Answer
Romans 8:16 states, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” The theme of this passage is that believers are heirs with Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us great assurance of our position in God’s family.
Romans 8 begins with the declaration that there is “now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, ESV). Because there is no condemnation, believers are perfectly secure in Christ. Their sins are forgiven, and they will not face judgment in the form of condemnation. Paul goes on to contrast life in the flesh, characterized by sin and death, with life in the Spirit, characterized by righteousness and life (Romans 8:5–11). The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit marks believers as God’s children.
When Paul says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God children” (Romans 8:16), he is pointing to an intimate interaction between the Holy Spirit and our inner being. The Greek word translated as “testifies” here means “bears witness, confirms, or affirms truth.” The truth being confirmed is that we are God’s children.
The testimony of the Holy Spirit also provides believers with assurance of salvation and of our adoption into God’s family. In Romans 8:15, Paul writes, “You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father!” (ESV). The Holy Spirit’s confirmation of us as children of God is significant. He assures us that we are not just servants or followers of Christ, but beloved children of God. We can call God our Father or “Abba,” an Aramaic term that conveys intimacy and affection.
The Spirit’s testimony is also mentioned in Galatians 4:6, where Paul states, “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’” This reinforces the idea that the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. He is the sign and seal of our adoption.
The assurance of our adoption into God’s family is rooted in the objective work of Christ on the cross. Ephesians 1:13–14 speaks of the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of our precious inheritance in Christ: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (ESV).
The Holy Spirit’s testimony with our spirit also involves the transformation of our lives. Romans 8:14 states, “All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (ESV). To be “led by the Spirit” is to progressively reflect more of the character of Christ. The character of Christ is listed in Galatians 5:22–23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This fruit further confirms the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and testifies to our identity as God’s children.
The Spirit testifies with our spirit, confirming our identity as God’s children and providing assurance of our salvation. We have been adopted into God’s family and will always be children of God.
