As with all wars, there were multiple reasons for the
fighting during the English Civil War. Fought 200 years before our own civil
war, the English Civil War had economic causes, political causes, and social
causes. But, at its core, the English Civil War was a religious war—a war
between two different types of Christians. It seems absurd to us today, and
terribly un-Christian, to fight and kill over different theological beliefs,
but for a decade war raged across the British Isles.
As so often happens, out of the darkness, God raised up many
marvelous things. Out of the English Civil War, one bright light was the
creation of a statement of faith, a description of what we believe, entitled,
“The Westminster Confession of Faith”. Some of you will easily guess that I am
a fan. Indeed I am. I believe that the Confession wonderfully and accurately
captures so much of the biblical witness to the Gospel and Truth. The authors
of the Confession were trying to describe what the Bible teaches—and they were
convinced that the Bible teaches truth. While everything in the world
(including the Confession itself) is subject to error, only the Bible reliably
speaks that which is true.
But, how do we know this? How do we know that what the Bible
says is accurate? The Confession acknowledges the importance of this question
and lists numerous reasons why we should trust it—the respect of history, the
value given by the Church, the unified goal of glorifying God, the agreement of
all its parts, and many more. But after listing all these things, the
Confession says this:
“However, we are completely persuaded and assured of the
infallible truth and divine authority of the Bible only by the inward workings
of the Holy Spirit, who testifies by and with the Word in our hearts.”
You might want to read that again. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
So, how do we know the Bible is what it claims to be, the
true witness to God? “By the inward workings of the Holy Spirit.” There are
lots of supporting evidences, there are lots of good reasons in the Bible to
trust what it says. But, the only sure reason? “The work of the Holy Spirit in
our hearts.” Where does that come from? How can we be assured by the Spirit in
our hearts?
This week in worship, we are looking at the last two verses
in John’s Gospel. As we read these together, you might think… “What a weird way
to end it all”. And, you might be right! But, there is a reason John wraps up
his Gospel account this way. There is a reason, after talking all about Jesus’
life and ministry, that he ends by talking about his own truthfulness and the
manifold works of Jesus not recorded in the Bible. If you have read John’s
account this far, I think he is counting on you to experience exactly the
blessings of the Holy Spirit we are talking about here.
Join us in worship on Sunday as we explore these verses
together!
As you prepare for worship this week, please read John 21:24-25.
1. What three things about the author does he want us to
know in verse 24?
2. How does the author’s self-description advance the
Gospel’s call?
3. Why does the author tell us that there are many other
things Jesus did (vs. 25)? Why would he feel compelled to tell us that?
4. The end of verse 25 certainly sounds like hyperbole. Is
it appropriate for Scripture to use hyperbole, or is the Bible actually
claiming that the world couldn’t hold the books that detail Jesus’ full life?
5. In verse 24, the author says that we know his testimony
is true. How do we know that? Do you know that? If so, how?
6. Would these verses have been received
differently by John’s original audience than we hear them now? If so, how?
