The Spirit's Ministry to Believers
Assurance and Witness
The Spirit Bears Witness
Description
The Holy Spirit provides assurance of salvation to believers. He bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. This internal testimony is not mere subjective feeling but the Spirit's supernatural work of confirming our adoption. He cries 'Abba, Father' within us. By the Spirit we know that Christ abides in us. The Spirit is the earnest—the down payment—of our inheritance, guaranteeing that God will complete what He began. This assurance enables us to approach God with confidence and to endure trials knowing our eternal destiny is secure.
Key Verses
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.