In today’s session, we’ll pause to examine the state of our spiritual condition and see how it relates to our
faith. We’ll return to Jesus’ bold declarations of divinity—words that continue to challenge and inspire us
today.
John 8:31-59
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have
never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly,
truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house
forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are
offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen
with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” They answered him, “Abraham is our father.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek
to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing
the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even
God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came
not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to
hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer
from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks
out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not
believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of
God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” The Jews answered
him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a
demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it,
and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews
said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone
keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets
died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my
Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to
say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father
Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet
fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham
was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
Presupposition
Abraham's Belief
Who's Your Father?
Never See Death
Before Abraham
What assumptions do you have about Jesus? Are these shaped by your emotions or by the
Bible?
Why does our spiritual condition play such a crucial role in our ability to have
genuine faith?
What does the Bible teach us about what we must do to receive salvation?
Who would you say is your spiritual father, and how can you be certain of this
relationship?
How does the Bible help us understand the reality and meaning of death?
When Jesus declared, 'Before Abraham was, I AM,' what was he revealing about himself?
If Jesus never claimed to be God, why did people repeatedly attempt to stone him for
blasphemy?
Let us express our heartfelt gratitude to God for sending Jesus Christ, through whom we can escape the grip of
death. May we humbly ask God to open our eyes to see our true spiritual condition and to graciously grant us the
gift of faith.
The Light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ
Abraham Believed God
What Does Being Spiritually Dead Mean?
Before Abraham Was, I AM
Why Do Christians Die?: Facing the Last Enemy
Abraham Justified by Faith
Before Abraham Was, I AM
Facing Death As A Christian