Children Of The Devil

‘God loves everybody’ we say and we should be more loving, more caring, more accepting, MORE LIBERAL in our faith. We should have a ‘come one come all’ type of attitude – and to a certain point you’d be absolutely right – we should – because everyone is welcome at the foot of the cross – but then we read:

‘Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.’

You see, whilst all are welcome at the foot of the cross, no-one can remain what they are, no-one can remain what they were, no-one can remain unchanged. And we say no! That cannot be. I cannot accept it, I will not accept it, I will not believe it. People should be free to live their lives as they choose. They should be free to do things that please them. It doesn’t fit with what I think SHOULD BE! And we turn away, and we walk away – but it doesn’t alter the truth.

And this is the problem that the Jews have. They like what Jesus has been doing. They like the miracles. But they don’t like what he saying. They find his words offensive. What he says doesn’t fit with what they want to believe. So they appeal to their heritage. ‘We are Abraham’s children’ they say, we are children of the promise, we are God’s Chosen People, we’re saved! We go through our traditions, we go through our rituals, we’re in the synagogue every Sabbath; our religion will save us!

You see, their belief was that Abraham – the founding father of the nation – was so godly... was so close to God... that he had stored up such a vast treasury of merit with God... that it covered all of his descendants. As far as they are concerned no descendant of Abraham could ever be lost! They were safe, they were secure, they were saved because of their heritage.

And there are people today who consider themselves safe, who consider themselves saved, who consider themselves to be Christian because they were born in a Christian country (!), or because their parents are Christians, or they were raised in church. Or they used to go to Sunday School as children. But Jesus says, 'I don't care about your earthly heritage - it's not important - it wont save you. I don't care if your mum or dad was a Christian - that's not going to save you. I don’t care if your great, great, grandfather was the Archbishop of Canterbury – that’s not going to save you'. I don’t care if you're descendants of Abraham that’s not going to save you.

Look at verse 39, “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God.