Jesus Crosses the Line
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JN 8:34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father. "
39 "Abraham is our father," they answered.
"If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the things your own father does."
"We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."
42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
48 The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"
49 "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
Two Fathers - which one is yours?
Devil and God
Devil is life destroyer, God is life Giver
Devil is father of lies - no truth in him
God is author of truth
It's as Easy for God to tell the truth as it is for the devil to tell lies
It's as impossible for God to lie as it is for the devil to reveal truth
39, "If you were Abraham's children,"
"then you would do the things Abraham did.
If you were Abe's son, then you would obey
Therefore you're illegitimate - Porneia bastards Belong to God? Then do what He says
Nationalistic pride - sons of Abraham
No place for this in Christ's church -
no royal pedigree
PHP 3: 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
42, "If God were your Father,
(then) you would love me,
JN 8:52 At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
54 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
57 "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
People battle the truth - Jesus by
1. Picking apart Jesus' words
Mincing over words - we were never slaves
Not unlike slavery - but to sin rather than to man
2. We demonize people who rock our boat - Name calling
People start calling Jesus a Samaritan - saying he has a demon -
How do you know if you're a Child of God?
1. Love Christ
42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me
2. Respond to the Word
47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
3 Obey
51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
JAS 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
When Jesus uttered those two words, "I Am" he crossed the line
Jesus identified Himself completely with His Father, with the historic sacred name, too holy to be written, to sacred to hardly be spoken. No doubt to any listener, Jesus claims to be God.
Belief that had turned resistance - NOW turned to violence
Next Step
Are you ready for the Son to set you free?
Set free by Christ never to be enslaved again
Do I love Jesus?
Am I responsive to His Word?
Have I obeyed what I have heard?
Friend Day cards - write the name of people who the Holy Spirit guides you to list.
Most important hour - love feast - sit by a new face -
