Where does your assurance lay? (Bible Study)

Romans 8:16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God

John Wesley believed that the great evangelical truth of Romans 8:16 had been nearly lost and forgotten, that the Spirit of God testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children. The Scriptures speak frequently and clearly on this matter, the purpose of which is to denote a peculiar privilege of the children of God from verse 17:

"...and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

So how does this testimony work? Or in other words, how can we have assurance that we are children of God?

The operation of this testimony of the Spirit is "an inward impression on the soul, whereby the Spirit of God immediately and directly witnesses to my spirit, that I am a child of God." What Wesley means, which he says we are to observe, is that this testimony is not by an outward voice, nor an inward voice, though he may do that sometimes. The inward testimony of the Spirit is instead an "inexplicable operation, that…there is a sweet calm; the heart resting…being clearly satisfied that God is reconciled, that all his iniquities are forgiven, and his sins covered."

But isn't that a little subjective? Wesley seems to be appealing to a feeling, that if one is inwardly calm and feels their sins are covered by God, and does not a have spirit of fear (as in Romans 8:15), then they must be a child of God. I run into folks every weekend who feel safe and secure, who will one day say "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name..." and yet being headed to hell. So there is a false sense of security many are liable to. But where does a true sense of security come from?
The explicable, objective assurance that we are children of God come from the previous three verses:
"13For 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. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" "

How does Paul say our assurance that we are children of God come? We know we are children of God if we are led by the Spirit. We know we are being led by the Spirit of God as by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body. All who are led by the Spirit of God have recieved the Spirit of adoption as sons. The objective reality of being led by the Spirit, of being adopted into God's family is a great reason to be unafraid, assure of your adoption.

That is the testimony of this passage of Scripture. A profession you once made means nothing if you are not led by the Spirit. If you are leaning on a profession you once made, that is false assurance.

Just to make sure I'm not misunderstood, being led by the Spirit is not sinless perfection, but should be the direction of your life. It is an attitude of repentance, where God brings sin in your life to your attention and by the Spirit of God you put it to death. Repentance is not the reason you are saved, but it is the necessary response to it. You can cry "Abba! Father!" because you love God and understand the greatest expression of His love toward you: the Cross. How can we continue loving our sin, knowing that the wrath we deserve was poured out on Christ because of it?