Lesson 300

(Lesson 300)(06-08-12) John 8:37-59,"I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily,verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by."

This lesson, as all others, should be very carefully studied by every potential Christian and every member of the true Church.

Herein Jesus makes His case that the leadership of the Jewish people have abandoned the will of God, as it was delivered to Abraham the father of the Hebrew people.

In this discussion, Jesus establishes Himself as the Messiah, the Promised One, "for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.", "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.".

Just like so many today, the Jews, as was prophesied, denied Him and refused to believe His word and set out to have Him killed.

Today there are many, so-called, churches whose teachings tend to nullify the purpose of Jesus and the supreme sacrifice He made by reverting their teaching to the failed laws of Abraham and Moses, in an attempt to make their own personal works a part of their eternal salvation.

Matt. 7:14, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." That straight and narrow way is so simple many overlook it, "If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death."~~