Section 4
you are a son of God and that you have a spirit of sonship.
The Witnessing of the Spirit
"The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are the children of God." In verse 14 we see the "sons of God" and in verse 15 the "spirit of sonship." Why in verse 16 does Paul suddenly mention the "children"? Because the Spirit wit nesses to our primary or initial relationship with God. As I have already mentioned, we may be children without the growth of a son, and we may be sons without the qualification of an heir. For the Holy Spirit to witness that we are all heirs of God would be premature. Most of us are not mature enough for such a witness. Thus, the Spirit witnesses to the most basic and ele mentary relationship—that of being the children of God. He witnesses with our spirit that we are God's children. Therefore, the witnessing of the Holy Spirit starts with the youngest age, even from our spiritual birth. Regardless of how young or new you may be, if you are a child of God, the Spirit of God witnesses with your spirit. When our spirit witnesses, that is also the witnessing of the Spirit, because the two spirits have been mingled together as one.