In this sermon, Pastor Dave Capoccia continues examining John 8:31-59, Jesus’ final public discussion with the Jews at the Feast of the Booths. John reports this discussion in his Gospel so that you will recognize your true spiritual state and turn to Jesus with perseverant faith.
In the second part of Jesus’ discussion, John 8:37-47, Jesus raises the question: are you demonstrating devilish parentage or divine parentage?
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so that’s an answer to prayer and congratulations to them all right well let’s pray as we look to hear from the Lord heavenly father thank you for your word Lord the passage before us is meant to help us understand where we are with you so God I pray for those that don’t know you that they’d see that and they’d see their need to turn to you but I pray for the Lord those who do know you they would see that that too and they’d find comfort and encouragement to keep on after you in Jesus name amen well something that I’ve always found fascinating is how often children take after their parents how often children look like talk like and even act just like their moms and dads for example though my son Benjamin is just over a year old I can already see this reality in him his face seems to be truly a combination of my own and my wife’s faces he’s already getting tall just like his dad and he loves eating bread just like his dad has always loved eating carbs growing up I basically subsisted on Cinnamon Toast so when I see Benjamin happily munching on a waffle or a pancake I say That’s my boy he also likes eating pickles though which he definitely did not get from me I’ve always despised pickles and would never taste Briny so I think he got that from his mother but surely all of us can testify that to some degree children take after their parents even when the children or the parents don’t mean to make that happen to give another example my dad has a Christian Ministry in which he produces audio recordings of great old sermons like 1700s 1800s old and he does this by repr preaching these sermons in his own voice now the first time I heard one of these repr preached sermons I was compl completely shocked at what well at how much my dad sounds like me when he preaches or rather how much I sound like him I never consciously tried to imitate the way my father talks it just happened regardless but to give a an example on the other side I remember once talking with a Christian parent who was trying to be careful to train up his young daughter in proper behavior and speech and he told me how dismayed he was one day to find out that she had learned and had begun to use some UNC words and he thought to himself where did she learn to talk like that we don’t have any movies with that kind of language she doesn’t have any friends that she’s been hanging around who speak that way where’d it come from and then he thought a little bit longer and he realized oh wait that’s the way that I sometimes talk I didn’t mean to teach her those words but she nonetheless learned them from my own example it’s amazing what kids will pick up from their parents though surely parents wish kids would pick up more of the good things rather than the bad things now I should say though parents can have a significant influence on their children by simple genetics by the example they live by purposeful discipline and communication with their children it’s not true that a parent can make their child turn out a certain way good or bad ultimately a child will himself choose how to respond to his parents influence as my biblical counseling Professor used to say in seminary parenting is influential but not determinative except in one case one very important case the case of spiritual parentage as we’ll see today in our next passage in the Gospel of John the Bible makes clear that spiritually speaking every person ultimately has one of two fathers God or the devil and spiritual fatherhood isn’t merely influential it is determinative it will make you act a certain way make you live a certain way so much so that based based on how a person speaks and acts and especially on how a person responds to Jesus Christ you can know a person’s spiritual paternity you can know who his father is is after all as people say like father like son and the consequent startling truth is that when assessed this way Many religious people many even professing Christians demonstrate that their spiritual father is not God it’s the devil the question for us is is what about me what about you who are listening what does your life show about your spiritual paternity that’s the central question of our next passage that’s what we want to look at together today please take your Bibles and turn to John 8 John 8: 37-47 the title of the message is a tale of two fathers A Tale of Two fathers John 8: 37-47 is our passage but I’d like to read the full section with with you again so you can appreciate how it all fits together so follow along with me as I read John 8:31 to 59 John 8:31 to 59 so Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed him if you continue in my word then you are truly Disciples of mine and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free they answered him we are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone how is it that you say you will become free Jesus answered them truly truly I say to you everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin the slave does not remain in the house forever the sun does remain forever so if the sun makes you free you will be free indeed I know that you are Abraham’s descendants yet you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you I speak the things which I have seen with my father therefore you also do the things which you have heard heard from your father they answered and said to him Abraham is our father Jesus said to them if you are Abraham’s children do the Deeds of Abraham but as it is you are seeking to kill me a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God this Abraham did not do you are doing the Deeds of your father they said to him we were not born of fornication we have one father God Jesus said to them if God were your father you would love me for I pursue Ed forth and have come from God for I have not even come on my own initiative but he sent me why do you not understand what I’m saying it is because you cannot hear my word you are of your father the devil and you want to do the desires of your father he was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him whenever he speaks a lie he speaks from his own nature for he is a liar and the father of Lies but but because I speak the truth you do not believe me which one of you convicts me of sin if I speak truth why do you not believe me he who is of God hears the words of God for this reason you do not hear them because you are not of God the Jews answered and said to him do we not rightly say or do we not say rightly that you are a Samaritan and have a demon Jesus answered I do not have a demon but I honor my father and you dishonor me but I do not seek my glory there is one who seeks and judges truly truly I say to you if anyone keeps my word he will never see death the Jews said to him now we know that you have a demon Abraham died in the prophets also and you say if anyone keeps my word he will never taste of death surely you are not greater than our Father Abraham who died the prophets died too whom do you make yourself out to be Jesus answered if I glorify myself my glory is nothing it is my father who glorifies me of whom you say he is our God and you have not come to know him but I know him and if I say that I do not know him I will be a liar like you but I do know him and keep his word your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad so the Jews said to him you are not yet 50 years old and have you seen Abraham Jesus said to them truly truly I say to you before Abraham was born I am therefore they picked up stones to throw at him but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple we’ve returned to this unexpected bonus round of argument between Jesus and the Jews during the last day of the Feast of booths in Jerusalem Jesus is still in the temple courts as we saw last time which should have been on the surface merely a final exhortation from Jesus to those Jews who had newly believed in him to persevere in following and obeying his teaching turns into a debate of escalating hostility until these Believers try to kill Jesus on the spot now while this demonstrated fickle Faith may be surprising to us it was not surprising to Jesus in fact in John chapter 6 Jesus specifically speaks these words to expose his new disciples incomplete ultimately false Faith to show them to show the world their true spiritual State as enemies of God and in desperate need of God’s salvation which is only found in Jesus his son now our author John records these words from Jesus with a similar purpose for his original audience he was speaking to hellenized Jews in the first century but these words are also relevant for us today the spirit of God wants us to see them I gave you the main idea of this whole section last time here it is again in John 8:31 to 59 John reports Jesus final public discussion at the Feast of booths so that you will recognize your true spiritual State and turn to Jesus with perseverant Faith now again to remind you this climactic convers ation between Jesus and the Jews it preds in three parts each part focusing on a certain question to get his listeners to get us to see our true spiritual State and we saw the first part last time in verses 31- 36 focused on this question number one are you experiencing spiritual slavery or spiritual Freedom are you experiencing spiritual slavery or spiritual Freedom Jesus says that he offers spiritual freedom and life to any who will persevere in his teaching but only those who first recognize that they need such freedom in life that they are without Jesus spiritual slaves bound to their sins and bound to an eternity apart from God only such will take Jesus up on his offer the Jewish Believers at this Feast prove unwilling to see themselves that way unwilling to see themselves as anything but spiritual royalty as descendants of Abraham they totally miss out therefore on Jesus generous invitation in response Jesus proceeds to the second part of the discussion in which he uses another overarching metaphor to get his original listeners and us to see where we really stand with God and this is the part we’re looking at today in verses 37 to 47 which is focused on a second question number two are you demonstrating devilish parentage or Divine par parentage are you demonstrating devilish parentage or Divine parentage we’re going to explore these words of Jesus under four subheadings each capturing a main assertion from Jesus under this overarching question so I’ll give you those subheadings as we go along and the first one covers verses 37 to 38 and that’s this 2 a spiritual descent matters More Than Physical spiritual descent matters more More Than Physical look at those two verses again verses 37 to 38 I know that you are Abraham’s descendant yet you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you I speak the things which I’ve seen with my father therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father in some ways these words are a transition from the thought Jesus just expressed in verses 31- 36 there Jesus made his plain exhortation and offer unto true spiritual freedom however based on Jesus Supernatural knowledge and based on the Jews initial reply to Jesus insisting that they as Abraham’s descendants have essentially never been enslaved to anyone or anything Jesus acknowledges here that these disciples are not true disciples and thus really not true desendants of Abraham these Jews instead are living out the results of an entirely different and more profound spiritual descent notice Jesus does admit in the beginning of verse 7 what the Jews asserted back in verse 33 Jesus says I know that you are Abraham’s descendants I know that you are Abraham’s seed and calling his people’s attention to their dire spiritual State he’s not disputing their ethnicity yet Jesus says in the middle of verse 37 yet you seek to kill me now the Greek word translated yet is Allah it’s a word that’s used in Greek to set up a strong contrast but what’s being contrasted here being a descendant of Abraham and wanting to kill Jesus why the contrast well Jesus is pointing out that these items shouldn’t go together after all think about Abraham Abraham knew God he believed God he loved God he obeyed God’s word he was not a murderer or as far as we know from the content of scripture he never even desired to murder yet his physical descendants these Jews they do want to murder and not just murder a random person they want to murder the very Messiah and Son of God this is not one one would expect from the Blessed even righteous Seed of Abraham and why do they want to kill Jesus Jesus actually clarifies because my word has no place in you we could alternatively translate this phrase because my word makes no Headway among you commentators debate whether which one is more accurate but either way we get the idea though Jesus has freely taught these Jews the life-giving truth of God they not only refuse to believe this truth in any meaningful or lasting way but they also desire to punish Jesus for telling them that Truth by killing him that also is not what one would expect from the Seed of Abraham indeed how could righteous Abraham’s own seed act in such a heinously evil way the answer must be there is something more determinative than physical desent at work by the way is it fair what Jesus asserts here here that these Jews his nominal disciples seek to kill him we know by now in John that some Jews especially the religious leaders they seek to kill Jesus because of Jesus healing on the Sabbath and breaking manmade tradition and also Jesus Calling God his own father we saw that starting in John chapter 5 but surely those who believe in Jesus don’t seek to kill him that doesn’t make any sense right are Jesus words here than an example of what we sometimes see happen in human arguments when one person says why are you getting angry with me the other person says I wasn’t getting angry until you accuse me of getting angry with you is Jesus simply provoking his disciples to want to kill him by telling him that they want to kill him no Jesus Is Not So oblivious rather Jesus knows all men which we heard expressed directly in John 24 and 25 even if these Jews have never breathed the word about murdering him to anyone even if these Jews have never even fully articulated the thought of murder in their own minds Jesus knows their hearts he knows their core loves and commitments even the kind that will manifest in Murder if these Jews do not receive from Jesus what they want from him in other words the attempted murder at the end of this section verse it’s not some tragic random happening that they were just provoked into it is the manifestation of an evil murderous heart that was already present even at the beginning of this discussion it’s just external confirmation of what Jesus declares is already there internally but how could this be how could this be true of the descendants of Abraham Jesus alludes to the answer in verse 38 Jesus essentially says that both he and these Jews are just doing what they’ve learned from their true fathers Jesus speaks what he does he even declares what religious people like the Jews will often consider offensive because Jesus saw it or learned it directly with his father directly from his father father and in response to these words note that therefore in the middle of verse 38 in response to these words the supposedly religious Jews do what they heard or learned from their father saw and heard are basically used as synonyms for the idea of learn here Jesus does what he saw from his father they do what they heard from their father but who’s the Jew’s true father father who has so instructed them in the way that they should act this brings us to our second subheading which covers verses 39 to 41A 2B your Deeds show your true parentage your Deeds show your true parentage look at the first part of verse 39 they answered and said to him Abraham is our father likely not quite catching on to what Jesus is getting at in verse 38 the Jews go right back to insisting that they are and demonstrate themselves to be sons and inheritors of blessed Abraham but this does not fit with what Jesus just said in verse 38 so Jesus points out the discrepancy for them look at the rest of verse 39 down to verse 40 Jesus said to them if you are Abraham’s children do the Deeds of Abraham but as it is you are seeking to kill me a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God this Abraham did not do you see here that Jesus speaks more plainly about what he only alluded to before even though Jesus has admitted that the Jews are the physical Seed of Abraham they could not be the true spiritual Seed of Abraham and why not because they don’t do father Abraham’s Deeds despite whatever they think of themselves or whatever rituals and rules they keep on the outside or in particular context text these Jews are not faith-filled people and are not obedient to God they are quite the opposite as Jesus says in verse 40 they are presently seeking to kill Jesus when all he did was tell them the truth given to him by God to speak emphatically Jesus declares this Abraham did not do Abraham was not a murderer of God’s Messengers rather according to scripture Abraham received he believed and he obeyed The Messengers of God even in Genesis 18 when Abraham incredibly showed Hospitality to Yahweh himself to God even to the pre-incarnate Son of God when God told Abraham that amazing word old Abraham would have his promised Son by the next year Abraham believed he received he responded in faith see the contrast between the righteous Deeds of Abraham and his physical descendants is too great there’s no way that these Jews are true spiritual sons of Abraham thus Jesus says again at the first part of verse 41 you are doing the Deeds of your father by disputing their essential Heritage from Abraham Jesus was not contradicting what he said before Oh you Jews are doing the Deeds of your father all right but it’s not Abraham so who’s their father the Jews have another answer which will take us into our third subheading this time covering verses 41b to 42 2 C your response shows your true parentage your response and that is your response to Jesus shows your true parentage look at the second part of verse 41 they said to him we were not born of fornication we have one father God this reply from the Jews might strike you is a little bit odd why starting off why did they start off by denying that they’re the products of immorality there are a few possibilities one the Jews could be misunderstanding and misin intereting Jesus words and think that Jesus is alleging that these Jews while being physical descendants of Abraham they are not pure physical descendants and thus they’re not qualified to inherit Abraham’s blessing perhaps they think that Jesus is alleging they are descendants of Abraham by Ishmael rather than Isaac or worse that these Jews are the products of the Union of Jewish Mothers with Gentile fathers which should make these Jews just like the unclean and hated Samaritans so they definitely want to dispute that perhaps they say this to Jesus to dispute any alleged illegitimacy in their own bloodline that’s one possibility a second would be the Jews could be using these words to once again mock Jesus for his own mysterious bloodline as I noted to you before the Jews apparently had some knowledge of the unusual circumstances surrounding jesus’ birth circumstances that could be easily misinterpreted as suggesting that Jesus was born from an immoral Union by Mary with some unknown man therefore when Jesus starts saying words that appear to these Jews annoyingly to question the Jews legitimate inheritance of Abraham’s blessing these Jews feel compelled to bring up their own qualms about Jesus Origins Jesus your one to talk about us not being true descendants of Abraham are you sure that you’re a true descendant of Abraham we ourselves were not born from immorality but we don’t know about you that’s a second possibility a third is that the Jews could actually be catching on to jesus’ true meaning about spiritual spiritual parentage and then they use the same metaphor to insist that they are not disqualified from blessing as products of any spiritual adultery after all notice the Jews follow up their protest by saying we were not born from immorality we have one father God if you study the Old Testament you see one of Israel’s main problems is not so much totally abandoning God but trying to serve Yahweh alongside other gods at the same time it was syncretism or in other words spiritual adultery yet something changed after Israel’s Exile experience once the Jews returned to the land from Babylon and other places they generally did not worship false gods or set up Idols alongside Yahweh their bad habit of syncretism had been broken that’s good right well yes but Malachi and the New Testament show us that the Jews exchanged one form of false worship for another they simply exchanged outward Idols for inward ones and exchanged syncretism for going through the motions and holding to man-made traditions nevertheless in the minds of the Jews they were not only in God’s good books because the Jews were physical descendants of Abraham but because they served at least outwardly the one true God there were no longer any false gods or Idols therefore they say we are not children of spiritual immorality we have one father God which one of these possibilities is behind their words it’s hard to say for sure I lean towards this third one though the Jews may be trying to hit multiple birds with one stone here ultimately the Jews tell Jesus we are not only the physical Seed of Abraham we also have the one true God as our spiritual father but Jesus quickly disputes that reply notice verse 42 Jesus said to them if God were your father you would love me for I proceeded forth and have come from God for I have not even come on my own initiative but he sent me notice to what Jesus points to contradict the assertion that God is their true spiritual father lack of Love lack of acceptance of God’s specially sent one Jesus isn’t this the truth that we’ve already seen in this gospel because God so loves and is so intimately United with his son it is not possible for someone to truly love God and reject or be apathetic to Jesus and notice that that Jes the Jesus a person must love and accept must be the Jesus who is the Jesus of the Bible not some made up Jesus of a person’s own mind after all these Jews already love their own madeup Jesus that’s why they’ve become Believers in him they’re made of Jesus doesn’t condemn them for their sins but rather Pats them on the back for all their hard effort and keeping God’s law according to human tradition and their made up Jesus will soon deliver them political Independence and temporal prosperity and the banishing of all diseases that they so want and crave but as this conversation goes on the made up Jesus of their own minds that they love and the Jesus who actually existent are starting to clash more and more and this is what is causing their faith to start crumbling their love to start turning into hate and their discipleship to start turning into murder yet as Jesus says such would not happen if these Jews were truly sons of God if they were truly spiritual sons of God they would love God and consequently they would love the special one who came forth and is now present from God after all Jesus says I have not even come on my own initiative but he sent me what Jesus is speaking and doing on the earth is not even his own words and works it’s his father’s so how could anyone who truly belongs to the father not love Jesus and and receive Jesus words if you love one you’ve got to love the other these Jews say they love God but they cannot hear one simple exhortation from Jesus to persevere in his word and experience true freedom without arguing with Jesus and perhaps even mocking Jesus over the circumstances of his birth Abraham can’t be these true these Jews true spiritual father and neither can God so who is it really we come now to our fourth and last subheading which covers verses 43 to 2D your true spiritual parentage explains everything your true spiritual parentage explains everything verse 43 why do you not understand what I’m saying it is because you cannot hear my word Jesus says here what probably some of you have been thinking the beginning of the feast in John 7 why is it that these Jews so frequently misunderstand Jesus they don’t get it or they just offer up all these objections to what he says are they just slow in their minds has Jesus simply not tapped into their best learning style is Jesus a poor Communicator no the problem is not Jesus mode of communication nor is it the mental ability of his hearers the real issue is that spiritually they cannot hear or accept what Jesus has to say there is no room in their hearts for it God’s word cannot make any forward progress why why can’t they accept God’s word because of contradicting fundamental Desires in their hearts inherited from their true spiritual father in the next verse Jesus finally makes plain what he’s been hinting at since verse 38 verse 44 beginning part you are of your father the devil and you want to do the desires of your father what a thing for Jesus to say to a bunch of religious people who are at a feast to God and at least in their own Hearts profess to believe in Jesus you are of your father the devil and you desire to do your father’s desires yet such finally makes sense of everything that both Jesus and we have observed in this passage the reason you sin Jesus says the reason you reject God’s genuine sent one and the reason you ultimately cannot accept that sent one’s teaching is because you are the spiritual offspring of the devil devil by the way Greek diabos it means slanderer or accuser You Are Spiritual sons of the devil Jesus says you are offspring of that created but Fallen Angel who set himself up as the Archen enemy of God and like any child you take after your father whether you mean to or not you learn his ways you love what he loves what he desires to do you desire to do like father like son verses 44b to 45 Jesus applies this diagnosis to make perfect sense of even the specific things that Jews are doing with Jesus Jesus says he was a murderer from the beginning that one was a murderer from the beginning this statement most likely refers to how the devil or Satan or the serpent they’re all different names for the same being led the human race in the beginning of the world in the garden led the human race into sin death and separation from God he didn’t put a he didn’t literally put a knife in Adam and Eve but but essentially he did he murdered the human race by bringing the whole human race into sin and soon after those beginning days the devil’s continual intent to murder and destroy it was seen again and how the devil L LED Cain to literally kill his brother Abel who was righteous now how is noting the devil’s constant and even ancient murderous streak how is that relevant for Jesus talk with the Jews well what did Jesus already say the Jews seek to kill him they seek to murder him that’s not taking after God whom is that taking after the one who is a murderer from the beginning and again why do they want to kill Jesus for telling them the truth of God this also fits with devilish parentage for Jesus says next of the devil he does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him Satan hates the truth he does not tell the truth nor can he stand to listen to the truth because truth is the opposite of his own essential being the devil therefore the slanderer he is about the business of destroying truth distorting truth and destroying those who speak the truth and if you find yourself doing the same like these Jews do guess what you are showing devilish parentage Jesus goes on in the end of verse 44 into verse 45 whenever he the devil speaks a lie he speaks from his own nature for he is a liar and the father of Lies but because I speak the truth you do not believe me notice here Jesus gives the corresponding opposite to the devil’s relationship with truth the devil hates God’s truth but the devil loves lies to tell a lie isn’t second nature to the devil it’s first nature he is fundamentally a liar and a spiritual father to all those who love and speak lies now notice Jesus connects the devil’s nature to the nature of these supposed disciples because I speak the truth Jesus says not not in spite of my speaking the truth because I speak the truth you do not believe me what kind of person does that what kind of person is completely averse to the truth even the truth of God what kind of person doesn’t believe the truth just because it’s the truth oh is that the truth I don’t believe it only a child of the devil only a child who loves lies as much as his spiritual father does reacts that way Jesus presses the point further on his listeners in verse 46 which one of you you convicts me of sin if I speak the truth why do you not believe me I’m sorry if I speak truth he says now notice here Jesus invites the Jews to try to prove that Jesus has committed some kind of sin now no Jesus enemies have multiple times before accused Jesus of committing sin this fellow blasphemes he doesn’t keep the law he doesn’t keep the Sabbath but they can never prove that to be true of Jesus nor would they be able to even at the Sham trial before his crucifixion now as the sinless Son of God Jesus knows that he hasn’t and he doesn’t commit sin ever I mean which one of us could ever say this which one of you can convict me of sin uh I can I can oh Jesus is different it’s because he’s the son of God and Jesus wants that fundamental difference that spotless record of his as the Divine son to weigh on his opponent’s hearts if you can’t prove that Jesus has committed any sins then what must that mean that means that he is truly from God and he’s telling you the truth and if Jesus Is Telling You God’s truth you have no legitimate excuse for not believing him and for not believing in him he’s the one he’s not the one who is wrong you are so then if you have no legitimate excuse for not believing yet you still do not believe what’s the implication what are you demonstrating that you are a child of the devil like your father you prefer Lies Over the truth there’s no other explanation this is the only way to make sense of that situation Jesus cements the indictment with the final statement in verse 47 he who is of God hears the words of God for this reason you do not hear them because you are not of God this is another version just for emphasis of what Jesus has already said anyone who truly belongs to God who truly is God’s spiritual child hears loves believes and obeys the word of God if you do that if that’s what marks you even you who are listening this morning and the scripture says you’re a child of God you know that you know God’s truth you know that God’s own son has set you free and you are free indeed what a wonderful place to be but if you do not hear God’s word that is is if you are not willing to listen to to accept to obey what God has spoken through his son and unique Revelator Jesus Christ and there’s only one explanation you are not of God even if you claim to be you are an illegitimate child your true father your true spiritual father is the devil what amazingly bold and Powerful words from our Lord to a a group of supposed disciples you’d think that with such a piercing word there’d be some serious soul searching right but you know what the result of these words is let’s take a peek at next week’s passage verse 48 the Jews answered and said to him do we not say rightly that you are a Samaritan and have a demon what’s the result of Jesus words to them it’s hatred and contempt in ugly arrogance when the perfect Son of God mercifully exposes the people’s wickedness so that they can own it and repent these disciples these supposedly religious Jews they only insult him in reply and suggest that he not they is the one under the determinative influence of the devil we’re not sons of the devil you are these Jews thus only prove further that they really are the children of the devil who prefer Satan’s damning lies to God’s humble but saving truth but as I said last time we here have the opportunity to respond differently to jesus’ merciful word than the original audience did this passage has been given to us so that we might recognize our own true spiritual States before God and then turn to Jesus with perseverant faith Faith so my dear listeners assess yourself according to the words and categories that Jesus gives In this passage spiritual descent matters much more than physical so what kind of spiritual parentage are you showing look at your Deeds look at the way you live your life look at your thoughts your speech your behavior your relationships do these demonstrate do they show do they cause would they cause someone to think that you rep you resemble a child of God or rather a child of the devil do you have and are you fulfilling by obedience God’s Desires in your life or do you have or are you fulfilling by your sin the devil’s Desires in your life furthermore look at your relationship or the lack thereof with the biblical Jesus do you love do you accept do you Embrace Jesus as the Son of God even as the only Lord of your life the only one who can save you from your sins or do you care little for Jesus do you even regard him with contempt and hatred do you constantly ignore twist argue with the word of Jesus or do you instead welcome it and abide in it friends it may be that the fundamental reality that explains everything in your life especially your lack of remaining and persevering in Jesus teaching is that you are not of God you also are a child of the devil consider that as a real possibility don’t merely say to yourself but I’m so religious surely I’m not a child of the devil the Jews of this passage were religious too they even believed in Jesus but Jesus told them in no uncertain terms who their real spiritual father was so Brethren I tell you on the authority of God breathe scripture that no matter how outwardly religious a person is no matter what right theological doctrines he affirms no matter if that person once prayed a prayer to receive salvation or not if that same person lives a life of sin or if that person does not love and believe in the genuine Jesus of scriptures then that person is not definitively is not a child of God but a child of Satan and that person is headed for the place reserved for Satan and his fallen angels to be punished and tormented forever truly based on Jesus own simple criteria from this passage do you realize how many religious even monotheistic people in this world are really devilish children on the road to hell right now and how many have died that way died in their sins died without Christ died as children of the devil but that does not have to be true for any of you because this word as I said was given so that you might see your true spiritual State and so that you would then turn to Christ and persevere in following his word so do that turn today don’t live another day as a child of the Devil he’s not a good father he’s cruel and all the ways you will learn from him are poison turn to Jesus let go of your sins let go of all your efforts to earn righteousness before God let go of your own will for your life give it over to God and say Lord I take I take you up on your word that you will offer Mercy to any who come to you in Jesus Christ only he has the righteous life that can make me acceptable to you I therefore ask that you apply his life on my behalf I take him to be my savior I take him to be my Lord What He commands where he says to go how he lives that’s the Direction I’m going now it’s the end of me in control of my life and Lord God now you are in control as Jesus said earlier in this chapter if you will persevere in loving and knowing and following Jesus then you will know the truth that will set you free but now we can say in addition to that you will also know for certain that you are a child of God you know we read 1 John 3 earlier in our service 1 John 3 1:10 and if you’ve gone through the book of First John before you know it’s pretty sobering John is pretty black and white both in this book and the other one about what it means to be a child of God versus the child of the devil to know God not know God but don’t forget the letter of First John is written to provide Comfort it’s written to provide Assurance actually that’s stated in the book these things have been written so that you will know know that you have eternal life so it’s really a side application in that letter to say you will know that you don’t yet know God and you need to repent no those words were written to give Comfort he says we know who the children of God and the children of the devil are therefore you who are actually resembling children of God take comfort you are children of God let the holy spirit’s Assurance wash over you you and so that ought to be an application to this passage as well I know it’s the beautiful testimony of many in this church that they are children of God because they they fulfilled the criteria that Jesus is talking about In this passage they have responded to Jesus word with welcome they do love Jesus and now they are walking in not perfect but in fundamental and increasing obedience to Jesus to be a child of God to be under the Heavenly father’s care is a wonderful thing a wonderful reality and for any of you who are not experiencing that you could if you will repent and believe so do that Jesus is giving you another invitation today he’s been patient with you don’t let that patient be put to waste for for those who are two children of God that not only get to experience the comfort of knowing god in this life but they will go into the kingdom of God that not true Children of the devil as we said this has been a tale of two fathers who is your spiritual father let it be God and not the devil let’s close in prayer Lord we thank you for your word I pray Lord you’d apply it in the ways that it needs to be in the hearts who’ve heard it today this is another passage that makes clear there’s no middle ground you either are a slave of sin or you’re a slave of Christ you’re either a child of the devil or you’re a child of God there’s no other category you’re either an enemy of God or you’re a friend of God so Lord I pray for those who think or who dially as if there were some middle Cate category that they’d see the urgency of getting out of that place because they are yet still children of Wrath which is another way to describe sons of the devil lord I pray that your you would be pleased to use your word word to transform to Open the Eyes of those who don’t know you so that they may believe and be saved and be reborn as children of God and for those who already are children I pray God that you would provide encouragement Assurance Joy yes I am a child of God I know the father I know his son I’m going to him Lord I thank you God that you not only made us individual children but you made us children together that’s what this church is an assembly of the children of God I pray God as we go towards the Lord’s table now that be a reality that sobers us but also causes us to rejoice