Section 8
with our spirit that we are the children of God." This verse indicates that we have the witness ing of the Spirit. The Spirit witnesses that we are God's children.
Furthermore, the Spirit bears witness that, as the children of God, we should not wear certain kinds of clothing or go to certain worldly places. Many times this witness bothers us. On the one hand, it assures us that we are children of God. But on the other hand, it convicts us when we do things that are not in keeping with being a child of God. This indicates that to be a child of God is to be limited and restricted. However, the limita tion and restriction are not a suffering, but a pro tection. Thank the Lord that we are preserved and protected by the inner witnessing of the Spirit.
Interceding
In 8:26 and 27 we have the interceding of the Spirit. Often the Spirit intercedes with sighs or groanings, especially when we are about to do something displeasing to the Lord. The purpose of the Spirit's intercession is that we would be conformed to the image of Christ. For this rea son, verse 27 says that the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to God. When we do some thing that does not help to conform us to the