John 8:30-59, Believe in Jesus, continue in his word, become his disciple.

Believe, Continue in Word, Disciple, Truth, Free.

"John 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him." We saw in the past lesson that the common Jews believed him, even though the Pharisees and scribes hated him and looking for a chance to kill him. But, one problem with the common people was that they were also proud. "31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;" If you continue in my word means, if you follow my instructions and do what I say. If they do that, they will become his disciple. What is a disciple? A disciple is a servant student to a master. It is not like teacher and student here. But, the expectation of a disciple is that he should become like his master. "32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." That is, if they become the disciples, then they will know the truth, and the truth will make them free. But this freedom is spiritual, and they did not understand it. "33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" See, they were offended, even though they were under the Romans, and expecting the Messiah to come and free them, they acted as if they are not under anybody. It is foolish pride.

Jesus says if we commit sin, we are servants of sin.

"34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." Christians also must understand this truth. They think that they are saved from sin as they are committing sin. Jesus Christ says, that as long as someone is sinning, he is not saved from sin, but he is a servant of sin. "35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever." The language structure in this verse makes a little difficult to understand it. The first half of the verse says that the servant of sin does not have to live in sin forever, means that he may come out of sin. The rest of the verse tells about the Son of God, who is Jesus himself, and he will live for ever, that is, he implies that he will be eternal God. "36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." This is very important that Christians must know. Author of our salvation is Jesus Christ. Only he has the power to save us or not to save us. He makes the decision according to what we do. Salvation is not automatic according to our judgment. He must make us free. 37 & 38 are just their squabble. "39 ... Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham... 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. ..." This is important. Here, Jesus Christ establishes the principle of true father-son relationship. The Jews were talking about that they were descendants of Abraham, so Abraham was their father. It is true according to the worldly order. But Jesus establishes the order of God that is spiritual. That is, if you do what Abraham did, then you are the seeds of Abraham. It is not by flesh, but by the spirit. It is not by to whom you are born to, but it is by whose nature you have. By this, if a gentile does what Abraham has done, then he becomes the seed or son of Abraham. And if a Jew does as the devil did, he is the son of the devil. It is not by birth, but by how do we live. By our life we can be the sons of God or the sons of the devil. If we do good, we are of God and if we do evil, we are of the devil. This is the order of God.

If we don't want to, we will not believe  Jesus.

Jesus says in "43, Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word." You cannot hear my word means that you do not want to understand my words. So, it seems; they don't want to hear him. Their deeds were evil. "44 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." This is the nature of the devil, this is what you are after, and so the devil is your father. So, Jesus says that they will not be for the truth. "45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" In verse 46, Jesus proclaims that he is sinless, and challenged them to prove it if it is not. He stood for truth and says that liars will not believe the truth. "47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." Jesus says that they were not of God. In return, they said the Jesus has a devil.

If a man keeps my saying, he shall never see death.

"51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." Jesus was talking about the spiritual death, but they did not understand and picked up a squabble. "54 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: 55 ... I know him, and keep his saying." Jesus says that God is his Father, the Jews do not even know him, and Jesus does what all the Father tells. "56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." When the Jews heard it, hell broke loose. Do you know, when did Jesus met Abraham in the old testament and made Abraham to rejoice? I do not know why the bible teachers have such a difficult time to find it. They are confused. It is an easy one, if you read the book of Hebrews, it comes at least in 9 places: and the entire Chapter 7; 1, Jesus was Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; You will find the whole incident in Genesis 14, the entire chapter. "58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." God told Moses to refer him as "I AM that I AM" and as "I AM" in Exodus 3:14 and it is quoted by most bible teachers. But this quote, is in the time of Moses, but Abraham was long before Moses. So, I think, it is not appropriate to make the case. It is alright to do so. However, Jesus existed even before the very beginning. "59 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." Until his time, nobody could touch him. God is still in control of everything.