confess I want to know it also.
Tomorrow: