The Witness From God & From The World

About this sermon

Introduction: The biblical evidences of salvation, given to believers in the New Testament, are meant for our joy. Those evidences are not meant to fuel our doubts; they are meant to answer them. As I said last week, that is not to deny that the Lord uses those evidences to awaken the deceived. Nor is it to deny that God has given warnings that are DESIGNED to awaken the deceived. But it is to say that we need to allow each section of Scripture to aim at its intended purpose, and the purpose of this section is an explanation of the gospel that results in the assurance of the believer. Last week we talked about four evidences that are given in verses 12-17, by which we may know that we really are the sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ. Evidence number one is that we are led by the Spirit of God. That is a leadership that results in our putting to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit of God who lives in us. Evidence number two is that we have received the Spirit of adoption. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our life marks a new relationship to God. No longer a life of slavery to sin, and the fears that belong to that life of slavery. Now we know that we are God’s children by adoption, we belong to His family, and the result is that now, by the Spirit of God, we cry out Abba, Father. The Spirit is given to the sons of God. His presence speaks of our place in God’s family. This morning we see two additional evidences that we really are the children of God. Because God’s saving work in His people is real, because the outcomes of that salvation are real, the result is that we can recognize and interpret the great changes that the Lord has affected in us. Our God points these things out so that His people can say, “yes, I see that you have done that in my life, Lord!” And the two salvation realities emphasized in verses 16-17 both have to do with a WITNESS. One is an internal witness that comes from God. The other is an external witness that comes from the world that does not know God. And so, this morning we are thinking about two witnesses that result in the assurance of the believer. THE INTERNAL WITNESS OF GOD’S SPIRIT (vs.16-17a) The first witness is an internal one. The Spirit of God’s presence in the people of God, results in a new affection, and a new confidence. We cry out Abba, Father, because we love God. We relate to God as our Father because we know that He loves us. That kind of affection takes place where there is a regenerate soul, and where the Spirit of God abides. The Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. I want to think with you about what this testimony represents — how it takes place. IT SPEAKS OF AN AFFIRMATION THAT COMES FROM GOD HIMSELF IT SPEAKS OF AN AFFIRMATION THAT WE EXPERIENCE INTERNALLY IT SPEAKS OF AN AFFIRMATION THAT RESTS ON WHAT GOD HAS REVEALED (Without the revelation of God concerning adoption and sonship, this witness would not be possible. At the very least we wouldn’t know how to interpret it) That includes the testimony of the Spirit that relates to fruit. The Spirit of God’s presence is manifested in the fruit that He produces, and that fruit is revealed in the Word of God. IT SPEAKS OF AN AFFIRMATION THAT RELATES TO OUR CRY TO GOD This statement is not divorced from the previous one. Gordon Fee - “The Spirit himself,” he says, “bears witness with our own spirits that we are God’s children.” That is, as we cry “Abba” to God, we do so in full awareness that we are God’s children, but we are also aware that we do so by the Spirit who has preceded us by giving us birth and is now prompting our cry. In saying this, Paul picks up the language of his heritage (“out of the mouth of two witnesses”) and indicates that our awareness and assurance of this new relationship with God has the twofold witness of God’s Spirit together with our own spirits. How do “we” know that we are God’s children? Because by inspiring us to cry “Abba-Father,” the Spirit of God thereby bears witness with us (= our own spirits) that we belong to God as his children.” Matthew Henry – “The former is the work of the Spirit as a Sanctifier; this as a Comforter. Beareth witness with our spirit. Many a man has the witness of his own spirit to the goodness of his state who has not the concurring testimony of the Spirit. Many speak peace to themselves to whom the God of heaven does not speak peace. But those that are sanctified have God’s Spirit witnessing with their spirits, which is to be understood not of any immediate extraordinary revelation, but an ordinary work of the Spirit, in and by the means of comfort, speaking peace to the soul. This testimony is always agreeable to the written word, and is therefore always grounded upon sanctification; for the Spirit in the heart cannot contradict the Spirit in the word. The Spirit witnesses to none the privileges of children who have not the nature and disposition of children.”

Topics

• Evangelism
• Encouragement