06. Witness of the Spirit

SERMON 6 Witness of the Spirit

Our present subject is the witnessing influence of the Spirit of God.

While Christ was on earth He taught that the world could not receive the spirit of truth because they believed not on Him. Paul also taught if we have not the Spirit Of Christ we are none of His; that because we are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father, and that His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are sons of God. Seeing, then, of how much importance this subject is, it becomes a matter of serious consideration to carefully examine the subject to see whether or not we are children of God. In the word of God we find the plan of salvation made so plain that no one need doubt his acceptance with God if he will carefully examine his obedience in the line of truth.

But before calling attention to the witnessing influence of the Holy Spirit there are other thoughts connected with the work of the Spirit which we would do well to examine. It is true that there is more said and less understood about the work of the Spirit in our time than any other subject in the Bible, except the subject of religion.

In the sacred writings we find the Spirit represented from different standpoints, and associated with different works. If I desire to study this subject, I would begin at the first of Genesis and study all through the Bible. In every place where I found anything done in which the Spirit was associated with the doing of the thing, in which a miracle was performed, I would call that the miraculous power of the Spirit, and write it in book number one. I would notice all places where conversions were recorded in which the Spirit had anything to do with the conversion and I would call that the converting power of the Spirit, and write it in book number two. I would read all the places in the Bible where the Spirit was represented as a Comforter, and would call that the comforting influence of the Spirit, and call it book number three. Every place where the Spirit is recognized as a witness, I would call that the witnessing power of the Spirit, and write that in book number four. Everything done by the Spirit in all ages will come under one of these heads.

Then the question, under which head must I place the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit? This question is important; for on this part of the subject much discussion in the religious world exists. Does the baptism Of the Holy Spirit come under the miraculous, converting, comforting, or witnessing work of the Spirit? The only way to settle this matter is to turn to the New Testament teaching. In the second chapter of Acts, and the tenth chapter of Acts are two records of people receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In both Of these places we find miracles were performed, for the people when baptized, could speak with tongues, and perform other miracles.

If the speaking with tongues was the effect of Holy Ghost baptism in apostolic times, and we can claim to have the same God that people had then, and if we have the same Spirit, and are the same kind of people, certainly, if we are baptized with the Spirit, we could perform miracles just as they did.

Here is where my brethren meet so much opposition in their theological debates with the religious world. Many people, never thinking there is a difference between the baptism of the Spirit and the converting power Of the same, accuse my brethren of not believing in the work of the Spirit in conversion, while we only deny the baptism of the - Spirit In conversion.

In apostolic times no man was ever baptized with the Holy Spirit, but who could speak in different tongues, drink deadly poison, and let serpents bite him without harm. In our time we find thousands of people claiming to have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, yet they can do none of these things. This leads me to believe that a mistake has been made somewhere. But is it true that men are now baptized with the Holy Spirit? Paul taught (1 Corinthians 12:8-10) that speaking with tongues should cease; that when that which was perfect was come, then that which was in part should be done away. Prophecy, knowledge (supernatural), and speaking with tongues belonged to that imperfect age. Did that which was perfect ever come? It certainly did when the scheme of human redemption was taught by the apostles; when it became knowledge to the children of men; when it was written for coming generations. Then these extraordinary aids which accompanied the preaching of the gospel, had filled their mission and passed away. So we find the apostles speaking of the gospel as “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:2). It is also referred to as “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:26). The mission of the angels, the baptizing of the Holy Spirit, and the miraculous work of the Spirit gave us a law that makes us free, and after this time these aids were of no use.

But I pass from this part of the subject to the witnessing power of the Spirit. His Spirit bears witness with my spirit that I am a child of God. But how? In Romans 8:2 I learn that the Spirit is an intelligent person, able to give a law that makes us free. Then we have the Holy Spirit on one aide giving the-law of liberty, and the human spirit on the other side to obey said law and be made free, No one can trace these steps along the line 02 Bible information, and measure himself by them, and have any doubt of his salvation.

Then calling attention to the diagram, we notice that the Holy Spirit is on one side, and the human spirit on the other. We find what one has commanded and will see if the other has obeyed and been made free. The Holy Spirit, as a lawgiver on one aide, says that I must hear Christ in all things whatsoever He has commanded me (Acts 3:22-24). My spirit on the other side says, “ I have heard Him in all things.” So far then we have agreed.

I turn and find again the Holy Spirit teaches that in order to my salvation I must believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 20:30-31). My Spirit says, “ I believe this with all my heart,” and then asks the question, In believing this, how am I to have life through His name? I turn to the Holy Spirit for the answer, and find that He commands me to repent of my sins, and tells me that repentance is unto life (Acts 17:30; Acts 11:18). My spirit can truly say, “ I have repented of my sins.”

I then turn to the Holy Spirit and find Him teaching that I must confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, for with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. My spirit says, “ I have confessed Him unto salvation.” But here a fatal mistake may be made. The Spirit also says, “If a man strive for masteries, he is not crowned except he strive lawfully (2 Timothy 2:5). The law says that our confession is unto salvation, and if I have made a confession because of salvation—that is if I confess that God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven my sins, or that I was once a great sinner, but I have passed from death unto life, and many other things required by this religious world which are not written in the Bible— I still fail to make a scriptural confession. Not having made the scriptural confession, I can not claim the promise dependent thereupon.

Finally, I turn and find the Spirit teaching that as many as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). The Spirit says, “Repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).

If my spirit claims that I was baptized because I was already in Christ, or was baptized because of remission of sine in neither case can I find agreement between the two spirits. But if, on the other hand, my spirit gladly receives the word of God like the people did on the day of Pentecost, and is baptized into Christ, into his death, into remission of sins, I can truly claim, without the shadow of a doubt, that I am a child of God, having passed from death unto life. I can claim that I have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine given by the Spirit; and being then made free from sin, I became a servant of righteousness and a child of God, and have my fruit unto holiness, and in the end everlasting life, through Jesus Christ who loved me and gave himself for me.

Therefore the Holy Spirit and my spirit bear the same testimony and we are agreed. In other words his Spirit bears witness “with” my spirit—not “to” my spirit.