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The Spirit of God bears witness with our hearts of the reality of the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we hear the truth or read the truth, the Spirit brings a peace to our heart, a certain knowing. It goes from believing to knowing.
After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the apostles began preaching in Jerusalem as commanded by the Lord and the very same Sanhedrin that placed Jesus on trial finding Him guilty of blasphemy and sentencing Him to crucifixion, had now pulled the apostles in for questioning.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
The Holy Spirit bears witness though we do not see Him we know Him, though we have not seen the crucifixion or resurrection by faith we believe.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. 9 As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.
The resurrection of Jesus brings us new life. We literally have the same power of the resurrection in our lives.[1] The Holy Spirit bears witness with our hearts of the reality of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. This produces a faith in us that is able to endure the sufferings of this life. In this world, we will have tribulations, but Christ is with us.[2] We love Him though we have not seen Him because of this faith produced in us through the Holy Spirit’s witness. This witness gives us confidence even in suffering.
13 Therefore gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile. 18 You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. 21 Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart. 23 You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God
We are born-again at baptism. We are united with Him in death and raised with Him in newness of life. We put away our former way of life and strive for His life. What does this look like? Holiness.
Our life in Christ was not redeemed by cheap things such as gold or silver but by the very blood of Jesus Christ. With such a high price that has been paid for us, we can only and should only respond to it with our lives. The Holy Spirit bears witness to all of this in our hearts; this is the foundation of our confidence.
Live repentance. Be zealous. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
August 16, 2025, Saturday Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time
[1] Romans 8:11
[2] John 16:33
Be Zealous 
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