IF GOD WERE YOUR FATHER...

Passage: John 8:42-47

Key verse: 47a

NIV

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,(A) for I have come here from God.(B) I have not come on my own;(C) God sent me.(D) 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil,(E) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.(F) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.(G) 45 Yet because I tell the truth,(H) you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.(I) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

42 Jesus said to them, (A)“If God were your Father, you would love me, for (B)I came from God and (C)I am here. (D)I came not of my own accord, but (E)he sent me. 43 (F)Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot (G)bear to hear my word. 44 (H)You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. (I)He was a murderer from the beginning, and (J)does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. (K)When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 (L)Whoever is of God hears the words of God. (M)The reason why you do not hear them is that (N)you are not of God.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. You would love me (42,43)

True children of God love Jesus, for God sent Jesus as the best expression of his love. We can know Jesus when we receive his words in our hearts. He speaks the truth. If our hearts are full of lies, we cannot hear the truth.

2. Children of the devil (44-47)

Jesus used very strong language about the Pharisees. He called them children of the devil. The devil is a liar and murderer from the beginning, so he hates the truth. Lies are his native language. He plants doubt and fear; his aim is to separate God's children from God, and to keep them from loving and trusting one another. Separation from God is spiritual death. Those who plant doubt of God or God's people are children of the devil. Jesus plants faith. He heals broken relationships. His word is truth. He gives life. Those who belong to God hear God's word.

Prayer: Lord, help me live like a child of God, not like a child of the devil.

One Word: Speak the truth; plant God's word