What Jesus Did : John 8:37-40 - Pedigree or Faith?
by Phil Ware
Pedigree or Faith? - John 8:37-40
"I know you are Abraham's people. But you want to kill me. Why? Because you don't want to accept my teaching. I am telling you what my Father has shown me. But you do the things that your father has told you." The Jews said, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said, "If you were really Abraham's children, then you would do the things Abraham did. I am a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. But you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
What is your claim for significance? Is it your wealth, education, health, appearance, or achievement? What about your family heritage, your neighborhood, or your reputation? What matters most is what you do with Jesus! Which are you going to trust to make a difference in the biggest part of life, the eternal part of life? Are you going to trust in your pedigree or in your Savior?
Today's Prayer
Father, forgive me because I have sometimes been arrogant about my achievements and self-righteous because of my religious heritage. I recognize that I find my life, my hope, my joy, and my salvation in Jesus, in whose name I offer you my life and my praise. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
While Jesus was saying these things, many people believed in him. So Jesus said to the Jews that believed in him, "If you continue to obey my teaching, then you are truly my followers. Then you will know the truth. And the truth will make you free." The Jews answered, "We are Abraham's people. And we have never been slaves. So why do you say that we will be free?" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth. Every person that sins is a slave. Sin is his master. A slave does not stay with a family forever. But a son belongs to the family forever. So if the Son makes you free, then you will be truly free. I know you are Abraham's people. But you want to kill me. Why? Because you don't want to accept my teaching. I am telling you what my Father has shown me. But you do the things that your father has told you." The Jews said, "Our father is Abraham. " Jesus said, "If you were really Abraham's children, then you would do the things Abraham did. I am a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. But you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that. So you are doing the things your own father did." But the Jews said, "We are not like children that never knew who their father was. God is our Father. He is the only Father we have." Jesus said to those Jews, "If God were really your Father, then you would love me. I came from God, and now I am here. I did not come by my own authority. God sent me. You don't understand these things I say. Why? Because you cannot accept my teaching. Your father is the devil. You belong to him. You want to do what he wants. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He was always against the truth. There is no truth in him. He is like the lies he tells. Yes, the devil is a liar. He is the father of lies. I speak the truth. That is why you don't believe me. Can any of you prove that I am guilty of sin? If I tell the truth, then why don't you believe me? The person that belongs to God accepts what God says. But you don't accept what Godsays, because you don't belong to God."-- John 8:30-47 (ERV)
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