The Witness of the Spirit

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." - Romans 8:16 (NKJV)

What's the difference between knowing you're a child of God doctrinally and experiencing the witness of the Spirit? Let me illustrate it this way. Let's say you are a little girl walking along with your father, and you know that you're this man's daughter. You know it mentally. But then all of a sudden, that father takes you as a little child and picks you up and embraces you and hugs you and kisses you and says, "I love you! You are my daughter, and I will never stop loving you. I am so proud of you, and I love being your daddy."

Were you less of a daughter when you were walking? No, you were just as much a daughter. But there's a moment where that father expresses his love in such a tangible way that you feel it in your very soul. What is the emotion that comes over you? What is the feeling of security that floods your heart?

This is what the sealing of the Holy Spirit looks like experientially in the life of a child of God. It is the very apex, second only to heaven itself - this place in the life of the child of God where he knows that he knows that he knows that he is one of the children of God.

How can I be told by the Holy Spirit that I'm no longer an enemy of God but I am His beloved child, and not be overwhelmed? Have you wept over God's goodness? Have you been so moved by His love that you've shouted for joy?

The Bible describes that when the Holy Spirit comes, there is "joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8). Romans 14:17 says "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

We have righteousness - we're in right standing with God. We have peace - we're no longer at war with God. But do we have joy? Do we have joy in the Holy Spirit? This overwhelming, unspeakable joy that comes from knowing we belong to God?

This witness of the Spirit, this overwhelming sense of God's love, this assurance that goes beyond intellectual knowledge - this is available to every believer. You don't have to live with constant doubt about your salvation. You don't have to wonder if you really belong to God. The Spirit can and will bear witness with your spirit that you are His child.

Reflection Question: Are you living primarily with head knowledge of your salvation, or have you experienced the Spirit's witness in your heart that brings the joy of knowing that you are God's beloved child?

Heavenly Father, I stand only on Your Word that tells me I am Your child. However, I ask that Your Spirit would bear witness with my spirit that I am Your child. When You overwhelm me with Your goodness and love, help me not to be afraid of the emotions that come with being loved by You. Let me know in the depths of my being that I belong to You, that heaven is my home, and that nothing can separate me from Your love. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: "Sealed by the Spirit" (Ephesians 1:11-14): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/2jry7yd/5-secured-by-the-spirit-eph-1-11-14