福音的重要信息：聖靈和得救的確據
羅馬書八章9至17節
9如果神的靈住在你們心裡，你們就不屬肉體，乃屬聖靈了。人若沒有基督的靈，就不是屬基督的。
10基督若在你們心裡，身體就因罪而死，心靈卻因義而活。
11然而，叫耶穌從死裡復活者的靈若住在你們心裡，那叫基督耶穌從死裡復活的，也必藉著住在你們心裡的聖靈，使你們必死的身體又活過來。
12弟兄們，這樣看來，我們並不是欠肉體的債去順從肉體活著。
13你們若順從肉體活著，必要死；若靠著聖靈治死身體的惡行，必要活著。
14因為凡被神的靈引導的，都是神的兒子。
15你們所受的，不是奴僕的心，仍舊害怕；所受的，乃是兒子的心，因此我們呼叫：阿爸！父！
16聖靈與我們的心同證我們是神的兒女；
17既是兒女，便是後嗣，就是神的後嗣，和基督同作後嗣。如果我們和他一同受苦，也必和他一同得榮耀。
信息分享
當你接受耶穌基督作救主的那一刻，聖靈便會進入你的心裡。請讀使徒行傳二章38節：「你們各人要悔改……就必受所賜的聖靈。」聖靈住在你的心裡，向你證明基督的實在。
聖靈也同時證明你是神的兒女。羅馬書八章16節清楚指出：「聖靈與我們的心同證我們是神的兒女。」祂的見證，至少帶出兩個結果。
第一個是正面的結果，就是確證你是神的兒女。祂鼓勵你要凡事仰望慈愛的天父，祂幫助你去禱告。羅馬書八章26節說：「我們的軟弱，有聖靈幫助我們……聖靈親自用說不出來的歎息，替我們禱告。」換句話說，聖靈會隨時幫助我們，賜我們平安。
另一方面，當我們想做或做了某些不該做的事情，聖靈便會責備我們，叫我們知罪。
當你受試探的時候，聖靈會提醒你，叫你記著自己是神的兒女；既是神的兒女，就不該作出有違這身份的事。這些都是聖靈在你心裡作見證的結果。
除此以外，你的改變也見證你的得救。從前你喜愛世俗的事，但如今卻喜愛屬天的事。這是聖靈在你們心裡的工作。
牢記經文：
「若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。」（林後五17）
GREAT WORDS OF THE GOSPEL THE HOLY SPIRIT AND OUR ASSURANCE
Romans 8:9-17
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Message
Yesterday we saw how the witness of God's word is the basis for our assurance. What other help do we have? Each believer has the Holy Spirit's presence and witness in his heart.
The Holy Spirit came into your life when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Read Acts 2:38. 'Repent ... and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' He is in you to make Christ real to you.
He is there also to witness to you that you are a child of God. Romans 8:16 clearly states, 'The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.' He witnesses to us in at least two ways - we could call them positively and negatively.
In a positive way, He assures you that you are God's child. He encourages you to look to God as your loving Father and He helps you to pray. Romans 8:26 says, 'The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us.' He acts positively. He can give you peace concerning the answers to your prayers.
On the other hand the Holy Spirit will also speak to you about the things you should not do. Where He speaks in this way concerning something you have already done, it is called conviction.
When you are tempted, the Holy Spirit will remind you that you are a child of God and that it would be wrong for you to act in this way. This is all part of the witness of the Spirit to your heart.
There is also the witness of your changed life. Things you loved before have been replaced by new desires. It is all part of the work of the Holy Spirit living within you.
REMEMBER THIS VERSE: 'If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.' (2 Corinthians 5:17)