The Witness of the Two Spirits

Author : Keith Sharp

Recently I have spoken with four different people who appealed to a subjective experience and feeling as proof they were saved. Each believed the Holy Spirit had spoken to him, and each gave his feeling of peace as proof of pardon. I have no reason to doubt the honesty and sincerity of any of these people. Yet each used his subjective experience to counter a plain statement of Scripture. What evidence shall we accept as proof we are saved and have the hope of eternal life?

Does a subjective experience that gives us peace prove one is saved? For eighteen miserable years the patriarch Jacob believed with all his heart his beloved son Joseph was dead (Genesis chapter 37; 45:25-28). Jacob had a genuine experience and was perfectly honest and sincere. No one ever felt anything more deeply. Yet Jacob’s feelings deceived him. Joseph was alive in Egypt all the while. Jacob was honest but honestly mistaken. All feelings prove is that a person feels that way.

The prophet Jeremiah repeatedly warned of the futility of looking within ourselves for guidance. He observed, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). If we trust our feelings for proof of pardon, we are looking within our own incapable selves for guidance. Again, the prophet declared, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked ; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) When we look to inward feelings as evidence of salvation, we are relying upon a notoriously unreliable witness.

Is the word of God adequate evidence? The Bible repeatedly affirms God cannot lie (e.g., Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2). If God says it, we know it is true. Furthermore, to be saved, we must walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith is based, not on feelings, but on the Word of God (Romans 10:17). We should look to the Word of God to determine whether we are saved or lost.

How does the Word of God bear witness to our salvation? Romans 8:16-17 states:

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.

The phrase “bears witness with” means “to testify or bear witness together with another.” It does not say the Spirit Himself (Holy Spirit) witnesses TO our spirit, but the Spirit bears witness WITHour spirit. They testify alongside each other; jointly witness. Two honest, informed witnesses are adequate to establish the truth of a disputed fact (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15-19; Matthew 18:15-16; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28). To know we are saved, we must have honest, informed testimony from two spirits: the Spirit of God and our own, and their testimony must agree.

The Word of God was given to the apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit, and they wrote it down for us (Ephesians 3:1-7). The Holy Spirit thus operates in our salvation through the Word He has revealed (John 6:63). He speaks to us through this inspired Word (Acts 28:25-27; 1 Timothy 4:1). Through the Bible the Holy Spirit tells us what we must do in order to be saved. This is His testimony to our salvation, and we know it is true (John 17:17).

Does the fact the testimony of the Spirit is conveyed to us in written words rather than through spoken words or emotions make this testimony any less sure? Which is the most powerful proof of a contract: what you feel a man will do, what he has said with his mouth he will do, or what he has written down, signed, and had notarized he will do? Fifty-nine times in the New Testament Christ or His apostles affirmed truth by stating, “it is written.” The Holy Spirit revealed to the holy apostles and prophets of the Lord Jesus Christ the will of God for our salvation, confirmed it by miracles, and inspired them to write it down for us to read (Ephesians 3:1-7; Hebrews 2:1-4). No testimony could possibly be stronger.

We know that we are in Christ if we keep His word (1 John 2:5). Thus, if our spirits can testify honestly and knowledgeably that we have done what the word of God says we must do to be saved, thenwe have the witness of the two spirits to our salvation. We can thus have confidence we are children of God, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.

What does the Holy Spirit testify we must do to be saved? “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Have you believed and been baptized for salvation? If so, you have the witness of the two Spirits. The Holy Spirit tells you how to be saved. Your spirit testifies you have done this. You can thus know you are saved.

What does the Holy Spirit testify we must do to have our sins forgiven? “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38). The Holy Spirit testifies you must repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. Can your spirit knowledgeably, honestly testify you have done this?

How does the Holy Spirit testify we become children of God? “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). The Holy Spirit’s testimony is that to be children of God, we by faith must be baptized into Christ. If you have done this, your spirit testifies you are a child of God, heir of God, and joint heir with Christ.

If we have the witness of the two spirits we can be confident of our salvation. We know God cannot lie, and this gives us assurance and comfort (Hebrews 6:13-20). Thus, we can feel peace and joy (Philippians 4:7). Having peace and joy does not prove we are saved, but knowing we are saved gives us peace and joy.

Robert F. Turner related that a lady once came to him to ask him to perform her wedding ceremony. He asked if she had been married before, and she answered yes. He inquired if her spouse had died or if she had divorced him because of his fornication. She said no. Brother Turner politely declined to perform her wedding ceremony. She left but later returned and told the surprised Robert Turner that it was alright for him to tie the knot. She explained that she had prayed about the matter and that the Lord had spoken to her and said it was alright for her to marry the man. Brother Turner alertly asked her if the Lord had written His answer down for her. Puzzled, she said no. Brother Turner then explained that the Lord had spoken to him about the matter and that He had even written His reply down. He then read Matthew 19:9 to the lady.

Now let me ask you some pertinent questions. Who was right, the lady desiring marriage or Robert Turner? If you are relying on a subjective belief the Holy Spirit has spoken to your heart to confirm your salvation, how can you deny He confirmed the love stricken lady’s right to marry? Are you doing the same thing she did, arraying your inward feelings against the Word of God? If so, don’t claim you are following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He wrote the divine terms of salvation down for us to read. If you reject the Word for your experience, you are following your own heart rather than the Holy Spirit.

To be sure that you will live with Jesus in eternity, you need the witness of the two spirits. The Holy Spirit testifies that if you will believe, repent, confess your faith (Romans 10:8-10), and be baptized for the remission of sins, your sins will be forgiven, you will be saved and will be a child of God, an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ. Can your spirit honestly, knowledgeably testify you have believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, repented of your sins, confessed your faith in Christ Jesus, and been baptized for the remission of sins? Do you have the witness of the two spirits?

The Witness of the Two Spirits

Romans 8:16-17

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