Faith & Reason Nexus

• Romans 8:16-17: 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.

1. The Spirit Does NOT Bear Witness Through Feelings, Voices, or Direct Revelation

• No verse teaches that the Holy Spirit bears witness through a “still small voice” or direct revelation. The Spirit’s testimony is not based on feelings or subjective experiences.

2. The Spirit Bears Witness Through His Testimony

• Just as any witness gives testimony, the Holy Spirit bears witness through His testimony, which is based on the Word of God.

3. The Spirit Bears Witness with Our Spirit

• The Holy Spirit confirms that we are children of God when we have done what is necessary to become Christians, according to the Word of God. This includes the following steps:

The Testimony of the Holy Spirit:

1. Hear – John 6:44: We must hear the gospel to understand it.
2. Believe – Hebrews 11:6: We must believe in Jesus Christ.
3. Repent – Luke 13:3: We must repent of our sins.
4. Confess Christ – Matthew 10:32-33: We must publicly confess our faith in Jesus Christ.
5. Be Baptized – Acts 2:38: We must be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.

The Testimony of Man’s Spirit (Our actions):

1. Hear – We listen to the gospel.
2. Believe – We believe in Christ and His teachings.
3. Repent – We turn away from sin.
4. Confess Christ – We declare Jesus as Lord.
5. Be Baptized – We are baptized for the remission of sins.

Conclusion:

• If the testimony of the Holy Spirit (the Word of God) and our spirit (our obedience) agree, then we are confirmed as children of God!