Like Father, Like Children

Jesus knows these people are Israelites, but they do not appear to have the same spiritual faith link that Abraham had. Abraham bore witness to Jesus by receiving the Abrahamic covenant that finally fulfilled itself in Jesus. Since their faith is not the same as that shown by Abraham, they cannot possibly be the spiritual sons of Abraham.

Jesus Said:  We Do Not Have The Same Father

John 8:39 They answered and said unto Him,  “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said unto them, “If you were Abraham’s children,  you would do the works of Abraham.”

John 8:47 He that is of God hears God’s words;  you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God.

The Jews have tied their self-professed freedom to their status as the ‘seed’ of Abraham (v. 33),  so Jesus now turns to that question. Even in the Old Testament, physical descent from Abraham was not sufficient to determine the line of the seed, the real heirs of Abraham, (Genesis 21:9–10)—a point the apostle Paul observes and makes use of (Romans 9:7; Galatians 4:21–31).

A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly. Nor was  circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly: and his heart has been purified.

Jesus does acknowledge that the Jews are Abraham’s  descendants, but it is at the level of least interest and importance. More significant is their fickle mob psychology that can believe Jesus only (Jn 7:30, 31) when his teachings do not clash with their prejudices and desires. It can turn murderous when their fundamental  religious biases are called into question (Jn 7:32; 8:20).

Your Actions Prove Your True Lineage

John 8:37 I know that you are Abraham’s seed, but you seek to kill Me because My Word has no place in you. 8:43 Why do you not understand My speech? Even because you cannot hear My Word! 8:45 You do not believe Me when I tell the truth.

The true sons of Abraham are not those who have Abraham’s genes, but those who have Abraham’s faith. It is not that they cannot comprehend what He is  trying to say. However, because they cannot truly hear (including obey!) His message, the revelation of the incarnate Word, they are therefore unable to grasp the meaning of His outward speech. The flaw is with those whose values and prejudices  make them constitutionally unable to “hear.”

Jesus says it is obvious that you are not true spiritual children of Abraham, because My Word makes no advances in you. They never go beyond just hearing it; it does not affect them. Many people hear the Word of God and a little sparkle of faith arises in their hearts. But the Word makes no advance, no progress,  proving their faith is not genuine.

John 8:56. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day.” Bound up in the very Abrahamic Covenant itself was the promise of a seed. Galatians three says Abraham was looking forward to the one true sacrifice that was  symbolized in the ram that was caught in the thicket which replaced Isaac’s substitutionary sacrificial atonement.

Jesus said, ‘Abraham received Me, but you reject Me.’ You’re not spiritual sons of Abraham. Abraham only saw a very limited shadow of it. He looked at a promise that wasn’t fulfilled, and he got a glimpse, a preview, and believed. ‘You’ve had the full story for three years, and yet you don’t believe. You are not like Abraham.’

Your Father Is Not My Father

John 8:39 They answered and said unto Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said unto them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.” 8:41 “You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.”

They said, ‘We are sons of God,’ (Exodus. 4:22), but Jesus said, ‘No, you cannot be, and here’s why:

I come from God and He knows Me, and I know Him. You don’t even recognize Me, so you cannot possibly be sons of God. You don’t receive the Word of God, and you hate the Son of God. Therefore, you do not belong to God.’

Your father is the Devil, and you have his traits.  “He was a murderer from the beginning, and you’re trying to kill Me. He was a liar from the beginning and you’re telling lies about Me. Your real father is the Devil himself.”

How do you know when God is someone’s Father?

They have an eagerness to hear His Word  and they embrace His Son.

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and every one that loves God loves His son Jesus.

You can always tell the children of God. They hear the truth, they believe the truth, they love the Son, and embrace Him. The other side of that is 1 Corinthians 16:22 where Paul said, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be damned.” This is a serious matter. Abraham received the Word of God and believed.

The people Jesus speaks to in John 8 are just like many people today, they will not except Jesus as God’s Son,  nor will they except the Bible as His Word. Therefore, they are not true spiritual children of God.