Author : Elmer Moore (deceased)
reprinted by permission from Truth Magazine.
Our attention will be focused on verses 16 and 17. In verse 16 the writer declares that there are two “spirits” involved in testifying that “we are children of God.” Whatever is involved will be in harmony with his declaration in verses 14&15. They all declare the same effect or result,- that one is a “son of God” or “child of God.” In verse 15 the writer declares that those led by the Spirit of God are “Sons of God.” In verse 15 he writes that as sons of God they serve, not as slaves in bondage, but as children adopted into God’s family (see comments on that verse in previous article). In verse 16 Paul declares that the testimony involved is “that we are children of God.”
What is meant by the expression, “The Spirit himself (itself, KJV) beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God”? Space does not allow a discussion of the many conflicting views about how this is accomplished. We must address our thoughts to the text itself.
It has been our contention thus far that the Spirit is named for His law introduced in Romans 8:2. Thus one is walking after the Spirit by submitting to the Spirit’s law (verse 5). The Spirit of God dwelleth in him ( verse 9) when he is subject to the “Spirit’s law,” the law of God (8:7, see article #6). One is being “led by the Spirit of God” when he allows the Spirit’s law to direct his thinking and his life. Respect for the immediate context demands that I not lose sight of this fact when I discuss the witness of the Spirit.
The passage declares that the “Spirit” bears witness with our “spirit.” The language suggests agreement between these two witnesses. In a court of law witnesses are present to give testimony about a matter. A witness is called and testifies. Another is placed on the witness stand and testifies. Their testimonies agree. Thus there is agreement between the two witnesses.
The Spirit bears witness in precisely the same way He leads (verse 14).
The Holy Spirit has testified in His law what man must do in order to be a child of God.
The law of the Spirit testifies a man must have faith in Jesus Christ as the divine son of God (John 8:24), repent of His sins (Luke 13:3), and confess with the mouth Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9). He must be baptized into Christ where he becomes a child of God (Romans 6:3,4; Galatians 3:26-27).
In precisely the same way the Spirit has testified in His law that the child of God is to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:5-7). This walk involves walking after the Spirit (Romans 8:4). Walking after the Spirit involves being subordinate to the Spirit’s law (Romans 8:7), putting to death the “deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13), being “led by the Spirit of God” (Romans 8:14), doing God’s will as an adopted child and not as a slave (Romans 8:15).
When man submits to the Spirit’s law in the above described manner there is agreement between the Spirit’s law and the spiritually minded. Foy Wallace wrote, “The verses that refer to the witness of the Spirit apply to rendering service to God as sons of God, and not as slaves; and the spirit of sonship in which we serve God agrees with the witness or testimony of the Holy Spirit regarding our sonship” (The Mission and Medium of the Holy Spirit. 68). “The language of my text indicates, conclusively, that in this great subject there must of necessity be the testimony of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of the spirit, and the two must coincide, must agree, must not contradict each other as witnesses.” (James W. Zachary, The Witness of the Spirits. 13).
I would add to this statement that the Holy Spirit has given His testimony: It is His law
(Romans 8:2). The spirit of man, by putting to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:12, 13), shows by his life his testimony, and there is agreement, between the two.
The writer declares, “and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with Him”(verse 17). As children of God one is promised an inheritance – “An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heavens… unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5). This inheritance is not unconditional. The writer declares, “if so be that we suffer with him,” if we are willing to suffer and not allow the trials of life to cause us to fail (2 Timothy 2:8-13).
