The Inner Witness of the Holy Spirit
Even though evidence and arguments , such as the arguments of natural theology, can be used to support the [rational warrant of] the believer’s faith, they are not properly the basis of that faith. The proper basis of Christian faith for the believer is the inner witness of the Holy Spirit himself. God, for us, is not just the conclusion of a syllogism. He is the Living God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob dwelling within us and empowering us to live the Christian life.
So how does the Christian know the Christian faith is true? He knows it through the self-authenticating witness of the Holy Spirit, who lives within him.
(William Lane Craig, Defenders podcast, Existence of God Part 27, 18/04/2011)
Rick Schenker
on April 27th, 2011
True. But those who don’t know him need to know why our faith is rational.
Rick Schenker
President, Ratio Christi
Robert
on May 5th, 2011
Rick,
I agree with you; the argument being made (which I also agree with) is though reason, evidence etc. will many times be the vehicles used by God to bring one into faith, ultimately it is the testimony of intuition that cradles it.
JIm
on November 21st, 2011
I agree, not only as knowing that the Christian Faith is true but perhaps more primarily important regarding, how do we know we are saved. When a doctor is checking to see if a comatose patient is alive, he doesn’t go looking for the persons birth certificate, He uses a “pinch test” or tests for the vital signs.
Although I would not devaluate the word of God as our birth certificate, as to the why and how of how we were born into the family of God, the personal vital sign of salvation is, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God. Rom 8 :16.