HOST: Michael Whitworth
SPONSOR: Logos Bible Software
I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
Can you imagine how offensive Jesus’ statements must have been to this Jewish audience? They took great pride in being from Abraham’s seed and God’s chosen people. They reveled in this relationship with God that was theirs alone. But Jesus makes the assertion that they are not truly children of God, but rather children of the devil. This identity had nothing to do with their lineage or heritage, and everything to do with their hearts and actions. They refused to hear and accept the truth brought to them from the Father by Jesus. They refused to believe on Him who had been promised and prophesied about for centuries and who now stood before them. They were filled with envy and hatred toward Him, propagated lies about Him, and harbored thoughts of murder in their hearts. It was these attitudes and actions that Jesus used to identify them and condemn them as children of the devil. The obvious application for us is found in the question, “Who is our father?” Are we children of God, made such by our faith and obedience to the truth of His word? Or are we children of the devil, following after his ways of ungodliness and sin? We each have the choice. May we choose God!
What is involved in being a child of God?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
