Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 8:16

"The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:" — Romans 8:16 (ASV)

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

It corroborates the testimony of conscience. We feel that we are the children of God; and the Spirit of God comes forward as a second, but still greater and higher witness, to confirm the testimony that we are the children of God.

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

It is first a quickening spirit, and then a witnessing spirit, witnessing with our spirit that we are the children of God. Now, let us consider this again.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

There are two witnesses, then, and in the mouth of these two witnesses the whole truth about our adoption shall be established.

Our own spirit—so changed as to be reconciled to God, and led in ways which once it never walked—our own spirit bears witness that we are the sons of God; and then God's own Spirit bears witness, too, and so we become doubly sure.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Our spirit feels the spirit of adoption, and so there is a double witness, the witness of our spirit, and the witness of God's Spirit, that we are the children of God. In the mouth of these two witnesses the whole shall be established.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

What better testimony can we have than that of these two witnesses, first of our own spirit, and then of the Holy Spirit himself, "that we are the children of God"?

Note that this is not spoken concerning everybody. The doctrine of the universal Fatherhood of God is a doctrine of the flesh, and not of the Spirit; it is not taught anywhere in God's Word.

This is a Fatherhood which relates only to those who are spiritual; we are born into it by the new birth, and brought into it by an act of grace in adoption. Beloved, now are we the sons of God; this is a special privilege that belongs only to those who are spiritual.

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Our spirit knows that we are God's children, and then God's Spirit adds His testimony to the witness of our spirit that we are the children of God.

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Many of you make a profession of being the children of God.

Can your own spirit say that it is true? And is there, in addition, the witness of the Spirit within you that it is true? If not, unless there is a witness to our testimony, it is worth nothing.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true"; and if he chooses to put himself on a level, as it were, with the rest of humanity in that respect, we cannot expect that our witness will count for anything if it stands alone.

No, there must be the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.