SEPTEMBER 24 & OCTOBER 1, 2017
THE NATURE AND SOURCE OF SAVING FAITH
INTRODUCTION:
1. Jesus attributed to His ministry two methods of teaching.
a) Testimony. (Verse 14a)
b) Judgment. (Verse 16a)
2. In Jesus’ testimony He reveals His origin, His mission, and His work. (Verses 14-29)
3. In His judgment He reveals the moral state of His hearers who remain in their unbelief. (Verses 31-36)
a) In this passage Jesus is dealing with some who were professing believers. (Verse 30)
b) Yet, from all that appears, many of them were unwilling to turn loose of much of their old way of life.
c) This is still the problem with a good many of our day who profess to believe on Christ.
4. In Jesus’ ministry of judgment Jesus brings out most clearly The Nature and Source of True Faith.
I. TRUE FAITH IS MANIFESTED IN ITS NATURE. (VERSES 30-36)
A. TRUE FAITH CAN ENDURE BEING PUT TO THE TEST. (VERSES 30-32)
1. True faith is willing to make public profession. (Verse 30)
a) They were Jews, yet members of the opposition party.
b) Some of them may have been members of the Sanhedrin (See John 12:42) and yet some professed faith.
c) They continued with their Messianic aspirations of the nation.
d) Only they thought that Jesus had the mission to satisfy these national aspirations.
e) They were not unlike many in our day who profess faith because they think Christ supports their personal agenda!
(1) Some want a happier family life.
(2) Some want a better society.
(3) All want personal fulfilment.
2. True faith is willing to be put to the test. (Verses 31, 32)
a) He advises them of the necessity of “continuing.” (Verse 31a)
(1) Continuing implies submission to Jesus.
(2) Continuing implies perseverance in faith.
b) He warns that only some are true disciples. “…then are ye my disciples indeed.”
c) He cautions that the truth must be truly known. (Verse 32a)
d) He makes plain that the true Messianic freedom is freedom from sin! (Verse 32b; Matt. 1:21)
B. TRUE FAITH CAN BE EXPERIENCED ONLY IN HOLINESS (VERSES 33-36)
1. Carnal nature can only be insulted by the promise of God. (Verse 33)
a) Jesus knew that many of them desired only an earthly freedom.
b) He further knew that they expected Messiah to bring this freedom.
c) Therefore He framed His words accordingly.
2. Sinful nature will always make its boast in the flesh. (Verse 33)
a) It will place its confidence in fleshly connections.
b) It will glory in political liberties.
c) It will be oblivious to its spiritual bondage.
3. Sin is antithetical to all true freedom. (Verses 34, 35)
a) The commission of sin turns free men into slaves. (Verse 34)
(1) Sin enslaves both the mind and the will.
(2) Sin leaves its servants powerless before it.
b) Slaves have no real rights.
(1) Whatever temporary privileges they enjoy may be taken away at any time.
(2) They themselves may be taken at any time and sold for their debts.
(3) What a picture this is of what was about to happen to unbelieving Israel.
4. Only the Son has the authority so set us free. (Verse 36)
a) Before, Jesus had used the term, “son” to indicate the quality of sonship.
b) From this point forward, the term refers to Himself as the unique Son of God.
c) Only the Son, as representative and heir of the Father’s estate has the right to free slaves.
d) He makes us free indeed, that is, spiritually free to God.
e) Consequently, we are members of His House forever.
II. TRUE FAITH IS HEAVENLY IN ITS SOURCE. (VERSES 37-47)
A. TRUE FAITH ARISES FROM SPIRITUAL SONSHIP.
1. Having exposed their spiritual bondage, Jesus now reveals their spiritual sonship.
a) These had based their freedom upon sonship to Abraham.
b) Jesus had shown them to be bondslaves to sin, thus disproving their contention that they had never been enslaved.
c) Now He destroys their claim to be “Abraham’s seed.”
2. He does not deny their civil registry as children of Abraham.
3. But He alleges a moral fact which destroys the value to this physical claim: their conduct towards Him and His Word. (John the Baptist and Paul did the same. Matt. 3; Rom. 9)
B. TRUE FAITH CAN BE DISCERNED BY ITS CONDUCT TOWARDS CHRIST AND HIS WORD. (VERSES 37-40)
1. Hatefulness to Christ’s Person is not the act of true faith. (Verses 37, 40)
a) It would not kill the Lord Jesus,
(1) Who is a messenger of truth;
(2) Who is come from God.
b) It would welcome Him as Abraham, the father of all the faithful, did.
(1) Abraham was distinguished for an absolute submission to divine truth. (Gen. 12, 22)
(2) He was distinguished by a love for the messengers of truth. (Gen. 16, 18)
2. True faith acts in accord with the Heavenly Father. (Verse 38)
a) Jesus spoke what He had seen from His Heavenly Father.
b) The Jews did what they saw their father do. (See Verse 44)
c) The parallels here are truly extraordinary.
(1) Jesus’ ministry was to testify and judge by speaking.
(2) He did this by speaking what He saw in the bright light of His Father’s truth.
(3) These unbelievers could only do what they had seen their father do in the shadows of falsehood.
C. TRUE FAITH WILL PROVE ITS HEAVENLY PATERNITY. (VERSES 41-47)
1. True paternity will win out in spite of proud protestations. (Verse 41)
a) Here is a slam at Jesus’ virgin birth. (Verse 41b) “We were not born of fornication.”
b) Here is a pretentious claim of God’s Fatherhood. (Verse 41c) “We have one Father, even God.”
2. There are two spiritual paternities possible. (Verses 42, 44)
a) Like Jesus, some have God as their Father. (Verse 42)
(1) This is chiefly shown by love to Christ.
(2) It is shown when Christ is honored as truly of God.
b) All others, like these proud Jews, have the Devil as their father. (Verse 44)
(1) Sinners are quite willing to have complicity in the Devil’s evil lusts.
(2) The Devil became a murderer when in the beginning he hated mankind as the revealer of God’s truth.
(3) Thus he abode no in the truth in which God made him.
(4) He tempted mankind to sin by the lie that comprised his fallen being.
(5) Therefore he is the father of all lies and liars.
3. One’s paternity determines the capacity for truth. (Verses 43, 45-47)
a) Whether or not we can understand and hear Christ’s Words depends on who our father is. (Verse 43)
b) Whether or not one believes the truth depends on who our father is. (Verses 45, 46)
c) Whether or not one has the capacity for God’s Word depends on who his or her father is. (Verse 47)
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