Don’t Overlook the Importance of Behavior

Read

John 8:39–47 (ESV)

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Opening Prayer

Setting the Stage

They’re indignant that Jesus has stated that they are in spiritual slavery…

And, yet He speaks of them having a different father than Abraham…

He doesn’t explicitly name who He has in mind.

—> Not yet as of v.39.

So, in order to cast away any thoughts of who He has in mind…

They boldly proclaim, Our father is Abraham in every sense of the term…

—> Not only physically, but spiritually.

IOW, they are saying we are in no need of being freed from bondage spiritually.

They regard themselves as not only the physical offspring of Abraham…

But, the spiritual offspring of Abraham, as well.

Jesus replies to their proclamation in a way that lays out…

A Contrast of Behavior

J.C. Ryle correctly states…

We must never forget the importance of “works,” if put in their right place. They cannot justify us. They are at best full of imperfection. But they are useful evidences, and serve to show whose we are.

John 8:39–41 (ESV)

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”

They have claimed to believe.

But, how do they behave?

Do they agree with Christ in His Words?

—> Just saying you have faith does not prove the reality of it.

—> Behavior manifests true faith to others.

So, what we witness here in this passage is Jesus contrasting the behavior of Abraham who had true, saving faith…

—> And, these Jews who profess faith.

But, what kind of faith do they have?

They claim Abraham as their Father in all senses of the word…

—> Physical and Spiritual.

But, does that prove true?

Well, let’s look at…

The Behavior of Abraham

Genesis 12:1–4 (ESV)

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

God comes to Abraham and commands him to change everything about his life that he knows.

Everything he’s comfortable with.

Everything that is his inheritance from his family.

Imagine his family’s response…

—> Who told you?

—> Told you to do what?

That doesn’t make sense Abraham.

What was Abraham’s response to God’s command?

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Abraham believed God and that saving faith was accompanied by acceptance of God’s Word as trustworthy…

And, a pursuit of obedience followed.

Another example of the behavior of Abraham is in…

Genesis 15:1–6 (ESV)

God comes to Abraham and reminds Him of His promise to make Abraham a great multitude of people.

Abraham is crying out to the Lord. He’s communing with his God. He’s humbly requesting from his Sovereign.

God promises Abraham offspring.

6 And he [Abraham] believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

This was a promise that took faith in the character of the One making such a promise.

A faith that believed that nothing was impossible with God.

And, Abraham believed God.

Another interaction is in…

Genesis 17:15–24 (ESV)

God tells Abraham of Sarah’s new name.

God tells him of the son that Sarah will have with Abraham.

God makes a promise of a son.

Abraham had doubts.

He knew the miraculous nature of such a promise.

He was honest with God about it.

Abraham sees another option.

—> An easier option in Abraham’s yes.

Abraham requests a more ready and accessible fulfilment…

—> Which was making Ishmael be the one.

Abraham believes God is capable to do what seems impossible to the human concept of reality.

God gives Abraham His answer.

—> Ishmael is not the promised seed.

—> He will have a son with Sarah.

Abraham trusts God’s promise.

God gives a command to circumcise every male.

Abraham pursues obedience.

Another instance is in…

Genesis 18:1–6 (ESV)

The Lord shows up with messengers at the Oaks of Mamre.

Abraham receives the Lord and His messengers with joy, excitement, hospitality, and acceptance.

There was no hostility.

There was no deception.

There was pleasure found in receiving the Word of the Lord and those who brought that Word.

You’ll also recall, Genesis 22, which shows us that Abraham was obedient no matter how difficult…

Probably the hardest command imaginable to a parent.

In light of being asked to sacrifice his only son on an altar…

And, that son being the son that God promised Abraham would be the heir...

Abraham was willing to do so…

All the while trusting that God would keep His word…

And, even resurrect his son.

This was a true, saving faith that justified Abraham before God…

And, that kind of faith is always accompanied by good works.

In light of the behavior of Abraham that proceeded out from his faith…

Let’s take a look at…

The Behavior of the Jews

Christ has been performing miracles that go beyond the concept of human reality.

He’s been teaching from the Scripture how He is the fulfillment of the OT Messiah.

—> It’s not like He’s been saying things or teaching things that did not accord with the OT.

He’s been meticulously pointing them to Moses and the Prophets to show a correct understanding of the OT promises that are all Yes & Amen in Him.

—> The Apostles, the Gospels, the Epistles of the NT go on record to show this very truth.

The miracles have proven, in Nicodemus’ own words that God must be with Him to be able to do the things He does.

His teachings show how He is the Messiah that God promised.

He’s done nothing but speak truth to all…

Yet we read…

John 8:40 (ESV)

40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.

This not what a true son of Abraham would do.

Abraham rejoiced in the Word of God.

Abraham rejoiced in the presence of God.

Abraham rejoiced in the promises of God and hoped in those very promises.

Abraham longed, not for Canaan, but for the future Kingdom of God that allowed for the restored dwelling with God once again.

The Jews grind their teeth at the Word of God.

Rather than receive God with joy…

They plot to kill Him.

John 8:42 (ESV)

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

The fruit of a true Son of Abraham and a son of God is:

A love for God.

A love for His Word.

A love for His messengers.

A joy in His salvation.

They have no love for God, proven in no love for Christ…

—> Who is actually God incarnate.

—> Immanuel, God with us.

Jesus adds…

John 8:43 (ESV)

43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

hear = heed, agree with

They cannot bear correction.

They cannot bear to think, much less hear that they are wrong.

John 8:45 (ESV)

45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

Most people just want to feel like they are right.

They don’t necessarily care if what they believe is true.

They just want to feel they are right.

So, they gnash their teeth at any correction.

Anything that commands a redirect is loathsome to them.

They don’t have time for such a thing.

Especially if they are comfortable in the false ideology they choose to be comforted by.

They have built up for themselves a tall, wide wall of false security in self-righteousness…

And, any agreement with Christ’s teaching would cause the whole system to crumble…

And, all sense of security, though false as it is, would be lost.

John 8:46 (ESV)

46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

The hardness of the human heart towards God is why humans will not allow God to correct our false perception of our self.

Fallen mankind will not accept that we are unrighteous and need saving.

Nor, does fallen mankind accept that Christ is the only source of salvation.

So, we see this contrast of behavior…

Jesus has shown that the reason Abraham cannot be their Father.

The behavior of Abraham who was truly justified by faith…

And, the behavior of these who have recently professed faith in Christ…

—> Is set down by Christ as a stark contrast.

A contrast so extensive that the only explanation is that Abraham cannot be their Father in any sense other than the physical.

The Jews responded to this argument with contentiousness and an even more far fetched claim of spiritual freedom...

John 8:41 (ESV)

41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”

In response to Jesus denying that Abraham is their spiritual father because of the differences in behavior…

They may not be as good as Abraham…

But, they say, we as a Nation are not idolaters and false worshippers like the pagan nations.

We, Israel, were formed by God.

The Nation of Israel even being symbolically called the son of God in many places in the OT.

So, here they are claiming God is their Father as a Nation.

Yet, as we’ve seen, Jesus shows the extensive contrast in their behavior and God’s behavior…

And, shows the reason that God cannot be their Father either…

It is because they do not imitate God’s behavior towards Christ.

God loves Jesus.

God affirms Jesus.

They hate Jesus.

They want to kill Jesus.

Jesus shows that nothing could be further from the truth than their claim of God being their Father.

Now Christ reveals who their father truly is…

If it’s not Abraham, nor God…who can it be?

John 8:44 (ESV)

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The Jews, at this moment, could not be more offended.

Jesus is equating them with pagan Gentiles who do not know God.

Not only do they not know God…

But they are at enmity with Him like the rest of mankind.

And, we see here…

A Contrast of Fathers

the Devil, the father of lies.

God, the Father who cannot lie.

Words cannot explain the chasm that separates these two.

But, in this passage we note some differences.

Let’s look first at…

the Devil, the father of lies.

A list of characteristics of the Devil that the Jews represent as well:

A murderer

They want to murder Jesus.

Interestingly enough, Jesus brings this up to take them back to Genesis 3…

The devil succeeds in tempting Adam to fall into sin…

And, spiritual death instantly occurs and physical death becomes a reality for all of mankind.

The devil is a murder from the beginning of creation.

But, even more important for them to know is what the devil’s offspring will do…

Genesis 3:15 (ESV)

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

The children of the Devil will bruise the heel of the Messiah…

And, as we learn from further revelation, they will bruise His heel by crucifying Him.

The seed/offspring of the serpent would bruise the heel of the Messiah.

The very thing the religious leaders of the Nation are plotting to do at this very moment.

Not only a murderer, but…

He only speaks lies.

He has no room for the truth.

The best he can do is disguise himself and his messengers as messengers of truth…

But it is always lies, twisting the truth to make it harder to spot, but lies none-the-less.

They in their false zeal for the Law and their false zeal for the glory of God…

Are interested in nothing but their own glory…

And, that lock and step with the behavior of the Devil.

In stark contrast of murder and lies, we have…

God, the Father who cannot lie.

Look at what Jesus says about His Father…

John 8:40 (ESV)

40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.

Jesus always speaks the truth because He speaks what God shows Him to speak…

And, God always speaks truth.

Hebrews 6:17–18 (ESV)

17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

God not only does not lie, He cannot.

Look at…

John 8:42 (ESV)

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.

Quite the opposite of murder, God does the opposite.

Jesus tells us that God the Father sent Him.

To do what?

—> To redeem from condemnation.

God is not a murderer like the Devil.

He is a Redeemer.

He is a Savior.

He is merciful.

He is gracious.

He is benevolent.

Let’s think about this...

In Christ…

By faith in Christ…

By believing upon Christ…

We are being transformed into that image…

In contrast to the behavior we as Christians once were characterized by…

We are now, no longer children of wrath, are being transformed into the image of Christ…

Who was the express image of God in all its fullness.

Dear Christian, this is the God we serve.

This is the God who made us alive.

This is the God who has adopted us into the true family of God.

All of this in Christ.

Let me close with this thought…

Look at…

John 8:46 (ESV)

46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

This is from the fullness of Christ’s knowledge of His perfect righteousness.

The answer is, “No one can because He is sinless.”

For one to charge Him, it must be a fraudulent charge in a fraudulent court who is willing to give a fraudulent verdict.

But, dear friend, Christ is sinless.

He knows it.

His enemies know it.

More importantly His Father knows it.

And, hear me on this…

This same truth is true for all those in Christ.

And, the reason is because Christ kept the Law perfectly and He credits that record to all those who put their faith in Him.

Oh, the beauty of our Savior and His gospel.

Closing Prayer