Written that Ye Might Believe
A Sermon on John 20:30-31
Scripture
Why This Gospel Was Written
30So then, many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that by …
30¶ And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Sermon Description
When Christ saves a person, will all of their troubles end? In this sermon on John 20:30–31 titled “Written that Ye May Believe,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers this question through the eyes and experience of first-century believers. Who was the book of John written to? Many believe that John’s Gospel was written for evangelistic purposes and while it is, the purpose to believe in Jesus was also directed to Christians. The Christian life, while filled with eternal purpose and joy, does not end one’s troubles on earth; in fact it will increase them. To face these new difficulties, Christians must believe in the truth about Jesus with firm purpose and unwavering resolve. The first-century believers endured ongoing persecution, suffered great personal loss, and faced mounting attacks of false doctrine. These believers, and all believers of all times, needed their resolve fastened to sound biblical doctrine of the person and work of Jesus. Therefore, while acknowledging the clear purpose of John’s Gospel, Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls Christians to believe in the vital doctrines concerning Jesus and to live in accordance with them. If they do, while their troubles may increase, they find resolve and strength to live for the glory of God.
The Book of John
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.