“Three Types of Spiritual Fathers - Whom Do You Belong To?”
JOHN 8:38-47
38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing 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 what Abraham did. 40 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. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.” (John 8:38-41a)
“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 have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God 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 desires. 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. (John 8:41b-44)
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 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:45-47)
Jesus and the Father
16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” (John 8:16-18)
Jesus and the Father
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (John 8:19)
Jesus and the Father
28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” �(John 8:28-29)
1.) Father Abraham
JOHN 8:39-40
38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing 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 what Abraham did. 40 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. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.” (John 8:38-41)
38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing 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 what Abraham did. 40 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. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.” (John 8:38-41)
38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing 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 what Abraham did. 40 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. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.” (John 8:38-41)
“The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.” �(Genesis 18:1-2; cf. Genesis 18:1-8)
“Abraham received the messengers of God with proper decorum (Ge 18:1–8) and rejoiced when looking forward to the coming of the Christ (Jn 8:56), the attitude of Jesus’ opponents is exactly the opposite—they are trying to kill him (v.37). If they were truly the children of Abraham, they would extend to him the same consideration their “father” had.”
ROBERT H. MOUNCE, JOHN (THE EXPOSITOR’S BIBLE COMMENTARY)
“because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.” (Genesis 26:5-6)
“In contrast, the rising distaste Jesus’ interrogators displayed to the one who has passed on the truth that he heard from God can only mean that, unlike Abraham, they have no real heart for God, no sensitivity to his voice. Their ‘father’ must therefore be someone else.”
D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing 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 what Abraham did. 40 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. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.” (John 8:38-41)
7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7)
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21)
Reflection
What do people see when they see your life?
Do we treat Jesus as the Jews did Abraham?
How can we ensure that we are “image-bearers “of Christ, not just a superficial imitator?
“You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” (John 8:41)
“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 have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God 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 desires. 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. (John 8:41b-44)
“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 have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God 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 desires. 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. (John 8:41b-44)
2.) The Father of Lies�(The Devil)
JOHN 8:44
“but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.” (Genesis 3:3-4)
“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2Cor. 4:4)
“Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:” (1 John 2:4-5)
Are allowing the truth in us or are we allowing the subtle, but repeated strategy of the enemy to win?
Are we giving ground to the Father of lies?
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
The Temptations of Jesus
MATTHEW 4:1-11
“It is Written…”
“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” �(Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3)
“Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” (Matthew 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:3)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Application
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8-10)
Let us continue to admit that we are a progress at work and confront sin.
Application
“It is written.”
“Your word is a lamp for my feet,� a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Address the Lies with the Truth.
Application
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2,NLT)
Dive Deeper Into the Truth
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 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:45-47)
3.) The True Heavenly Father speaks. �We must listen and respond.
JOHN 8:44
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” (1 John 4:4-6)
Recap
Father Abraham was their religious allegiance. Being a Christian of Christ is more than a title. Let it show something in the world.
01
The Father of Lies will try to stop you. Stand firm in God’s truth. He will not win.
02
Receive your Heavenly Father. If we hear Him, we belong in His family.
03
Let’s Discuss
What is your greatest learning today?
What is your takeaway today?