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The Witness of the Spirit, May 17
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God.
Romans 8:16
.
You may have the witness of the Spirit that your ways please God.
This is obtained by believing in the Word of God, by appropriating that
Word to your own soul. This is eating the bread of life, and this will bring
eternal life. Compare scripture with scripture. Study the representation of
the life of a true Christian as delineated in the Word of God.
The law of God is the great standard of righteousness. This the apostle
declares is holy, just, and good. David says, “The law of the Lord is
perfect, converting the soul” (
Psalm 19:7
). Christ says, “If ye love me,
keep my commandments.” ... “He that hath my commandments, and
keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be
loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him”
(
John 14:15, 21
). This is most assuredly the witness of the Spirit.... “If ye
keep my commandments”—from the heart—“ye shall abide in my love;
even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love”
(
John 15:10
).
Those who are obedient to the will of God will not have a hard and
miserable time in this life. Hear again the words of Christ: “These things
have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your
joy might be full” (
verse 11
). This is the witness which it is the privilege
of all to have—the joy of Christ in the soul through appropriating the
word of God ... and bringing the requirements of Christ into the practical
life. There is full assurance of hope in believing every word of Christ,
believing in Him, being united to Him by living faith. When this is his
experience, the human being is no longer under the law, for the law no
longer condemns his course of action....
To them that believe, Christ is precious. His Spirit moving upon the
mind and heart of the believer is in perfect agreement with that which is
written in the Word. The Spirit and the Word agree perfectly. Thus the
Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are born of God.
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