"And it is the Spirit who bears witness,
because the Spirit is truth."
1 John 5:6
A man met with a pastor about his questions concerning the Christian faith. He said to the minister, "How can I really know that the Bible is true and Christ is who he claimed to be?" The pastor responded, "I could offer historical arguments to try and convince you of the truth, but only the Holy Spirit can bear witness to the truth of Christ in a convincing way. As you read the Bible, simply ask the Holy Spirit to open your understanding to the truth. He can and He will."
While believers should witness for Christ, only the Holy Spirit is the true witness. He uses the Bible, as well as preaching, teaching and testimonies. However, without the witness of the Holy Spirit, we are left with our doubts and unbelief.
The Bible is like a menu in a restaurant. We can read the menu and make a choice, but we will never taste the food until a waiter brings it to our table. So it is with experiencing the truth of Christ. We can read about Him in the Bible without knowing Him through experience. However, when the Holy Spirit comes to us, He bears witness to the truth of Christ. We experience the One who is truth. We can taste and see that the Lord is good.
As we read the testimony of the Bible, let us ask the Holy Spirit to be our teacher. He will always guide us into the truth. If we attempt to discover the truth without Him, then doubt, confusion and unbelief will blind us. The darkness of our confusion is dispelled when the Holy Spirit turns on the light of truth in Christ. Then, we need not debate nor struggle with our doubts. The sunrise of truth chases all the darkness of unbelief away. Only the Holy Spirit can do this in our lives. This is the way we discover the truth.
Father, may the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth.
