Two absolutely crucial but much misunderstood verses in Paul's epistles are Romans 8:16 and 8:26. Verse 16 says, [16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Verse 26 says, [26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
"People get mad about that reflexive pronoun 'itself''; they say it's dishonoring to the Holy Spirit because He's not an 'it'; He's a he," explains Preacher Richard Jordan. "Well, your Bible knows that! If you look at verse 27, he writes, [27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
"Paul calls Him an 'it' in verse 26 and a 'he' in verse 27. So why does it say 'it'? One reason is that's the exact translation. In the Greek language, the word 'spirit' is a neuter noun. You have pronouns--he, she, it-- which are masculine, feminine and neuter.
"Words have shades of meaning. The word 'it' and 'itself,' when applied to a person, is designed to indicate honor, rank and status--to give dignity to it. 'He's a king and he acts like it.' He's acting like IT. What? That's the idea of status, like who he is.
"So it's a lack of understanding grammar to get upset about 'itself' and 'which.' If the translators know more about your language than you seem to know, well, don't be mad at them because they're more educated.
"When it says 'the Spirit itself,' it's talking about the function He's carrying on, not His person. You'll find sometime He's called the Holy Ghost and those verses talk about His person.
"It doesn't say TO our spirits. That's the way people usually read that verse. We say, 'I know I'm saved because the Holy Spirit bears witness to my spirit that I'm a child of God.' That's not what it says. It says WITH my spirit which ALSO bears witness that I'm a child of God. So you've got a double witness here bearing witness together.
"Then the question is, 'Who are we witnessing to?' That's why verse 19 says, [19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
"There's some people out there in the universe looking for what our testimony is about as members of the Body of Christ; what our being children is about and we're going to witness to them.
"We are witnessing that we are the children of God. He's talking about a status, an identity. We are the folks. The reason that's important is in the next verse: [17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
"What does it mean to be the children of God? 'Then heirs; heirs of God.' Oh, I see, our status means we have an inheritance. When you become a child, you become an heir of God. You will inherit the kingdom of God. We're joint-heirs with Christ.
"Paul starts out giving you a kind of attitude adjustment. He says, 'You know what the Spirit of God is going to lead you to do? Appreciate who you really are.'
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