Being a Christian is a matter of being a child of God. Being God’s child with unshakable assurance is a blessing beyond measure. As Romans 8:16 puts it, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” If that were not enough, the next verse adds, “And if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”
Being an assured Christian is necessary preparation for being a witnessing Christian. Serving as Christ’s witnesses in the world is a matter of the Holy Spirit furnishing the power for that witness and granting the assurance of its effectiveness. Paul testified to this assuring work in 1 Thessalonians 1:5: “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance.”
Jesus spoke of the assuring work of the Spirit in His promise to the disciples, saying, “When He has come, He will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment” (John 16:8). Being effective witnesses for Christ is always a partnership between the divine Spirit and a human spokesperson.
‘I also send you’
Having assured us of our own salvation in Christ, the Spirit takes the matter a step further by sending believers into the world as witnesses to Christ and the gospel. As Jesus stood on the brink of His return to heaven, He said to the disciples, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” In His next breath, Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21–22).
Our Christian witness is made by the quality of our character and conduct, and by our words. As for character, the Spirit works to produce in us the qualities Galatians 5:22–23 labels as “fruit of the Spirit.” That fruit has to do with the quality of a person’s character.
Out of a Christlike character, as well as words and actions that reflect Christ, believers can speak authentically about the power and purpose of God to make sinners new creations in Christ Jesus.
If a person is healthy, two of life’s most needful and satisfying pleasures are eating and drinking. Effective witness is born by spiritually healthy Christians experiencing the truth of Romans 14:17: “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
The Spirit seeks to make us witnesses whose lives exhibit upright living that exudes peace and joy.
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