Sermon Central
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The Test Of Whether God Is Your Father Series
Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 5, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: The religious leaders were proud of their heritage as children of Abraham, but that kept them from receiving what Jesus was offering. This message looks at the test of whether God or Satan is our father as well as four danger signs that we are heading in the wrong direction.
THE TEST OF WHETHER GOD IS YOUR FATHER: The answer is found in what you do with Jesus.
- John 8:42.
- John 8:39b, 44.
- Many focus on a generic God.
- The teaching of the Kingdom is not a generic morality.
- We each need to make a decision for or against Jesus.
DANGER SIGNS:
1. Counting on religion.
- John 8:37a, 39a, 41b.
- They had great religious pride over their heritage.
- But that didn’t save them.
- People proud of being raised in church or even of going to church. Neither are the same as having a connection to Christ.
2. Words and actions don’t match.
- John 8:40-41a.
- Empty faith, empty belief. Stated, but doesn’t actually change anything.
- This doesn’t mean perfection, but it does mean increasing transformation.
3. Avoiding the truth about my sin.
- John 8:38, 45-46.
- There is a prideful stance here that rejects anything Jesus says. They are unwilling to consider that they might be wrong.
- Romans 1-2 makes it clear that facing up to my sin is essential. In the same way, both John the Baptist and Jesus came preaching “repent” as a first step for their followers.
- It’s so tempting to hold tightly to what I already believe and refuse to humble myself and consider that I may need to make some changes.
4. Don’t grasp God’s word.
- John 8:37b, 43.
- The Bible is clear that we need God’s help to be able to understand God’s message. We need the Father to draw us, we need the Spirit to illuminate us.
- Our part is a desire to know what it says and a willingness to take it as authoritative. Again, we have humble ourselves and want to receive what God is offering.
