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John 8:41b-47 [41] “...Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” [42] Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. [43] “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. [44] “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. [45] “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. [46] “Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? [47] “He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” What are the facts of the passage?:
What do those facts mean?: (Verse
43-46) -
Jesus enters teaching mode and asks a rhetorical question. They did not
understand what He had said because they lacked what was necessary to
understand it. They did not have the spiritual equipment necessary to understand
what He was saying. Earlier, He said that if God were their Father, they
would love Him. At its most basic this tells us that both understanding
and love for Christ are proceeded by spiritual life. If they were the
children of God they would love Christ. If they had the right spiritual equipment
they would then be able to understand His Words. Many
reverse this. They say we must first love God if we are to know Him. They
would proclaim that we must understand His Words of we are to know Him.
The problem is that the Scripture tells us exactly the opposite. We must
first know God if we are to love Him or understand Him. It is essential
that we understand this and maintain that distinction in the mind. The
great failing of the Pharisees is that they thought they understood when
they didn't actually understand at all. The irony of the situation was
that what they thought was a secure and certain thing actually their
greatest liability. They had ''bet the farm" so to speak on a losing
horse. What they viewed as their greatest strengths, the historic
relationship with God and the possession of the Scriptures, had actually
become their greatest condemnation. Instead
of being what they thought they
were, they were at the extreme opposite of the spiritual spectrum. They
were children of Satan instead of children of God. The principle He
mentions in verse 44 is a key one. One does what is consistent with one's
spiritual lineage. It cannot be otherwise. This sets up another idea for us to chew on. What is the difference between one whose Father is God and one whose Father is Satan? We hare seen that this difference involves neither love for God, nor knowledge because knowing God, according to the prior verse, proceeds both our to love for God and the ability to understood His words. The answer is not an easy one. Before we can love God or know about His Word we must have the proper "equipment''. The word "able" in verse 43 is saying exactly this. The Pharisees were not able to understand because they did not have the spiritual life needed to understand. Verse 47 tells us that relationship to God is the key difference. It is upon one's knowledge of God that all of this turns. How do those facts apply to my life?: I need to remember this and keep it clearly in mind. People who know the Lord do understand and I can expect them to. People who, like the Pharisees, do not know God cannot understand and we cannot expect them to. What should I do in response?: Build these principles into my understanding of Theology and my presentation of the Gospel to others. |
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