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Who is your father (3 things)
- 1st – Freed from sin… vs. 30-36 (2 things)
- 1st – As Jesus taught – many believed (Aorist) Him – that day… vs. 30-32
- But it was not just about them believing that day – they needed to continue to believe…
- I have met many people who will raise their hand when you present the Gospel…
- But afterwards they go right back to their old lives – no lasting effect…
- Believing in Jesus is not about a momentary decision – it is a life long commitment!
- Jesus encouraged them to abide in His Word – then they would be His disciples…
- They would know the truth – and the truth would set them free…
- It is only when we continue to be in the Word – continue to believe in Jesus…
- That we are going to discover the truth – life is about knowing God – John 17:3
- That God gave us this life to choose – make a decision about our eternity…
- When we make that choice – we are free cause we know where we will spend eternity!
- 2nd – Upset by Jesus words ‘need to be set free’ – the ‘believers’ argued with Jesus… vs. 33-36
- We are the children of Abraham – and have never been in bondage…
- But their argument was a lie – at that very moment they were slaves to Rome…
- And before that they had been conquered by Greece / Babylon / Assyria…
- In fact the Jews had not been free for over 400 years!
- But that was not the freedom Jesus was talking about – He was talking about sin…
- ‘I tell you the truth’ – whoever practices sin (habit) – is a slave to sin…
- Sin is like a drug – the most addictive kind of drug – and it will take over your life…
- The same way a drug dealer gets a new client – giving them a free sample…
- Sin can seem to be enjoyable – but it sucks us in and we are trapped!
- In the end we find we are in bondage to sin – morally and spiritually bankrupt!
- The slave does not abide in the Master’s house – only the son does…
- A slave is not a permanent member of a family – they can be fired at any time…
- But a son will always have a home – no matter where he goes he is always welcome…
- We either choose to be a slave to sin – or we choose to be a child of God…
- We choose be either living for sin – or abiding in the Word of God…
- Romans 6:16 – “You become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God…”
- The result of which is either we are a slave – and do not belong in the house of God…
- Or we are a son – and therefore an always welcome into the presence of our Lord!
- If the Son sets you free – you are free indeed!
- I heard a story about a young boy who was learning to ride a bike…
- The only way he knew how to stop was by running into things…
- His father had told him about the brakes – but he refused to use them…
- The point being – Jesus has set free from sin – if we choose to use the brakes…
- We no longer have to sin – we have the choice of being free – do we choose to use it…
- Do we choose to live in bondage to sin – or do we choose to be free!
- Deuteronomy 30:19 – “I have set before you life and death, therefore choose life…”
- 1st – As Jesus taught – many believed (Aorist) Him – that day… vs. 30-32
- 2nd – Who is your Father… vs. 37-47 (3 things)
- 1st – The children of Abraham… vs. 37-40
- The Jews were the descendants of Abraham – but they also sought to kill Jesus…
- The reason was because they were full – and had no room left in them for His Word…
- Jesus was giving them the Word the Father / they were full of the things of their father
- There is only so much room in our hearts – we choose what we fill that room with…
- If we fill our lives with everything but God – work / food / entertainment / sin…
- Then we are not going to have any room / time left to give to Jesus!
- They argued – Abraham is our Father…
- Jesus pointed out – if they were the children of Abraham – they would act like Abraham
- But instead they sought to kill Jesus – because He told them the truth from God…
- Abraham never did anything like that – showing they were not his children!
- Just because someone goes to church – does not make them a Christian…
- We can say all the right things to sound like a Christian – come to church every Sunday…
- But it is not about what we say – it is about the actions from our lives…
- The Jews were the descendants of Abraham – but they also sought to kill Jesus…
- 1st – The children of Abraham… vs. 37-40
- Not that we will not make occasional mistakes – we are all sinners…
- But if we live a life that is defined by sin – then we show we do not know God…
- I John 3:6 – “Anyone who continues to live in Jesus will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know [Jesus]…”
- 2nd – The children of satan… vs. 41-44
- In anger the people replied – ‘We were not born of fornication – we have one Father – God’…
- Likely a reference to miracle of the virgin birth – something we believe today…
- But it would not have been the same in Jesus’ day – He was considered illegitimate…
- Jesus grew up with the stigma of a questionable birth – ‘who is your father?’
- This is the first of two insults the Jews threw at Jesus – because they were convicted…
- In anger the people replied – ‘We were not born of fornication – we have one Father – God’…
- It you throw a rock into a dog pound the one who yelps got hit…
- You know when someone is convicted – because they react to what you say…
- The more upset the get at the Word of God – the more convicted they are by the Word!
- If God were their Father – they would love Jesus…
- Jesus came from God – He was sent by God – but still they rejected Him…
- They did not understand what Jesus said – because they had no power to hear His Word
- Why were they unable to hear the Word of God – because of their sin…
- When we choose to sin – we become ashamed – we knew better – we become ‘huya’…
- Anything that has to do with God – reminds us of our sin – we try to avoid…
- Sin keeps us from wanting to read our Bible – go to church – fellowship with believers…
- Sin will keep us from fellowship/growing in the lord – but the Lord keeps us from sin!
- You are of your father – the devil (diablo– the accuser)…
- The proof was in their actions – they followed the example of their father…
- The devil is a murdered – from the very beginning…
- It was through the temptation in the garden – the devil brought death into the world!
- If we like to tempt others to sin – then we are acting like the devil…
- The proof was in their actions – they followed the example of their father…
- God does not play around when it comes to stumbling His children…
- He is a VERY protective Father – and will deal with anyone who threatens His kids!
- A sobering thought – something to keep in mind next time we ‘invite’ someone to…
- Have a drink – go to the party – play the game – have a boyfriend/girlfriend…
- The devil is a liar – he is the father of lies…
- Nothing that the devil says is true – everything that comes from him is a lie…
- He lies and tells you sin is fun – just give it a try – get you hooked like a drug dealer…
- He lies and tells you once you have sinned – you cannot go back to God…
- If we try and keep people from coming to God/church – we are acting like the devil…
- And if we are acting like the devil – then it shows we are the children of the devil…
- I John 3:8 – “When people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil.”
- 3rd – The Love of the Word… vs. 45-47
- Jesus told the truth – but they would not listen…
- He had done nothing wrong – no one could make a single accusation against Him…
- And yet they refused to listen – revealing they did not belong to God…
- The person who refused to listen to the Word / come to church…
- Not even noticing if they have read the Bible – care nothing for the Word…
- Shows their true colors – they are not a child of God / they are a child of the devil…
- II Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you.”
- The person who belong to God – listens to the Word of God…
- In fact the Love of the Word is the key proof that we are the children of God…
- Do we light up when someone is teaching a Bible study…
- Do we look forward to those moments when we get a chance to read the Word…
- It is because we are the children of God – and we love to hear from our Father!
- Psalms 119:97 – “Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long…”
- Jesus told the truth – but they would not listen…
- 3rd – Obey the Word… vs. 48-59 (3 things)
- 1st – In pure anger the Jews said – ‘You are a Samaritan – and have a demon’… vs. 48-50
- They had no answer to Jesus test – all they could do was hurl insults…
- To the Jew there was no worse thing than to be called a Samaritan…
- Except perhaps to be called a demon possessed Samaritan…
- When you confront people with who their father is – expect them to be angry…
- Jesus patiently countered – I do not have a demon….
- Note He did not even dignify the Samaritan comment with an answer…
- Everything Jesus did was to honor the father – yet the people dishonored Jesus…
- By dishonoring Jesus – they dishonored the Father – and the Father would judge them..
- We ultimately share the fate of our ‘father’ – for good or for bad…
- Either we experience the infinite wonder of heaven with God – I Corinthians 2:9
- Or we suffer the unspeakable horrors of hell prepared for the devil – Revelation 20:10
- That is why we tell people about Jesus – give them the Word – not to attack them…
- We share cause of the very real danger that comes with rejecting Jesus Christ…
- Hell is not temporary – hell is the 2nd death – eternal separation from God – no hope…
- Keeping people from Hell is worth a little ridicule – worth being made fun of…
- They had no answer to Jesus test – all they could do was hurl insults…
- 2nd – ‘I tell you the truth’ – whoever keeps the Word – will never die… vs. 51-55
- The Jews answered – now we know you have a demon…
- Abraham / Prophets are all dead – yet You say if someone listen to You they will not die
- Are you greater than Abraham or the Prophets – who do you think You are!
- When you tell people there is only one way to get to heaven – the Bible – faith in Jesus…
- They will want to know what gives you the right to tell them who their father is!
- They will challenge you – who do you think you are – what makes you an authority!
- Jesus answered – ‘I know the Father’…
- To say Jesus did not know the Father – would make Him a ‘liar like the Jews’ (slam)…
- The people did not know (ginosko) – have a personal experience with the father…
- But Jesus knew (eido) / had seen the Father personally – and kept His Word (logos)!
- So absolutely Jesus was greater than Abraham or the Prophets…
- The reason why we have authority – is because we know Jesus / His Word!
- The Gospel is not our opinion / it is the Word of God – it is THE fact!
- We are not giving people our opinion – we are giving them the TRUTH!
- The Jews answered – now we know you have a demon…
- 3rd – Abraham saw Jesus – and rejoiced… vs. 56-59
- When did Abraham see Jesus – 2 thoughts…
- When Melchizedek (Jesus) came out and blessed Abraham – Genesis 14:18-19
- Hebrews 7:1-3 – “Melchizedek… [is] like the Son of God…”
- When the Lord appeared to Abraham and told Him he would have a son – Genesis 19:1
- Both times Abraham rejoiced when He heard the Word of God…
- In fact the name of the son God promised to give was ‘Isaac’ – meaning laughter!
- You are not even 50 years old – and you say Abraham…
- They were pointing out the physical impossibility of Jesus’ claim because of His age…
- Abraham had lived some 2000 years before the time of Jesus…
- Before Abraham was – ‘I Am’!
- The ‘I AM’ – is one of the titles given by God to Moses (burning bush) – Exodus 3
- There can be no mistake to what Jesus is saying – He saw Abraham – because He is God!
- We can further be sure because in response the people took up stones to kill Him!
- But Jesus was hidden from them – passed by them and left the Temple…
- Life comes down to one very simple decision we must make – who is our father…
- Do we choose to live our lives in bondage to sin – unwilling to hear the word…
- Acting just like satan – showing that we are the sons of the devil…
- Or do we choose to abide in the Word of God – set free from sin – a child of God!
- When did Abraham see Jesus – 2 thoughts…
- 1st – In pure anger the Jews said – ‘You are a Samaritan – and have a demon’… vs. 48-50
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