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Sunday School Special : Lesson 88

Text: John 8:37-47
28 November 2021

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 28 November 2021

Text: John 8:37-47

Subject: Evangelism

Focus: “The Abraham Connection II” 

INTRODUCTION

1. The Claim of being Abraham’s Descendants

a) “We are Abraham’s descendants” John 8:33a
b) “Abraham is our father” John 8:39

2. This Claim is seriously challenged by the Lord Jesus

a) Because of the Jews’ desire to kill Him
“Why do you seek to kill Me” John 7:19
b) This was brought up again
“But you seek to kill Me” John 8:37
c) This was repeated another time
“But now you seek to kill Me” John 8:40

THE CLAIM OF BEING THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM

1. “Abraham is our father” John 8:39a

2. Analysis and dispute of this Claim

a) “If you were Abraham’s children” John 8:39b
b) “You would do the works of Abraham” John 8:39c
c) A conditional sentence
i) If…  (This is called “The Protasis”)
If the claim was true that they were Abraham’s children
ii) Then (This is called “The Apodosis”)
Then it follows that they would do the works of their father, Abraham (Genesis 18:19… Keeping God’s way; doing righteousness and justice)

3. The desire and determination to kill the Lord Jesus

a) “But now you seek to kill Me” John 8:40a
b) “A Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God” John 8:40b
c) This could not be denied
d) “Abraham did not do this” John 8:40c
e) The deeds of Abraham to save lives
i) Rescuing Lot from the Northern Alliance of kings (Genesis 14)
ii) Praying to God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18)

THE DEEDS OF ANOTHER FATHER

1. The Lord Jesus proposed a new Statement

“You do the deeds of your father” John 8:41a

a) The Lord Jesus made this solemn statement
b) But He did not get a chance to expand on what He had said

2. The Jews retorted

“We were not born of fornication; we have one Father – God” John 8:41b

a) Not born of fornication
i) This expressed how the Jews saw others (Gentiles)
ii) They despised everyone else
b) A bold claim: That God Himself was their Father!
i) This was taking this debate to an even higher level
ii) God’s name was invoked
iii) They claimed that they were the children of God
iv) This was an even stronger statement

AN ANALYSIS OF THIS CLAIM TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD

1. Same Conditional Sentence Argument

a) If (Protasis)
“If God were your Father…” John 8:42a
b) Then (Apodosis)
“You would love Me” John 8:42b

2. Explanation given

a) Came from God
“For I proceeded forth and came from God” John 8:42c
i) Claim of the Lord Jesus
ii) Consistent Claim
iii) The Claim may be checked thoroughly
iv) The Lord’s teachings were open for all to examine thoroughly
b) Sent by God
“Nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me” John 8:42d
i) Re-statement
ii) Enhanced
iii) Reinforced 

3. The Lack of Understanding

 “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” John 8:43

a) This was a pointed statement 
b) The Jews did not understand His speech
c) Because they were not able to listen to His word
d) His word had no place in their hearts (John 8:37)

A VERY SOLEMN STATEMENT BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

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.  John 8:44

1. The Devil as a father

“You are of your father the devil” John 8:44a

2. Identifying marks of the Devil

a) Evil desires
“The desires of your father you want to do” John 8:44b
b) Murder
“A murderer from the beginning” John 8:44c
c) No truth
i) “Does not stand in the truth” John 8:44d
ii) “There is no truth in him” John 8:44e
d) Lies
i) “When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources” John 8:44f
ii) “For he is a liar and the father of it” John 8:44g

A CHALLENGE TO THE JEWS

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? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” John 8:45-47

1. The unbelief of the Jews stated again

“But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me” John 8:45

2. Convicting the Lord Jesus of sin

“Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?” John 8:46

a) Who would be able to convict the Lord Jesus of sin?
NONE!
b) Truth spoken
Unable to believe

3. Reason

“He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” John 8:47

a) The person who claims to be of God (children of God)
b) He would hear God’s words
c) Reason why the Jews were not able to hear His words
Because they were not of God!

CONCLUSION

1. Important things to check

a) How we regard the Lord Jesus
b) How we regard His word

2. Things to carefully examine

a) That we are not of the Devil
b) Devoid of truth
c) Steeped in lies