They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:33-36)
With sin comes enslavement and no long-term benefits. With freedom comes relationship and an inheritance; And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. When we believe in God, through faith in Christ Jesus we ...receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15) “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. [Hebrews 11:8-19] You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” (John 8:37-41) Well, if there was any question how the hometown people felt about Jesus, and Mary for that matter, we don't have to wonder anymore. We were not born of fornication, implying that Jesus was. He keeps talking about His "father", so they know He's not talking about Joseph, even though they refuse to believe Him, that God is His Father.
Jesus makes a very interesting statement, you are Abraham’s descendants but If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. Remember God promised Abraham, No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. (Genesis 17:5) Abraham is the father of faith, therefore we are all considered "children of Abraham" if we profess to believe and have faith in Christ Jesus. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised [non-Jew], that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision [Jews] to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:3, 11-13)
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. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 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. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” (John 8:42-47) Well, Jesus made that very clear! There's only two choices: God or the devil. If we refuse to believe God and ...the testimony that God has given of His Son (I John 5:10), then we're putting ourselves in the company of the devil and will receive the same fate he will receive; These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day,... (II Thessalonians 1:9-10)
We can't be born into the right genealogy or family; we can't inherit salvation; we have to choose to believe in God and put our faith in Christ Jesus. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. (I Peter 1:3-9) AMEN
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