Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
This verse drove me nuts for years because I didn't understand it either. I was stuck in Romans 7, (too long to post, read it here) .
Anyway, I didn't want my certainty of my salvation to be based on emotion as I do not think that is reliable but nobody ever explained it well. Perhaps some others can add some of their insight and experience.
However, the witness can be in the fact that I hunger and thirst after righteousness. I have a strong desire to please God, but not out of fear, rather out of love.
One significant was was that Scripture made sense. I saw spiritual truths that I had not seen before. One example, surprisingly to me, was in Christmas carols. I had grown up hearing them as everyone has, but that first Christmas after my commitment to Christ, I can still remember the time we put on the old family record album (yeah that long ago) and I heard the Christmas carols and REALLY heard the lyrics and thought *WOW. I NEVER realized what that meant before*.
There is also the conviction of sin that I experience when I do something I shouldn't. I simply cannot deliberately lie to anyone and on rare occasion slip. If you ask me something, you WILL get either an honest answer or a *I'd rather not go there* response.
I do not steal and if the grocery store makes a mistake, even in my favor, I offer to correct it (they usually let it go) but I figure that if I'd complain when they cheated me, I ought to treat them the same way.
And I don't do it for brownie points, just for a matter of peace with God, knowing that I did the right thing even if nobody else does.
The fruit of the Spirit devloping in my life is another evidence.
Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Also, I was filled with the Spirit a while ago, and that was almost as significant as my salvation and far more meaningful because that time I knew what happened and what it meant. And I have no more doubts. That was too real an experience.
Amen, Amen and Amen!
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ, our Saviour,
Was born on Christmas day,
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
In Bethlehem, in Jewry,
This blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger,
Upon this blessed morn;
That which His Mother Mary,
Did nothing take in scorn.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
From God our Heavenly Father,
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
“Fear not,” then said the Angel,
“let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding,
In tempest, storm, and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.