The Spirit Bears Witness

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God… 

Romans 8:16 

How do I know I am a child of God? This is a pertinent question for anyone, but especially the contemplative soul that struggles with assurance of salvation. We have objective truth upon which we can depend for assurance. The word of God sets the gospel before us from early days. The Old Testament sets the Person and work of Christ before us in numerous ways. The evangelists make Him known even more clearly, and the apostles expound the gospel with all its’ implications. Those objective truths are the unswerving testimony to our standing in grace. They declare that being justified by faith we have peace with God, and that because He has done all that is necessary, no one can lay anything to our charge. Added to those objective truths, there is what we might term a more subjective experience of God. Our text sets forth this experience with the words, ‘The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.’ This is an internal experience of God. It is no less real for the fact it is internal. It is a blessed assurance God gives us to increase our faith in Him.  

Our Holy and Wise God, 
we rejoice that You reveal Yourself to us as You do. 
We praise You for the ways in which  
Your Holy Spirit makes Christ real unto us. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning