The Witness Of The Spirit To Our Adoption Desirable And Attainable.

Adapted From A Sermon

By Philip Doddridge

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

 (Romans 8:16)

This morning we come to the second part of Doddridge's sermon on The Witness Of The Spirit in which we will consider:

III. How desirable this testimony is;

IV. Some guidance for obtaining this great privilege; and

V. And conclude with some specific application.

And our text was Romans 8:16: The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

If simply being religious outwardly were enough to make men wise and good through some automatic process, your progress would soon be obvious to all men; but, it is clear that we can no more expect spiritual growth from merely hearing the gospel than we can expect healing from only looking at a medicine. Serious thought and sincere application are what make religious practices effective.

Only God and your own consciences know how much you have applied this to what was recently shared with you from these words; in which we were told what is meant by the witness of the Spirit, and how it can be distinguished from false and deceptive hopes. One would expect that you have carefully examined yourselves: one would think that such important truths deserve and require repeated thought. It is really a serous mistake not to have given such thought to them, as should become clear as we consider,

III. The joy of those who have the Spirit thus confirming with their spirit that they are the children of God. This will become clear if we consider how such assurance tends to make duty simple, temptation weak, affliction tolerable, and death itself appealing. We will explore each of these in greater detail.

1. The assurance provided by the Spirit greatly aids in fulfilling our responsibilities. Anything that uplifts and broadens the soul through the practice of hope and love, when wisely guided and focused, produces this result. David states, "I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart."{Psalm 109:32} What could more effectively encourage this joyful outcome than the Spirit’s confirmation that we are God’s children? This certainty naturally leads us to see our entire duty as the command of a Father and to confidently expect his support, approval, and reward, despite our shortcomings.

It makes duty precious to us as we view it as carrying out our Father’s instructions. What could be more reasonable, and, to a well-intentioned child, what could be more enjoyable? A Christian declares, "God is my father," and then I can be certain that as all his commands are wise, they are kind as well. He does not withhold anything that would be truly beneficial for me. He places no unnecessary burden on me. What he commands is for my benefit. My soul, be content knowing it is your Father’s will: the will of a Father who loves you, and whom you have every reason to love. My soul, can you imagine any stronger motivation? Behold what manner of love he has given me! to spare me when I was an enemy! and not only that, but to make me a son! to grant me all these privileges and hopes! to visit me daily with signs of his caring attention! to lead and guide me with his wisdom! and soon to take me to dwell with him.

These are favors that would be poorly repaid if every moment of my life were not spent in praising and serving him. Blessed God! why can I do no more for you? Oh, that I had the abilities of an angel to pursue this joyful purpose! Oh, that I could set aside these mortal weaknesses, that I might never tire though I never rest. To think that I am serving you is its own reward. It brings a joy that nothing else can provide.

Furthermore, since many duties of life involve direct connection with God, the Spirit’s assurance makes these duties especially meaningful. Who would not cherish conversing with such a Father? Regarding acts of kindness and generosity, knowing we have received such immense blessings may encourage us to give freely as we are able. Moreover, recognizing our shared bond as members of the same body, children of the same family, and heirs of the same hope promotes a deeper form of charity than human reasons alone could inspire.

Additionally, this assurance makes duty easier by confirming our Father’s support. A Christian reflects, "If I am a child of God, how much has he already done to make and keep me so? Consider it, O my soul, as a reason to hope for more. Approach him with holy confidence. Seek his throne of grace for a greater outpouring of his life-giving, sanctifying Spirit. He is already yours, already working to some extent as a Spirit of adoption. The remaining work will be completed in its time. God will continue it until the day of the Lord."

This assurance also strengthens our hope of being graciously accepted and rewarded. "Countless flaws do indeed surround me: but a father is pleased with the weakest efforts his children make to serve him, if done with sincere hearts. For them, it is clear that where there is a willing heart, it is accepted based on what they have, not what they lack. So will God be gracious and overlook my many weaknesses; for he knows our nature, and as a father pities his children, so he pities those who revere him. He will accept my feeble attempts, and he will reward them, though they deserve nothing from him.

Though I am an unprofitable servant, he will treat me as a beloved son, and stoop so far as to promise to be my debtor, and say he will not be unjust to forget my work of faith and labor of love. Be steadfast and unwavering, O my soul! always excelling in the work of the Lord. There is a glorious inheritance for you, compared to which all your efforts and sorrows are as a feather weighed against a pallet of gold." Thus, the Spirit’s assurance makes duty easier.

2. The influence of temptations is significantly weakened compared to their usual strength. This happens in several ways, as it prepares the soul for a close relationship with God and fills it with great expectations of deep and uplifting joy. Whatever Satan offers as the cost of our purity seems small and insignificant. The soul develops a refined sense of value, and thus the temptation fails to entice.

Shall I, a child of God, an heir of glory, lower myself and bring shame to my family by sinking so low? Did God call me to these honors and privileges only for me to tarnish them in the dirt? With firm rejection, I dismiss the idea. Shall I act with such ingratitude? Is this my love? Is this my duty to my heavenly Father? O my soul, is this how you show gratitude to him? How rightly might he respond by withdrawing his spirit, hiding his presence, or treating me as an enemy! How painful that would be! How much more intense the sorrow of those distressing moments would be, amplified by all the light, joy, and happiness I now experience, by those wonderful assurances of his gracious Spirit!

Get behind me, Satan, if you would pull me into this, enemy of my honor, my peace, and my safety! Instead, O my soul, far better to give up every pleasure and endure every hardship with this joyful vision and confidence, than to do anything, for any reason, that might risk or threaten them.

3. This assurance of the Spirit eases our burdens, for it reveals that all our challenges are chosen by our Heavenly Father's wisdom, softened by his presence, refined by his grace, and ultimately serve the purposes of his love to increase our eternal joy. It shows that our challenges are selected by our Father's wisdom and love. "These seem, indeed," will the Christian say, "to be evil; but God sees them in another light, or he would not surely send them upon me his child. He has forgiven my sins, he has received my soul; and surely he does not now strike me in anger. It is, needful, that I am in distress. My pain is great, but it is what he makes it. The thing which I feared is come upon me; but my Father brought it on, knowing it suitable to produce a better and greater effect than could have been achieved in any other way. Let me be content in this, if I do not know the reason why this is sent, my Father knows it, and that is enough."

Furthermore, this assurance shows that our challenges are moderated by his presence. "He sits by as the refiner, and sees how the furnace performs its operations, and adjusts it as he sees fit. He stays his rough wind in the day of his east wind. And he every now and then breathes a fresher breeze upon my soul, and speaks to me in the language of peace and love; so that while my afflictions abound, my consolations in Christ abound much more. And welcome the affliction, when so attended! It further shows that he will purify them by his grace; and this makes them lighter."

"If I am a child of God, I am disciplined for my benefit, that I may share in his holiness. He is doing my soul good by bringing me closer to himself, preparing me for further blessings of his favor here and hereafter: and in this view, far, far be it from me to complain! Especially since this testimony of the Spirit shows that all afflictions will end in the enhancement of our eternal happiness. And this is a very comforting thought. These light afflictions produce a far greater and eternal glory. True, they are painful now, but at present the seed is sown which will grow into a harvest of joy. I go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, but shall doubtless come again rejoicing. When my Father has brought me up, as he quickly will, and has shown me all the various steps of the way, I will find that all was completely right; and will see those things to be matter of praise, of which I am now under temptation to complain. My tears will quickly be wiped away; and, therefore, in the meantime, I will weep, as though I wept not." Indeed, the soul will be so captivated by admiration, love, and praise that it will have little time or desire to complain or grieve, regardless of the challenges it encounters in this place of its pilgrimage.

4. This assurance of the Spirit greatly contributes to making death a source of comfort, for it confirms to the Christian the presence of God in his final moments and the promise of eternal glory following a brief trial. "Shall I be afraid to die," will the Christian say, "when my Father will be with me? Earthly friends must, indeed, be separated. I must pass through the dark valley of the shadow of death alone: but why should I be terrified at that, while God speaks to me in these words: Fear not, for I am with you, &c: and surely if he is with me, I need not fear.

Let the wicked fear to die, who die as by the sword of Divine vengeance: but surely I can say, "Death, you may kill me, but you cannot hurt me." Will not death, may the Christian say, carry me to a realm of glory? "Are you a child of God, and afraid of your inheritance? Why, it is the thing which you have chosen: It is the hope for which you have waited many years: it is that, the expectation of which has carried you through so many troubles, or you would have sunk."

And when the soul realizes that it is on its way to that blessed realm, doubts and fears in the hour of death are indeed dreadful. But when the light of God's countenance shines upon us, it surpasses, far surpasses, the day and hour of birth; and so it will seem to us if God does not fail us with his aid and continues to grant us the witness of his Spirit. May this lead us to earnestly seek the witness of the Spirit that we are the children of God. All that remains in addressing this subject is,

IV. To guide us in attaining it; and the directions which we shall consider are these.

1. Value the Spirit and his works greatly. Christians should not need encouragement for this, given the strong emphasis placed on it in the word of God, yet how often is he ignored! Because certain extremists have made wild and exaggerated claims about him, how often are all his works depicted as if every claim to his influence were mere fanaticism. This is a common mistake of the present time, and a major cause of many other problems. We have sinned against God and saddened his Holy Spirit; as a result, he allows us to fall into numerous sins. Work, therefore, to recognize the importance of God’s Spirit in your life. To this end, study scripture without prejudice and reflect on your own heart. Think about what you were without him; think about what you become when he withdraws; think about the blessed lives led by those who live under his constant guidance. You will find that those who honor him in this way, he will honor. Moreover, this high regard for him will motivate you to pursue all other ways of receiving his presence.

2. Seek him as the Spirit of Christ. You know well that his role is to honor Christ; you must be willing to honor him before you can expect such a great blessing. In Christ, you have received adoption; through him, you must receive its assurances. Think, therefore, on Christ as the one who obtained these blessings, and work to understand his love in their value and the way they were gained. Consider him also as the one who gives them, and seek them through his authority. May Christ be lifted up in your soul, and then your comforts will likely overflow. While a system of religion that leaves him out lacks these comforts, it often justifies itself by rejecting them as unimportant, in clear opposition to reason and the entire message of scripture.

3. Avoid anything that would grieve the Spirit. "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."{Ephesians 4:30}} It is true that he acts as a sovereign agent, just as God does in many works of nature and providence. However, do not mock him by assuming that he will make no distinction between the humble and watchful soul and the careless and disrespectful. Reflect on this: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?"{1 Corinthians 6:19}Take care not to defile it in any way.

Be holy, as your Father in heaven is holy. Be kind and compassionate as he is. Take joy in all acts of mutual love, patience, and forgiveness. Work to detach your hearts from this temporary world and focus them more on a better one. These, my friends, are the fruits of the Spirit. To cultivate these is the path to receiving him. I add one final point on this matter: Take care, when you sense good inclinations stirring in your mind, not to suppress them. At times, embrace special moments of solitude and devotion in response to these promptings. Whatever your hands find to do, especially in such moments, do it with all your strength. This is the way to make significant progress in faith and to move quickly toward readiness for heaven.

4. Do not grow weary of repeated requests to the throne of grace to obtain it. It is not reasonable to expect that such a significant blessing will be granted in response to a few weak prayers. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."{Matthew 7:7-8} Christ shared a parable specifically to teach men this, that they ought always to pray, and not lose heart.{Luke 18:1} Therefore, plead sincerely at the throne of grace. Hold fast to God by faith and declare, "Lord, I will not let you go until you bless me: I will not let you go until you remove the burden from my mind; until you embrace me in your arms of love, and say, Son, daughter, be of good comfort." Even if you humble yourself before God day after day, and month after month, for this purpose, the reward, when received, will far outweigh the effort.

5. Joyfully rely on every current hope, even if it is mixed with some fear. It is a blessing to have hope through grace, even without complete certainty. Indeed, surely the best way to receive more favor is to show gratitude for what we have already received. To foster this, do not only compare yourselves with those whose blessings exceed yours, but also with those whose spiritual progress is less than yours. Remember how many poor Christians now walk in the pain of their hearts, grieving, heavily burdened, and crying throughout the day, teetering on the brink of despair, fearing at every moment that they will fall into it: afraid even of God himself, afraid of prayer, and thinking, each time they approach the throne of grace, that it may be their last attempt, never again finding the strength or courage to return.

Consider how many are left to turn away from God, harming their consciences, and, through empty, foolish, worldly pursuits, causing themselves much sorrow. Give thanks to God for his protecting and sustaining presence, that you experience his comforting Spirit to such a great degree. Reflect on what you have. Does he not sometimes stir your souls during private devotion and public worship? Does he not sometimes grant you great encouragement on the Lord's day? Find comfort in this and see it as a sign of promise that he will ultimately complete his work in you. In the meantime, praise him for having begun it.

6. Carefully examine the main reasons for your ongoing doubts. To achieve this, regularly assess and evaluate yourselves, and, if you have the time and opportunity, write down the results of your reflection. At one time I experienced greater comfort, and at another, greater fear and uncertainty. What caused this difference? Consider the following, in the form of questions, which we all ought to seriously ask ourselves.

i) Do doubts not stem from a lack of consistency and earnestness in your spiritual practices? Some of you may often neglect private prayer. If so, how can you expect to receive the Spirit, which is gained through prayer, especially through the kind of prayer that allows you to express your needs and concerns most fully before God? Perhaps you rarely engage with the word of God in a serious way. Do you expect to understand yourselves if you do not measure yourselves against its standard? Perhaps you allow wandering thoughts to take over during your spiritual duties and fail to guard against them.

Perhaps you neglect to take a moment of solemn reflection before entering God’s house to lift your heart to him. You might arrive so late that you are rushed, or if not, you may spend that time in idle talk thereby missing opportunities to prepare your mind for a proper attitude. Perhaps you do not take time to reflect on what has happened, to evaluate yourselves by what you have heard, or to consider your actions. If this is the case, can you be surprised that you experience little growth in comfort, which naturally comes from limited progress in grace?

ii) Perhaps worldly indulgences and a love of pleasure keep your comfort low and hinder the presence of the Spirit in your heart. Those who belong to Christ have rejected the flesh, with its desires and passions. They can deny themselves, on all suitable occasions, for Christ. If you have not learned this, how can you expect to know that you are his? It may be that you are, instead, feeding the flesh and consider yourselves content only when indulging it in some way.

Perhaps you take pleasure in all the short-lived joys and idle conversations of the world, sometimes pushing the limits of what is acceptable in food, drink, clothing, and entertainment, and occasionally even going beyond those limits. Is this the way to welcome the Spirit of holiness and devotion? "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."{Galatians 5:16} Was it unique to Paul that he alone should control the flesh and bring it under submission, lest he be rejected? Sadly, some believe there are different paths to heaven. There is only one narrow gate, one restricted path, and those who cannot be satisfied to walk in it have no reason to be surprised that they do not recognize themselves as children of God; rather, they should understand that they are not.

iii) Uncontrolled passions, whether of anger or desire, greatly hinder the presence of the Spirit. To have our hearts strongly stirred by matters related only to this world shows an attitude unsuitable for a Christian and out of step with the nature of that heavenly Spirit. To love the world and its possessions, to be overly eager to gain or keep them, is a mindset we should actively resist.

Above all, we must recognize that a spirit of anger and bitterness is especially unfit for those who seek the influence of the Spirit of love. When small disputes over temporary interests disrupt the love that should exist among Christians, causing them to treat one another as strangers or even enemies, it is no surprise that the results are deeply troubling. If you examine yourselves during such times, you will likely find little to bring you comfort.

iv) Do your doubts not come from excessive busyness? You involve yourselves, perhaps, in more tasks than you can reasonably handle. Your entire life is a constant rush, from Monday morning to Saturday night, which may even extend into Sundays, leaving you so tired that you cannot participate in the sacred duties of that holy day. Why exert such effort to provide for your families? Do you not know in your hearts that you could provide for them without such intense work? Not as extravagantly, you might say; yet such lavish provision are not necessary.

It is better for them to lack some luxuries in their meals or clothing than for these things, which may be more a trap than a benefit, to come at the cost of your spiritual growth. Remember that the mind of man has limited capacity. Remember that you cannot serve God and wealth, and consider further (though it strays slightly from the current topic, it is important) that rising early and staying up late is pointless without the God's blessing. That blessing is most likely gained by honoring him and striving above all to ensure your salvation and the certainty of it.

v) Do your doubts not come from a judgmental attitude? It is impossible for the Spirit of God to find joy in dwelling where love is absent. Is it consistent with love to always assume the worst we can imagine and to speak the harshest words we can think of? Perhaps you are quick, not to invent, but to seize upon a criticism against your neighbor. You may be among the first to hear and the first to spread a harmful or unkind story. This is a major flaw in your character and testimony, for it inevitably damages and disturbs your spirit, while also turning your thoughts away from far more important matters. If some Christians would spend half the time examining themselves that they devote to judging the faith, worship, or behavior of others, they would greatly honor religion rather than disgrace it. This tendency must be corrected if you hope to experience the presence of the Spirit.

vi) Do your fears not come from a lazy neglect of life’s proper responsibilities? Religion requires a full dedication of ourselves to the service of God and a firm commitment to serving and honoring him. Idleness weakens the Spirit. When the idle person stays in bed, turning like a door on its hinges; when time is wasted excessively on minor matters without consistent effort to address the duties of life, spiritual comfort is greatly impacted, and a hidden fear of the fate of the unprofitable servant grips the mind. The Spirit of Christ is a spirit of passion; where there is no zeal for his service, there is strong reason to question whether any spiritual life exists. In summary, let these matters be reviewed; if you have reason to suspect that any of these have caused your previous doubts, stay watchful against them in the future.

V. We now close with a few words by way of application.

1. To those who are indifferent to this presence of the Spirit. Perhaps some among you hold this view; perhaps some secretly dismiss what has been said as mere foolishness and extremism. If there are indeed any such among you, may God show his boundless compassion to you, for you stand on the brink of ruin. This can be established as a certain truth:that those who show no concern for the presence of the Spirit have little regard for the value of the inheritance; and those who place little value on that cannot be the children of God. If you are not the children of God, whose children are you? May you would sincerely reflect on this. You are the children of Satan, heirs of eternal destruction. There is no more terrifying sight this side of hell than a sinner who hears of these gospel privileges day after day and continually rejects them.

2. To those who long for this presence of the Spirit: many instructions have already been provide. Just also consider that you should not assume that simply wishing for it will obtain it. The desire of the idle only brings him distress and pain, because his hand refuses to work. If you truly desire so great a blessing, you must rise, act, and sincerely strive for it. You must pursue it through prayer. Seek it as one would seek silver, and search for it as for hidden treasure. If you do not consider it worthy of serious pursuit, it is likely that you have little true appreciation for it.

3. The last word is a message to the blessed souls who have already received this presence of the Spirit. Acknowledge the kindness of God toward you. He could have left you among the doubting Christians or with the condemned sinner. Let your hearts overflow with gratitude and love. Live in a way that honors the Lord, pleasing him in all things. Value this precious privilege and take care not to lose it; instead, strive to grow in it continually.

Work to encourage the spiritual joy of others, and as you support them in this way, you will also be strengthened. May that God, who is able to make all grace abound, refresh your souls with the ongoing presence of this good Spirit. May he confirm with your spirits that you are his children, and may you, like the sons of God, be blameless and without fault, standing firm in the midst of a corrupt and misguided generation, shining among them as lights in the world, and proclaiming the word of light, so that they, seeing your good works, may, with you, glorify your Heavenly Father.