Assurance of Sonship: The Holy Spirit's Testimony

Devotional

Day 1: The Unique Assurance of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit provides a unique assurance to believers, affirming their identity as children of God. This assurance is distinct from the Spirit's ordinary work in conviction and sanctification. It is a direct confirmation that stands above all other forms of assurance, often experienced through the illumination of Scripture or the preaching of the Word, but sometimes independently of these means. This testimony is akin to the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the sealing of the Spirit, which are not necessarily concurrent with regeneration but can occur subsequently, providing a deeper assurance of our sonship. [02:03]

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced the Holy Spirit's assurance in your life? How can you remain open to receiving this unique testimony from the Spirit today?

Day 2: Experiencing God's Love and Assurance

The testimony of the Holy Spirit often comes through the illumination of Scripture or preaching but can also occur independently, providing a profound sense of God's love and assurance of our sonship. This experience is not universal to all believers at the moment of faith but is a distinct experience that confirms the believer's status as a child of God. It challenges the notion that every Christian automatically receives this testimony at conversion, highlighting the separability of belief and the Spirit's testimony. [03:54]

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being." (Ephesians 3:14-16, ESV)

Reflection: How have you experienced God's love and assurance in unexpected ways? What steps can you take to be more receptive to the Spirit's work in your life?

Day 3: The Timing of the Spirit's Testimony

The timing of the Holy Spirit's testimony is not fixed at regeneration; it can occur subsequently, as seen in the lives of the apostles and many historical figures who experienced it after their initial conversion. The apostles, for instance, were believers before Pentecost but only received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on that day. This understanding challenges the notion that every Christian automatically receives this testimony at conversion, emphasizing the separability of belief and the Spirit's assurance. [10:32]

"And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'" (Acts 1:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced a significant spiritual breakthrough after your initial conversion. How can you remain patient and open to the Spirit's timing in your life?

Day 4: The Spirit's Testimony and Personal Relationship with God

The Spirit's testimony confirms what is already present in our spirit, emphasizing the separability of belief and the Spirit's assurance. This highlights the importance of a personal, experiential relationship with God. The assurance provided by the Holy Spirit is a profound, transformative experience that can significantly impact a believer's life and ministry, as evidenced by the lives of many historical figures in the Christian faith. [37:18]

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper, more personal relationship with God today? What specific practices can help you remain open to the Spirit's transformative work in your life?

Day 5: Historical Impact of the Spirit's Assurance

Historical evidence from the lives of saints shows that the assurance of the Holy Spirit can significantly impact a believer's life and ministry, transforming their understanding and experience of God's love and presence. This assurance is a profound, transformative experience that can significantly impact a believer's life and ministry, as evidenced by the lives of many historical figures in the Christian faith. [29:22]

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: Consider the impact of the Holy Spirit's assurance in your own life. How can you draw inspiration from historical figures of faith to deepen your own spiritual journey and ministry?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of Romans 8:16, we delve into the profound assurance that the Holy Spirit provides to believers, affirming that we are indeed the children of God. This assurance is not merely a repetition of the Spirit's ordinary work in conviction or sanctification but is a unique and special testimony that stands above all other forms of assurance. It is a direct, immediate confirmation from the Holy Spirit, often experienced through the illumination of Scripture or the preaching of the Word, but sometimes independently of these means. This testimony is akin to the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the sealing of the Spirit, which are not necessarily concurrent with regeneration but can occur subsequently, providing a deeper assurance of our sonship.

The timing of this testimony is crucial. While some argue that it occurs at regeneration, the scriptural and historical evidence suggests otherwise. The apostles, for instance, were believers before Pentecost but only received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on that day. Similarly, many saints throughout history have experienced this assurance long after their initial conversion. This testimony is not universal to all believers at the moment of faith but is a distinct experience that confirms the believer's status as a child of God.

This understanding challenges the notion that every Christian automatically receives this testimony at conversion. Instead, it highlights the separability of belief and the Spirit's testimony, emphasizing that the Spirit confirms what is already present in our spirit. This assurance is a profound, transformative experience that can significantly impact a believer's life and ministry, as evidenced by the lives of many historical figures in the Christian faith.

Key Takeaways

1. The Holy Spirit's testimony that we are God's children is a unique assurance, distinct from the Spirit's ordinary work in conviction and sanctification. It is a direct confirmation that stands above all other forms of assurance. [02:03]
2. This testimony often comes through the illumination of Scripture or preaching but can also occur independently, providing a profound sense of God's love and assurance of our sonship. [03:54]
3. The timing of this testimony is not fixed at regeneration; it can occur subsequently, as seen in the lives of the apostles and many historical figures who experienced it after their initial conversion. [10:32]
4. The Spirit's testimony confirms what is already present in our spirit, emphasizing the separability of belief and the Spirit's assurance. This highlights the importance of a personal, experiential relationship with God. [37:18]
5. Historical evidence from the lives of saints shows that this assurance can significantly impact a believer's life and ministry, transforming their understanding and experience of God's love and presence. [29:22]
** [29:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to Romans 8:16
[00:49] - The Spirit's Testimony
[01:27] - Assurance Beyond Adoption
[02:53] - How the Testimony is Given
[04:43] - Timing of the Testimony
[06:18] - Misconceptions About Regeneration
[08:11] - The Spirit's Witness and Christian Identity
[10:32] - Apostolic Experience and Pentecost
[13:27] - Examples from Acts
[16:02] - Ephesians 1:13 and Sealing
[19:54] - Translation and Interpretation Issues
[24:13] - 1 Corinthians 12:13 Clarified
[28:50] - Historical Evidence from Church History
[36:28] - Conclusion and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 8:16
- Acts 2:1-4
- Ephesians 1:13-14

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Observation Questions:

According to Romans 8:16, how does the Holy Spirit provide assurance to believers about their identity as children of God? How is this different from the Spirit's ordinary work? [01:07]
In the sermon, what examples were given to illustrate the timing of the Holy Spirit's testimony in the lives of believers? [10:32]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between the Spirit's testimony and the believer's own spirit? What does this imply about the separability of belief and assurance? [37:18]
What historical examples were mentioned in the sermon to demonstrate the impact of the Holy Spirit's assurance on a believer's life and ministry? [29:22]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon challenge the notion that every Christian automatically receives the Holy Spirit's testimony at conversion? What implications does this have for understanding the Christian experience? [08:11]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Holy Spirit's testimony can transform a believer's understanding and experience of God's love and presence? [03:54]
How does the sermon use the example of the apostles' experience at Pentecost to illustrate the timing of the Holy Spirit's testimony? What does this suggest about the nature of spiritual experiences? [10:32]
What role does the illumination of Scripture and preaching play in the Holy Spirit's testimony, according to the sermon? How might this influence a believer's engagement with the Word? [03:25]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt a profound assurance of your identity as a child of God. How did this experience impact your faith and daily life? [02:03]
The sermon suggests that the Holy Spirit's testimony can occur independently of Scripture and preaching. How can you remain open to such experiences in your spiritual journey? [03:54]
Consider the historical examples mentioned in the sermon. How can learning about the experiences of past saints inspire and encourage your own faith journey? [29:22]
How can you cultivate a personal, experiential relationship with God that allows for the Holy Spirit's testimony to affirm your identity as His child? [37:18]
The sermon highlights the separability of belief and the Spirit's assurance. How can you nurture your belief while remaining open to the Spirit's unique testimony in your life? [37:18]
In what ways can you engage more deeply with Scripture and preaching to allow for the Holy Spirit's illumination and assurance in your life? [03:25]
How can you support others in your community who may be seeking the Holy Spirit's assurance of their identity as children of God? What practical steps can you take to encourage them? [08:11]

Sermon Clips

The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. We are still looking at this great and glorious statement than which in many ways there is nothing higher, more glorious, and more wonderful in the whole of the scriptures. We are looking at it for the third time. [00:27:36]

This is not the spirit of adoption again; this is additional, something over and above that, something on top of that. Indeed, we didn't hesitate to say last Friday that we have here what is the highest form of assurance that is ever possible to any Christian in this world of time. [01:10:04]

This witness is most frequently given through the word. You're reading the word of God; you may be reading a passage you've read a thousand times, but on this occasion, suddenly it comes out as it were to meet you. It's illuminated; it speaks to you with a strange exceptional authority. [03:00:28]

Sometimes it can come independently of both those agencies, quite apart from the word and quite apart from a preacher. An intimation may be given to the soul that God loves that man or that woman. It's a direct, immediate speaking. Well, now that is the point at which we have arrived. [03:48:36]

The Apostle is reminding these Romans of this fact, that they can have this absolute certainty that they are the children of God over and above the testimony of their own Spirits. Now, in dealing with that, you remember we saw that to be able to say rarely from the depth of your being, Abba Father, is an astounding thing. [06:36:48]

You can be a Christian without ever knowing this Spirit bearing witness with your spirit. You can be a Christian without ever knowing the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father. If you can't, I ask again, how many Christians do you think there are in the Christian church? [08:18:12]

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is not experimental. There's a well-known book bearing the name patology by a well-known writer who has a Systematic Theology in 8 volumes. One of them is called New myology, and he doesn't hesitate to say that in B type, the baptism of the Holy Ghost is nonexperimental. [09:15:36]

The Spirit confirms our own Spirit. Well, then there must have been something that has happened in our spirit first for the Holy Spirit to confirm. So you see, you cannot have the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father without being a believer. That must come first. [12:23:44]

The spirit beareth witness with our Spirits. It is confirmatory of it that we are the children of God. Very well, now there is the main argument. What I'm going to do for the remainder of my time this evening is to quote some of my authorities. We all like authorities, don't we? [12:48:59]

The spirit comes and bears witness in this case, and illusion it is to judicial proceedings in points of titles and evidences. The judge being set, the person concerned lays his claim, produceth his evidences, and pleads them, his adversaries endeavoring all that in them lies to invalidate them. [15:34:24]

The soul knows his voice when he speaks. There is something too great in it to be the effect of a created Power. When the Lord Jesus Christ at one word still the Raging of the sea and wind, all that were with him knew there was divine power at hand. [16:46:40]

The blessings which we receive through Christ are innumerable. Many are mentioned in the preceding part of the chapter. One of the last and greatest blessings which we receive in this life is the sealing of the spirit. This was vou saf to many of the Saints at Ephesus. [19:48:04]

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Assurance of Sonship: The Holy Spirit's Testimony

Devotional

Day 1: The Unique Assurance of the Holy Spirit

Day 2: Experiencing God's Love and Assurance

Day 3: The Timing of the Spirit's Testimony

Day 4: The Spirit's Testimony and Personal Relationship with God

Day 5: Historical Impact of the Spirit's Assurance

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Assurance of Sonship: The Holy Spirit's Testimony

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