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INTRODUCTION
ILLUS: Visited another heart doctor Monday. Dr. Aronow - Dr. who did both my angiograms - this visit was first time I was fully
conscious talking to him. Went over medications and cholestral numbers. I was concerned that my good was not high enough “You
can’t do anything about that, you get that from your parents, and you can’t change your parents.” That is for
sure. I have characteristics from both. So do you, you might even be able to tell how you take after your father and/or mother - if
you can’t - your spouse will be glad to tell you.
The text today deals with spiritual parentage. TEXT John 8:37-47.
John 8 contains much dialog between Jesus and the Jewish leaders, and the tension is rising quickly. Jesus now centers the debate
on whether or not the Jews who didn’t believe in him are true children of Abraham or someone else.
For us too, there is a paternity test right here. Who is your spiritual father? Are you a child of God through Abraham, or is the
devil your father? Today we will see the distinctive marks of both. READ John 8:37-47
1. The Marks of the Children of the Devil
- Jesus acknowledges the Jews had Abraham as their physical father, but that was it, for they mainly showed marks of
another father - the devil.
- They claimed to be of a pure race “not born of fornication” - reference possibly to Abraham the
fact that they came from Sarah and their son Isaac, not from Ishmael born of the handmaid Hagar. It might even be a
reference to Jesus’ questionable birth.
- They defended their right family line of Abraham, but they sure showed signs of the following after the devil instead.
The devil and his children…
A. Hate the truth and are liars. vs. 40, 44-47
- The people who didn’t believe Jesus were rejecting the truth and following after their true
spiritual father, the devil, a liar from beginning.
- The devil lied to Eve in the Garden, he lied to Christ in the wilderness temptations. The devil still
lies to you and me. He will lie in end times.
- The Jews were lying when they said God was their father, they pretended to be godly yet demonstrated
wickedness.
- The Jews refused to believe the truth Jesus spoke. They hated His teachings, His miracles, and His
love. When one hates truth he is left with only believing lies.
- If truth sets free John 8:32, then lies bind - Romans 1:24-28 “For they exchanged
the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator...For this
reason God gave them over to degrading passions....depraved mind…lusts of their hearts to
impurity.”
ILLUS: The lies people believe: Evolution, universalism where every one is saved, or atheism where
there is no need for salvation. The lie of no absolute morality - anything goes. The lie of justice
without righteousness of God.
- The devil is a liar, and those who reject Christ believe lies and tell lies. This is the first mark of
the children of the devil. What an indictment, He is talking to the religious leaders of His day. The
second mark...
B. Hate God and God’s people and are murderers.
- The Jews who refused to believe Jesus were seeking to kill Jesus.
- Elsewhere it is said they had killed the prophets, now they are seeking to kill Christ. Murder in their
hearts.
- Devil is a murderer, he brought death into the human race in Eden spiritual and physically, shortly
later Cain physically killed Abel. Throughout history and into prophecy the devil seeks to kill and
destroy.
- The devil’s temptations lead to death, never life. 1 Peter 5:8
ILLUS: How many modern day examples do we need to prove this point? We are a culture of death -
crime, abortion, suicide, drug culture - Mexico drug wars. We are escalating war in Afghanistan -
holy wars, where in the name of “God” people kill, evangelize by the sword - they are
NOT children of God but children of the devil. Murder is a mark of the devil.
- Not to mention persecutions of Christians is growing worldwide: “In every age he who is born
after the flesh persecutes him who is born after the spirit.” (Baker, Vol.14, 74)
- In our text Jesus unmasks Satan and identifies him as the real enemy.
- These two marks of the devil mixed together bring other evils: rebellion, counterfeit religion,
bitterness, pride, bondage to lusts, fears, depression and discouragement, and curses of sin -
Galatians 5:19-21
- The Jews thought they were Ok, right with God, but they were far from it - how about you? Do you
believe any lies? Is hatred in your heart?
ILLUS: Neil Anderson - Steps to Freedom in Christ, p. 8-10
2. The Marks of the Children of God
A. Hear the Word of God. v. 43, 47
- Two types of usages of “hear” - hear a sound, or receive a message.
ILLUS: My hearing is just fine, I hear sounds well, but if I don’t pay attention I
don’t receive message. You have done it too - someone is talking to you, and you are not
listening - hearing sounds, but not message to you.
- To hear of words of God, you must pay attention, and receive/take in the message. Means you will gladly
hear and be willing to obey. The words are to you, words of truth.
- The Jews heard Jesus’ words as sounds they didn’t like, and they would not accept the words
as a message from God. Hearts were closed to God. Jesus’ message fell on deaf ears.
Romans 10:13-18
- You must accept it as truth, the very word of God, not the word of man.
- You are hearing words, but are you paying attention and receiving the message into our heart? The
children of God receive the message!
B. Believe in Christ. vs. 45-46
- NT times. Our means of faith is through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
- The gospel is about who is Christ - 1 Cor. 15:1-4
- Salvation is what we do with Christ - Romans 10:9-11
- “Faith” and “believe” - “believe” is the
verb, “Faith” is the noun - used 100’s to times in the Bible in relation to
the gospel and salvation.
- Faith believes = confidence, submission, obedience. It involves knowledge of the truth, mental assent,
and trust.
ILLUS: Cleaning out desk drawer, Tract: “What is Saving Faith?”
- The children of God believe in Jesus Christ by faith!
C. Do the works of Abraham. v. 39-40
- Abraham was declared righteous by his faith (Gen. 15:6), not works. But works became clearly
evident - demonstrated faith. Left his home to go to an unknown land, waited 25 years for a promised
son, then offered his son on the altar, settled in the land.
- Faith works. Gen. 12 says Abe was 75 when promise made, Gen. Gen said he died at ripe old age of 175 -
100 years of living by faith, doing works of righteousness.
- Abraham was the Father of faith for the Jews and Gentiles. We need to live a life of faith like he did
and live it with loyal obedience. Gen. 26:5.
- The marks of the children of God: first hear the word - take in the word as the truth of God;
believe/have faith in Jesus the Son of God, and live out the truth in their life by obedience. The
children of God obey God!
CONCLUSION
Who is your spiritual father? Whose marks of heritage do you bear?
I know you can’t change your physical genetics. You can’t change your biological parents. However, in some cases,
children are adopted out, have new parents to raise them, but genetics of biological parents remains unchanged.
But praise God that is not true spiritually, you can change your spiritual genetics. You can be “born again”
in Christ. You can bear the family name “Christian” - Christ’s ones. You can have the characteristics of
Christ - “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23)
Look into your heart, what does this paternity test reveal to you? Who do you belong to? I hope the choice is obvious, but people
miss it often…
ILLUS: Paul Harvey passed away yesterday, age 90. He was a believer!
Listen to this classic broadcast “If I were the Devil.”
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