Who is your father (3 things)

• 1^st – Freed from sin… vs. 30-36 (2 things)
  • 1^st – 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!
  • 2^nd – 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…”
        
• 2^nd – Who is your Father… vs. 37-47 (3 things)
  • 1^st – 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…

• 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]…”
• 2^nd – 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…

• 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…

• 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.”
• 3^rd – 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…”
      
• 3^rd – Obey the Word… vs. 48-59 (3 things)
  • 1^st – 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 2^nd death – eternal separation from God – no hope…
      • Keeping people from Hell is worth a little ridicule – worth being made fun of…
  • 2^nd – ‘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!
  • 3^rd – 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!