If God Were Your Father...
- David Fairchild
- Jun 1, 2003
- Series: Gospel of John
INTRODUCTION
Tonight we will continue our study in the Gospel of John. We are going to be finishing chapter 8, God willing.
As we have been closely examining the dialogue with the Pharisees and Jesus, we have been picking up on different issue that are being presented by the Jews and answered by Jesus. At times His answers come in the form of a question, and at times they are launched from Jesus in a pretty scathing way. This is what we love about our Lord, He is never lacking in rich penetrating insight into the hearts of man.
So it is with this study tonight. Christ continues this dialogue by dropping a sledge-hammer on the arrogance the Jews have about their spiritual ancestry.
We are going to see Jesus pointedly deal with the issue of “Who’s your daddy?” This is not going to be an easy time for the Pharisees as we watch them stumble all over their own idiocy.
We are going to be talking about what it would look like “If God were your father.” I will essentially break the text from verse 33 (for the sake of context) to 59 into 10 points. Those points are going to be an answer to a hanging statement; “If God were your father..” then I will answer with the words of our Lord.
My suggestion would be that you take some notes to follow along. Anytime we have more than 3 points or headings, we have a tendency to forget what those points are, and I believe these points are too critical to miss or forget.
If you remember, last week we spent a great deal of time talking about verse 32 of this chapter and discussing the words “truth” and “freedom” in a Biblical context.
The week before we discussed the three sins of the Pharisees; the sin of unbelief, the sin of ignorance, and the sin of false profession. And of course we have examined verse 12 in some detail regarding Christ’s claim to be “the Light of the world.” We also started this chapter by hearing of a beautiful story of Jesus forgiving a woman’s sin in the story of the woman caught in adultery.
This last month has indeed been a month of pretty difficult teaching and hard words. I recognize this when I have the opportunity to listen to my own sermons and find myself convicted and in much prayer over my own personal sin and wicked heart.
The Gospel of John is filled with difficult teaching because Jesus is constantly being confronted by the Pharisees and thus chooses to confront them back and expose their hypocrisy and sin. So it is no wonder we find ourselves being confronted with those very same issues.
This is a good thing. God is looking for broken people that are left with nothing but a mouth full of confession, and a heart seeking a resting place.
As I have previously mentioned, hard words produce soft people, soft words produce hard people. There is something about the way Christ cuts through all of our arrogance and pride with His scalpel sharp words, that brings us to a place of despair and ultimately to a place of redemption.
THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD
This leads me to the overarching theme in the rest of this chapter, which discusses the Fatherhood of God.
Before we dive into the text tonight, it would be good to talk a bit about the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God and what exactly that means.
I will only give you a brief charcoal sketch of this doctrine for the sake of the study tonight.
The doctrine is that there is one God, one undivided and one indivisible divine Being. At the same time, there is plurality in God; specifically, there is tri-unity. There is distinction between the Persons of the Godhead, so that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God, but the Father is not the Son or the Spirit, the Son is not the Father or the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father or the Son.
These distinctions are not just high-minded definitions of theological thought. Various aspects of our salvation are ascribed to the Persons of the Godhead: the Father gave the Son, the Son died to redeem, the Spirit applies the redemption.
I will not get into all of the texts that deal with this issue, though I strongly suggest you go to our website and download our teaching on the trinity as a help to you and your ability to understand and answer questions that may come to you from those that do not understand or believe.
To do justice to the Fatherhood of God, we should appreciate the various senses in which God is our Father.
Creational Fatherhood
In a unique sense we can speak of a fatherhood which is universal. Paul quotes the pagan poets to demonstrate that 'we are his offspring' (Acts 17:28). In the provision of care and of supply for his creation every day, God bears a relationship to His world similar to that of a father.
Theocratic Fatherhood
In another sense, God was Father to Israel. This He states explicitly at Jeremiah 31:9: "I am a Father to the house of Israel", and at Hosea 11:2: "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt".
It is a question of debate as to whether, or to what extent, this relationship still stands. The study tonight should answer some of the questions of the place of the Jews today.
Eternal Fatherhood
It is this aspect that is the focus in our study of the First Person of the Godhead - the relationship He holds to Jesus. It is the "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3)
So as we better understand what God being Father means, let’s turn to chapter 8 of the Gospel of John, and let’s start for the sake of context in verse 33.
CONTEXT
33 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'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father."
Here begins the discussion of the identity of their Father. Their perception is radically different than Jesus.
STUDY
If God were your Father…
I …You Would Do The Works of Abraham
39 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. 40 "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. 41 "You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father--God."
The issue is of faith.
We see the tremendous arrogance the Jews who claimed to have Abraham as their father. Clearly they were not denying their physical fathers but were declaring that they were faithful to the things that would please Abraham.
It was on this basis of lineage that the Jews believed they were the true chosen people. However we come to learn in the New Testament that although ethnic Israel was the people chosen by God to deliver His message to the world, those who are the true descendants of Abraham are those who share his faith. But here we see that they do not resemble Abraham in that they want to kill Jesus and Abraham would certainly never do that.
Paul teaches that those who are of the faith of Abraham are the true Israel.
Romans 9:6-8 “6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Here we see Paul declaring that just because someone is of the line of Abraham does not mean that they are children of the promise.
In Galatians 3:6-9 “6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Although our world today wants to claim that all people are children of God, only those who are of the faith of Abraham (with the faith being in Christ) are glorified through adoption as sons into the house of God with Jesus our brother.
This includes those that think they have some privileged position in the kingdom of God because they grew up in the Church or around the Gospel. They are no better off than the Jew that was nothing more than a physical descendent but not a spiritual one of Abraham.
Q-Are you doing the works of Abraham by placing your faith in Jesus as the only way to pardon your sin and have access to the Father?
Moving to verse 42:
If God were your Father…
II …You Would Love Jesus
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.
This is an issue of true love.
It is as if Christ declares "whoever is a true child of God will desire to love His firstborn Son—Jesus." But because these Jews hated Jesus, it is a obvious they are not children of God at all.
Again, Jesus claims that hating Him is the same as hating the Father because Jesus did nothing on His own but rather, He did all things which the Father wanted Him to do.
He came and gave His very life to save His people. He gave the ultimate sacrifice. Perfect love found in perfect blood from a perfect man who is perfectly obedient to His Fathers mission.
I wonder how we are like the Pharisees? I wonder how shallow each of our love is for Jesus?
Do we have nothing but a mechanical partnership with Him? Or do we have a deep, rich, and penetrating love for Him that shapes every decision of our life?
Q-How is your love for Jesus shown?
Q-If everyone in this church loved Jesus as much as you do, how healthy would we be?
If God were your Father…
III …You Would Do The Will Of Your Father
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.
This is an issue of obedience to the Father’s will.
Jesus finally declares to these Jews that their Father is not His Father; their father is Satan.
A child of God should always desire to do the will of their Father. This is action, not lip service. If you call yourself a child of God, then it needs to be shown, not spoken only. This is the entire argument of James; that a Christian will show their faith by their works.
A Christian will always demonstrate their belief in their life. Perhaps not in any one major area, but in multiple areas of life. This is not a Sunday thing. It is not a “Kaleo” thing.
Do you come to God and ask His advice, ask His direction, as His opinion? Or do you simply do what you want and then try to figure it out later on? If you are wondering why things don’t seem to be going very well, don’t you think it would be wise to ask God, your Father, to lead you and guide you and conform you and transform you to His will?
A Christian needs to move quickly from recognizing Gods will, to desiring Gods will, then finally to DOING God’s will.
Q-How are you actively doing the will of your Father? Does anyone notice?
If God were your Father…
IV …You Would Believe Jesus
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?
This is an issue of beliefs.
The Jews were unable to receive Jesus’ truth because there was no truth in them because there is no truth in their Father.
Only those who have been made alive by being in Christ by grace through faith, can understand the words of our Lord.
Only those that have been given life in Christ will be able to believe Jesus truth.
This is an issue of believing that Jesus has spoken truth, and we are to love and live that truth practically. He tells us the truth, we don’t’ tell Him.
Q-Do you believe Jesus words are true? Do you believe that He loves you? Do you believe that He calls you His bride? Do you believe that He will never leave you or forsake you?
Q-If you do believe Jesus, can others tell?
If God were your Father..
V …You Would Hear God’s Words
47 "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God." 48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"
This is an issue of good hearing.
Often we see in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus says “He who has ears let him hear.”
Only those that have the spiritual ears given by God will hear God’s words. The natural man can’t hear God. In his sin, man suppresses truth in unrighteousness. He places his hands over his ears and simply wants the noise of his conscience to go away.
A child of God will yearn for spiritual eyes and ears. A child of God will sit at Jesus feet and humble himself to be taught by their Lord and Savior.
If you are of God, you will hear God’s still small voice. You will recognize when He has spoken and you will desire more of His voice.
If I were in the other room, speaking at a fairly low level, what would you need to do to hear my voice better? You would need to come closer. The word of God says “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...” James 4:8
Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.
If you want to hear God clearly, come closer to Him. Come to Him, as David says “as a deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you.”
Q-Do you hear God in your life? Can you recognize His voice?
If God were your Father…
VI …You Would Honor The Father
49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 "And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.
This is an issue of Honor. Honor to your Father.
As Christ has shown us the Father, He has also shown us how to honor the Father. Honoring God the Father is all engrossing obedience that Christ demonstrates to each of those that are His. We too should honor the Father. We should esteem the Son in such a way as to not bring shame to the Father who has appointed us to eternal life in Jesus.
Can you say as Christ says in this passage “I do not seek My own glory?” If ever there were a man that deserved to seek His own glory, surely it was Christ. Yet, even Christ seeks to honor the Father and give Him glory.
Q-How are you honoring God in your life? Is the honor you say you have for God obvious? Do people say that you are God glorifying? Or do they say that because of your actions, God is blasphemed?
If God were your Father…
VII …You Would Keep Jesus’ Word
51 "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." 52 Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.' 53 "Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?"
This is an issue of fidelity to the spoken word of the Messiah. How faithfully would you listen to a doctor that has a cure to a terminal disease that you have been diagnosed with? If this doctor asked you to faithfully take your medicine that he prescribed 3 times a day at specific times or you would die, would you listen to him carefully? Would you be concerned with his advice and the cure he brings? Of course. How much more should we keep Jesus prescribed will? He is the great physician that has cut away your death and decay. He has taken your disease, called sin, upon Himself so that you can live. He has essentially given you a transfusion. He died in your place so that you can have eternal life. How much more should we keep His word faithfully on our hearts and minds?
Q-Do you keep Jesus word? Is His word more important to you than that of your friends, that of your parents, that of your emotions?
If God were your Father…
VIII …You Would Honor Jesus
54 Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.
This is again the issue of Honor. Honor to your King, Jesus.
As you have been called to honor the Father, you are called to honor the Son. If the Father honors the Son, how much more should we honor Him?
Psalm 2:11-12 instructs us to... “11 Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”’
Q-Do you Honor Jesus in your life? If God were to call you into His presence and ask you to tell Him how this is true, what would you say?
If God were your Father…
IX …You Would Rejoice With Abraham
55 "Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"
This is in issue of Joy.
Jesus tells the dead Pharisees that they have not known God. That they are liars. If they were truly God’s children, they would be rejoicing with Abraham. They would be overwhelmed with joy knowing that their Messiah has arrived.
There is something about knowing your Messiah has come, that frees you and releases you from all of the guilt and depression that surrounds us.
I am not saying that as a Christian we won’t experience those things. What I am saying is that when you stop and put on the glasses of eternity, and you consider what Christ has done for you, in your place. And what He has forgiven you of, and saved you to, suddenly you find yourself rejoicing with Abraham. You take joy in believing the promise of God regarding His Messiah.
Q-Do you have a temporary, fleshly perspective? Or Do you have an eternal, spiritual perspective? What do you take joy in?
If God were your Father…
X …You Would Worship Jesus As God
58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
This is an issue of worship. Worship to our risen Savior.
If there were ever a verse that places a nail in the coffin of those that try to claim that Jesus never said He was God, this would be that nail.
The Deity of Christ is in fact a conditional belief for salvation. Romans 10:9 states: "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is LORD," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
and also in John 8:24: "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."
Jesus was referring to God's encounter with Moses. Exodus 3:14
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
The Jews who heard him seemed to think He was referring to Himself as God. "At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds." John 8:59
It is interesting that it was the unbelieving Jews of Christ's own day that fully appreciated the implications of His claim to equality with God the Father: "the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God" (John 5:18).
This truth should make us break into tears knowing how great a sacrifice God made by coming into the flesh to dwell amongst us and to be our sacrifice.
Q-Are you worshipping Jesus in your life? What does worship mean to you?
Tonight we have sought to finish the sentence; “If God were your Father…” We have looked at a number of points that would give us an indication of who our true Father was. God’s word tells us that:
A child of the Father will; 1. Do the works of Abraham (by faith), 2. Love Jesus (in their life), 3. Do the will of the Father, 4. Believe in Jesus, 5. Would hear God’s words, 6. Would honor the Father, 7. Would keep Christ’s words, 8. Would honor Jesus, 9. Would rejoice with Abraham, 10. Would worship Jesus as God.
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