His Love Ministries

John 12:44-50 Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him w

John 12:44 Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 "And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 "And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."
Jesus really wants people to be saved. In Luke 19:10 it says "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. “The consequence of rejection is going to bring ultimate condemnation.  John 3:17-19 emphasizes the same thing.  Jesus the Word comes and people are condemned because they don’t believe it.
The purpose of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ is a positive offer, verse forty-seven.  “To save the world.” You may not like the law of gravity. Gravity has no respect for persons and if you step off the top a building, the gravity will not even care or shed a tear as you hit the pavement.  It won’t care. Over and over again Jesus has told them who He is and they need to be saved, the truth has been revealed and they will not embrace it.
Whether or not people embrace it or reject it is their responsibility.  Do not blame the medical community if you have lung cancer.  Do not blame the medical community if you have diabetes.  Do not blame the physicist and the guy who figured out the laws of gravity.  You and I make a choice to go against what we know.  And that’s exactly what God saying to us here.
Put it another way, no one will be in hell who did not have ample opportunity to know how to be saved.  There is not a person who will go to hell who did not have ample opportunity to come to trust in Jesus Christ.  I believe Scripture teaches it throughout.  Jesus is speaking to His Father and He is speaking loud and the religious leaders are quiet because they’re afraid. How about you, what will you believe?

JOHN 12:37-43 FOR THEY LOVED THE PRAISE OF MEN MORE THAN THE PRAISE OF GOD

John 12:37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." 41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. 42 ¶ Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

We will hear in this message that Jesus had done many signs (miracles with a message) yet they would not believe in Him. The theme of the whole book John 20:30-31 is that Jesus is God in human flesh because He is God over time, over death, over distance, over nature, over demons, over all creation. It also says all this was done that it might fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah, who said they would hear, but not believe, so God hardens their heart to the point that they cannot believe. This prophecy was given when He saw Jesus (God) high and lifted up on the throne in chapter 6. Many believe in Jesus, but are not truly saved because they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Who are you seeking to please? Jesus said in Mt 10:32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. Mt 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. So whose praise are you looking for; Men’s or God’s?

John 12:20-25 But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glor

John 12:20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23 But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

In today’s teaching we will see that this is the turning point of Jesus away from the Jews. The reason for this turning is some Greeks coming to seek Jesus and this apparently is a signal from His Father that Jesus is to completely turn away from them. They do not realize it but it is over for them and there are no more chances for these Jews (religious people) to trust Christ from now on. Jesus tells them that the way the Son of Man is glorified is that He has to die. This is where the Jews have it all wrong, they think Jesus is to come and be a Magnificent Savior the first time, but He has come to die for the sins of the whole world. The way we are please the Father and become ultimately glorified is through our salvation and becoming like God as we die to ourselves and then we can live for Him. Isn’t it amazing that God has given us seeds as an example of this great truth of dying, so we can really become who we really are made to be in Christ?

JOHN 12.9-19 FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SITTING ON A DONKEYS COLT

John 12:9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!" 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt." 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!"

In this section of Scripture we will see that many of the Jews came to see Him and also Lazarus because he was no longer dead, but alive and well. The chief priests not only want to kill him, but Lazarus also. When Jesus comes riding into town on a donkey’s colt as Zechariah 9:9 predicts. Also Daniel 9:25-27 predicts the exact day He will do this. The people do not understand, they are quoting the wrong verses, it says in verse 12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna!’Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!" They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!" They are quoting Psalms 118:25-26 which is a verse that speaks of Jesus’s second coming, not His first coming. The first time Jesus comes it is to die on the cross, the second time He comes as a conquering King. They want a political Messiah, a conqueror who will deliver them from Roman rule, not save their souls. I think that is like us so many times, we want a Jesus who will deliver us from trouble, but not one who will deliver us from sin.

JOHN 12.4-10 THEN SAID JESUS, LET HER ALONE: AGAINST THE DAY OF MY BURYING HATH SHE KEPT THIS

John 12:4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 "For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always." 9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also.

In This message we will see Mary and Jesus rebuked by Judas and the disciples for her anointing the feet of Jesus for His burial. Judas speaks for the first time in the Scriptures and shows his true nature. He pretends to care for the poor, but God through the pen of John tells us this he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. Here we see Jesus tells them you need to get your priorities in order because I always come first in everything. Mark 12:30 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. Have you given Jesus first place in your life today? If not, why not?

JOHN 12:1-3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and

John 12:1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
We are looking at a passage today that is very familiar to us, but as always we need to make sure we don’t think that we know it all, none of us do. Jesus is down to the last week of His life and He is having supper with Lazarus and the sisters Mary and Martha. Martha is serving as usual and Lazarus is being honored by being at the table after having been raised from the dead. The keystone of this passage is Mary takes a very costly perfume, breaks the bottle and pours it all out on Jesus and wipes His feet with her hair. First of all, she gave her best and greatest gift when she poured out her costly perfume, probably worth $20,000 - $25,000 at our rate of exchange today. Also, this was her whole wealth and all her savings she had in this world. Then, she also used her hair which speaks of a woman’s glory. She humbled herself and anointed Jesus for His burial with her perfume and her hair. How about you, are you giving Jesus your best and your all?

JOHN 11:45-57 NOR DO YOU CONSIDER THAT IT IS EXPEDIENT FOR US THAT ONE MAN SHOULD DIE FOR THE PEOPLE

John 11:45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 "If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." 49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 50 "nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. 55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, "What do you think--that He will not come to the feast?" 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him. (NKJV)

In this section of Scripture we see the result of the Pharisee’s hatred for Jesus. He has raised Lazarus from the dead and instead of them being happy for Lazarus and excited about what Jesus had done, they decide that this is the last straw and they want to kill him for all His miracles. It is amazing how people will react when their authority, prestige and power are threatened. These Pharisees cannot let Jesus take these away from them. They have to be the great and mighty Pharisees. We see some believe, but they are like those in Chapter 6 who after being fed with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread go looking for Jesus again the next day and Jesus says to them you are not looking for me for the right reason, you just want more food. They like Jesus as long as He heals them, or feeds them, or satisfies some need they have, just like most of us today. We like that Jesus, but we don’t like the Jesus of the Bible, Him you can keep. We like His miracles; we just don’t like His message. Just like they decide to kill Him, many today want to wipe out all remnants of Jesus in our society. They don’t want to hear that name or even the name of God which is who Jesus is.

John 11.36-44 Jesus said to her, Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the gl

John 11:36 Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!" 37 And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?" 38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." 40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."

Today we will see Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. Even though he has been dead four days, it is not too late. Did you know that it is never too late for Jesus to do His work, when we give up and give in we have missed God’s best, because He wants us to trust Him in Faith. Jesus tells them they will see God’s Glory, that was the message all along, but they missed it and many times so do we. We are looking for a way out and God wants to show us His Glory. Jesus allows them to participate by removing the stone and removing Lazarus’s grave clothes. God wants us to serve Him and gives us the privilege of helping Him if we will only be obedient. Jesus prays and calls forth Lazarus to come forth. Lazarus is a picture of us who are dead in our trespasses and sins and unless God calls us out of that life, we will continue to be spiritually dead forever. Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That is what Jesus did for Lazarus and is what He will do for us if we will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Have you done that? If not, why not do it today?

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he

John 11:17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
In this section of Scripture we see the famous saying of Jesus, that He is the Resurrection and the Life. Mary says to Jesus, if only. This is one of the three if only’s in this section. We always think if only, but God can even take the bad and turn it to His good “if only” we will trust Him and let Him do His work His way. He lets Mary know that even though her brother had been dead for four days it was not too late. Are you facing a situation that seems hopeless, that time is running out and it is not going the way you want it to? Remember Jesus may be four days late in our way of thinking, but He is always right on time in working things out the right way, GOD’s WAY….. Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:6-9 Don't Worry, Trust Christ

1. The problem is worry …………v6
Most people have an inadequate knowledge of God and an inadequate trust in God...both are blasphemous.
Matthew 6:25-34 "For this reason I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, nor for your body as to what you shall put on."

2. The prescription is prayer…………v6
1 Peter 5:7, casting all your care on Him, because he cares for you
Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

3. The promise is peace…………v7
John 16:33, "In this world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 43:23 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

4. The principle is right thinking or the principle of displacement…………v8
2 Corinthians 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true
John 17:17, "Thy Word is truth." Psalm 19:9, Psalm 119:15
Whatever is noble, means worthy of respect
"Whatever is right." And the word is righteous . Think on what is absolutely consistent with the holiness of God.
"Whatever is pure," meaning morally clean, undefiled.
"Whatever is lovely," that means pleasing, attractive, amiable.
Whatever is of good repute," which means well thought of, or highly regarded.
"If there's any excellence and anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things

Since there is excellence and since there are some things worthy of praise, please focus on them." Please. Your mind is the greatest treasure you have in terms of those gifts of human life.

Luke 11: 24 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 "And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 "Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
Proverbs 23: 7 For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he
· Right thoughts lead to right attitudes which lead to right actions
5. The practice of Godly living…………v9
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

6. The provision of God’s presence…………v9

Philippians 2:5-11 The Mind Of Christ

In verse 5, Paul continues to exhort them to have "this mind" (the attitudes of verses 3-4), pointing out that this is also the "mind of Christ"
In verses (6-11), Paul defines the "mind of Christ" (or the attitude of Christ
I. v6 Jesus did not have SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT
1. Jesus was "in the form of God" The word form in Greek is morphe- the essence or literally the essential nature of something
a. In other words He has always existed as God – John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
b. John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God
V6 YET CHRIST DID NOT CONSIDER SUCH EQUALITY "ROBBERY"...
1. Literally, "a thing to be grasped"; that is, something to be laid hold of, and retained jealously
2. The "glory" of equality with God which Christ enjoyed from eternity was not something He felt like He HAD to cling on to
3. A true demonstration of a lack of selfish ambition and conceit on the part of our Lord!
II. Jesus LOOKED OUT FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS (7-8)
He took a servant’s place and approached a sinful people
A. WHEN CHRIST BECAME FLESH...
V7 1. He "made Himself of no reputation" John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
a. Some versions say "emptied Himself" this is the Kenosis or self-emptying
Jn 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
First of all, He gave up His heavenly glory.
Secondly, He emptied Himself of independent authority.
Thirdly, He set aside the prerogatives of His deity. Or He set aside the voluntary use of His attributes. You say, "Did He stop being omniscient?" No. "Did He stop being omnipresent?" No. "Did He stop being unchangeable God?" No. He didn't stop being anything, He just didn't use those attributes.
And then lastly, , He gave up a favorable relationship to God. "He who knew no sin was made sin for us...He who knew no sin was made sin for us." And as a result He says, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He gave up a favorable relationship to God.
He never ceased to be God, never. He remained fully God. He remained fully God.
2. He took upon Himself "the form of a servant" – same word Morphe, literally became a servant. John 13:3
3. He came in the likeness of men He was the same as a man, but different in that He was sinless
Likeness means He was truly human, wept, got hungry, tired in all ways like us but without sin
a. He could experience their temptations and sufferings –
He 2:17-18
V8 And being found in appearance as a man – He looked like us because He was like us.
III. Jesus is HIGHLY EXALTED BY GOD (9-11) – He ascended as a Supreme Prince
V9 JESUS is a good example of Matthew 23:12: "He that humbles himself shall be exalted"
1Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
2. For God has highly exalted Jesus
by giving Him "the name LORD which is above every name"
Ac 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
V10 that at His name "every knee should bow...that every tongue should confess" He is Lord! -
2Th 1:10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
V11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

1. We have seen in this passage that "The Mind Of Christ" involves...
a. Humility
b. Obedience
c. Sacrifice
d. Great Reward

JOHN 11:5-15 JESUS ANSWERED, "ARE THERE NOT TWELVE HOURS IN THE DAY? IF ANYONE WALKS IN THE DAY, HE

John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." 8 The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?" 9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 "But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." 12 Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 15 "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."


In this section of Scripture we see that Jesus has received the message that Lazarus is sick, but Jesus knows that he is dead at this point in time. So, Jesus waits two more days to test the sisters and the disciples. God loves to test us by making us wait on Him so our faith can grow and mature. Then He tells them lets go to Judea and scares the disciples because they know the Jews want to stone Him and they are in danger too if they go. Jesus tells us in the main point of the passage that there is only so much time for each of us to do what God has called us to do and so we better get busy while there is time to do His will. Then He tells them that Lazarus sleeps, they misunderstand, so He tells them plainly that he is dead. The last point of this section is Jesus testing them again because He says He is glad that He was not there when Lazarus died because He has something greater in mind. Did you know that God doesn’t always do what we think He ought to do because He has a greater plan and a greater purpose than any we can imagine? Faith means we trust God no matter what happens.

Romans 5:9-11 Reasons We Can Be Thankful For Christ Part 3

Ro 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

In this final message on Romans 5:1-11 we will see the last three reasons why we should be thankful we know Christ, or three reasons why we should trust Christ as Lord and Savior. Paul finishes this section with the fact that we are saved from the wrath of God by Jesus’s shed blood. He tells us that we now have a relationship with God whereas it was not possible unless Christ’s blood was shed for our sins. And lastly we see that joy comes from a relationship with God. John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.


V-1 We have Peace with God:
V-2 We have Access to God: Or an introduction to Grace through Jesus Christ
V-2 We have Standing before God:
V-2 We can rejoice in the Hope of the Glory of God:
V-3 We are able to Glory or rejoice in Tribulations through the Strength of God:
V-3-4 We have Perseverance (patience or endurance), Character, and Hope from God:
V-5-8 We have the Love of God poured out in our hearts:
V-5 We have the Holy Spirit from God:
V-9 We have a pardon from wrath by God:
V-10 We have Reconciliation with God:
V-11 We have Joy in God and from God:

ROMANS 5:3-8 REASONS WE CAN BE THANKFUL FOR CHRIST PART 2

Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 ¶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Today we are covering points five through eight. These are the greatest things that God has done for us and Paul wants us to understand just how blessed we are by knowing Christ as our Lord and Savior. I hope you know that too. If not, trust Him today for your Salvation, because He is the only way to get to heaven. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Having been Justified: Justification is the pardoning of guilt and the penalty of sin (legally being declared righteous because Jesus paid the penalty for our sin)
1. V-1 We have Peace with God:
2. V-2 We have Access to God: Or an introduction to Grace through Jesus Christ
3. V-2 We have Standing before God:
4. V-2 We can rejoice in the Hope of the Glory of God:
5. V-3 We are able to Glory or rejoice in Tribulations through the Strength of God:
6. V-3-4 We have Perseverance (patience or endurance), Character, and Hope from God:
7. V-5-8 We have the Love of God poured out in our hearts:
8. V-5 We have the Holy Spirit from God:

Romans 5:1-2 Reasons We Can Be Thankful For Christ Part 1

Ro 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
As we approach Christmas Day, we want to see several reasons out of Romans Chapter 5 why we should be thankful for Christ or several reasons to trust Christ if we have not trusted Him as our Lord and Savior. This is a great passage of Scripture in which Paul tells us in the first 4 chapters that we could not make it to Heaven on our own and because of that we ought to be thankful for the many benefits of trusting Christ. He starts out with therefore, because we have been legally declared holy and righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have peace with God. That is the first benefit and the greatest because without Christ we are His enemies as it says in Romans 5:10. He goes on to tell us we have access to God, we have a permanent secure position (a standing before God), and lastly we can rejoice in the fact that we have a hope that one day we will be in Heaven since Jesus said we would and paid the price so we can go. Have you thanked God today for all He has done for you, or if you have not trusted Him, the Bible says Today is the day to be saved, harden not your heart. Let’s be thankful for the greatest Gift of all, Jesus died so we could go to Heaven. Amen and Amen.

JOHN 11.1-4 JESUS SAID, "THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
This is another section of Scripture which we find to be so familiar to us, but as in all Bible Study we need to look deeper than the surface of what is going on here. Lazarus is a man that Jesus loves, as He does all of His children, the ones who have trusted Him as Savior. But he also loves the sisters Mary and Martha, yet he allows them to go through trouble because ultimately He will be glorified in the end. That is why the Bible says we exist. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. One man put it this way, we exist to glorify God and praise Him forever. How do we do this? By first of all reverencing God and keeping His commandments. Second we do this by becoming more like Him every day. Romans 8:28-29, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. God is bringing us back to the place we were at in the Garden of Eden before man’s fall and our sinfulness dragged us down. The only way God can do this is by allowing us to go through trials that make us more like Him. So, have you looked at your situation and said that this is not something that is ultimately bad, but through it God is going to be glorified because I am trusting in Him and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5)

JOHN 10.29-42 JESUS SAID I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE

John 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 "I and My Father are one." 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?" 33 The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"'? 35 "If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 37 "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 "but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him." 39 ¶ Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. 40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. 41 Then many came to Him and said, "John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true." 42 And many believed in Him there.
In this great section of Scripture we see the eternal security of the believer expressed again as Jesus says, No one is greater than God, so they cannot take anything away from God that belongs to Him. Then Jesus tells them again that He is one with the Father. In every way possible Jesus is like God the Father because He is God in human flesh. Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. These verses tell us that Jesus is God, He created everything, He holds it all together, and He is the preeminent one (the one who has first place in everything). Then the Pharisees want to stone Jesus and He asks them why, for what good work do you stone Me. They understood He was saying He was God, so they say it is not for a good work, but because you claim to be God. Jesus tries to tell them again He is God and came from the Father, but they still won’t believe and so they try to seize Him and He escapes from them because it is not time for Him to die yet. He then goes to where John had baptized and many believe He is the Christ and are saved at that location.

JOHN 10:22-28 JESUS SAID MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME

John 10:22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. 26 "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
In this famous section of Scripture Jesus, the Light of the World is walking around at the Feast of Lights. The Pharisees confront him and ask Him again, who are You, tell us plainly? They ask this like they don’t know, like He hasn’t already told them time and time again. They have seen the signs, they have heard His Words, and yet they WILL NOT believe. Jesus says that all the signs that He has done for His Father in Heaven prove He is God too and they will not believe because they aren’t His Sheep. You see in this section Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility. God calls people to be saved and they cannot be saved unless He draws them (Divine Sovereignty), yet God says we are all responsible because the Scriptures says whosoever will, let him come, whoever believes, etc (Human Responsibility). He tells them that they cannot hear Him because they aren’t His Sheep because His Sheep hear His voice and follow Him. Then He finally tells them that if we are saved we are eternally secure for all time. Romans 8:31-39 confirms this as do many other places in the Bible. It says whoever believes HAS eternal life. John 17:3 says eternal life is KNOWING the true God and Jesus whom He sent. Nobody is greater than Jesus and so no one can snatch them out of His Hand.

John 10.17-21 Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again

John 10:17 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." 19 ¶ Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. 20 And many of them said, "He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?" 21 Others said, "These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

In this section of Scripture we see the Father’s special love for Jesus and all who obey His commandments. We don’t work to be saved; rather we work because we are saved. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Jesus came with a purpose to lay down His life that we may take up the new life that He gives us. Jesus tells them that He has the power over His life and His death; no one will do anything that He doesn’t want them to do to Him. He also says He will live again and all the things He said caused division among the Jews as usual. Jesus always creates division, not because He is mean and nasty, but because some people want to know the truth and others don’t. Those that don’t want to know the truth are the mean and nasty ones who cause the problems. Finally they cannot speak to what He says intelligently, so they attack Him verbally as they have many times in the past. Isn’t that what we all do when we can’t win the discussion, we begin to attack the others and so it always ends?

JOHN 10:10-16 JESUS SAID I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVES HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP

John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 "The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
In this section of Scripture Jesus is contrasting Himself as the Good Shepherd with the Pharisees, the ones He calls thieves and hirelings. He tells us that He came to give us life and life more abundantly. That He will give His life for the sheep, but the hireling (Pharisees and other false teachers) will run when the sheep are in danger. Jesus says three times in this passage He is the Good Shepherd. This is one of the seven great I AM statements in this Gospel which shows that Jesus is Yahweh, the Self-Existent One, the One who was In The Beginning with God, the One who IS the WORD OF GOD, the one WHO IS GOD that came in human flesh. Jesus tells them that He will give his life for the sheep, in other words He will die on the cross for our sins. He also tells us that He will bring all the people together that believe in Him into one flock. Just as the tower of Babel separated man from man, Jesus will make us one in Christ. Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

JOHN 10:7-10 JESUS SAID TO THEM AGAIN,

John 10:7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 "All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

In the passage of Scripture we are studying today, we will see that Jesus is not only the door leading us out of our false ways, but also the only door leading to eternal life. I know many think that most people are going to heaven and that there are many ways to get there, but Jesus states with no stutter or stammer there is but one way and HE is it. Somehow He protects those who will trust Him from becoming totally swayed by false teachers so that one day we will trust Him and Him only to save us. He tells the people standing around that the Pharisees and all others who said you could get to heaven some other way than Him are thieves and robbers. He also tells us as we go about everyday life He is with us and takes care of us just as the Shepherds did with their sheep. He also says the thief will do anything to get the sheep and only cares that he gets what he wants. Jesus also says that if we want joy, peace, and a life that is wonderful in spite of our problems we need to trust Him as Savior.

JOHN 10:3-6 JESUS SAID HE WHO ENTERS BY THE DOOR IS THE SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP Part 2

John 10:3 "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
In this message we will see that Jesus is the True Shepherd and He is the only one who can get to His Sheep (Those who will trust Him for Salvation). He leads us out of the old false ways we are in, whether it is religion, drugs, alcohol, or any other wrong thing that we are involved in. He says that His people (His Sheep) will flee from the false teachers because they ultimately will belong to Christ. Somehow, because we are elect, God protects us from the false teachers (shepherds) and keeps us from following them into an eternity in hell. This is a passage that has many applications for our lives. Are we following the false teaching of philosophy, religion, psychology, worldly ways or anything that leads us away from Christ? Are we teaching our children to follow the True Shepherd, or are we allowing them to find their own way that may lead them to hell? Do you know the voice and are you following the ONE TRUE SHEPHERD JESUS CHRIST? Hear His cry today, for He says today is the day of salvation.

JOHN 10.1-2 JESUS SAID HE WHO ENTERS BY THE DOOR IS THE SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP

John 10:1 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
In this section of Scripture we will learn what a real shepherd is and how he behaves towards his sheep which is a picture or type of the Pastor/Leader and how he treats his people that he is supposed to be leading towards Godliness. Jesus tells these people to listen up what He is about to say is real important since this section is a continuation of the story of the blind man being put out of the Synagogue by the Pharisees (false shepherds) and being found by Jesus (The True Shepherd) and how He cares for us and will even go out of His way at the expense of His own life to see us saved eternally. Jesus tells it like it is in this section as He always does, but here He begins to really hit the Pharisees hard by telling them what had been prophesied in Ezekiel Chapter 34. In that section of Scripture it speaks of the Pharisees being false shepherds and those who take care of themselves at the expense of the sheep (the people). Finally it speaks of the True Shepherd (Jesus Christ) coming to love, feed, and care for the people of God. Are we following the True Shepherd who is Jesus Christ? If not we are lost forever and headed for hell.

John 9:28-41 Jesus said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God

John 9:28 Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. 29 "We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from." 30 The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 "Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 "Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 "If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." 34 They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out. 35 ¶ Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36 He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" 37 And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." 38 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him. 39 ¶ And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." 40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.
In this section of Scripture we will see the formerly blind man being confronted by the “religious” leaders (Pharisees) of the day. Instead of jumping up and down and rejoicing for his newly found sight, they mistreat the man because they want to find the Man who broke THEIR Sabbath. These Pharisees think they are somebody and they confront this man, but little do they know that he has a new found confidence and will soon have salvation too, while they end up lost and headed for hell. This man when confronted says that Jesus is not a sinner but from God and who has ever heard of anyone opening the eyes of the blind! So the religious leaders remove him from fellowship with any Jew by kicking him out of the Synagogue. Well, Jesus goes and finds the man and asks him if he believes in the Son of God (Messiah), then man says who is He that I might believe and Jesus says I am Him. Right then and there the man believes on the Lord Jesus Christ and is saved. Then the Pharisees meanwhile demand to know whether they are the blind Jesus is talking about who are lost and Jesus says yes, you are. Are we blind, yet think we see and know the truth, or do we really know the Jesus of the Bible?

John 9:14-27 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes

John 9:14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them. 17 They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." 18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 "but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." 24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." 25 He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." 26 Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?"
In this section of Scripture we will see the effects of Jesus healing the blind man. It affects the blind man in that he can see now, but also begins to see who Jesus really is. He is a picture of us who are spiritually blind and cannot see the truth unless Jesus opens our eyes to it. It affects the Pharisees because they get mad that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. Instead of rejoicing that a man blind from birth can see, they want all the details, especially those pertaining to the sin they believe the healer has committed. It affects the parents, they are not sure what to think, but then they are also scared and intimidated by the Pharisees who will kick them out of the Synagogue if they admit that it was Jesus. So these parents who have probably taken care of their son all their life suddenly want him to stand on his own two feet and take care of himself, especially when it comes to talking to the Pharisees. Lastly it affects all the people who knew the man and saw the difference in him. How about you, has Jesus coming into your life affected all the people you know or have you forgotten to share that new sight with all who do not know the truth of Jesus and His saving grace.

JOHN 9:1-14 JESUS ANSWERED, BUT THAT THE WORKS OF GOD SHOULD BE REVEALED IN HIM

John 9:1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. 8 ¶ Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, "Is not this he who sat and begged?" 9 Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him." He said, "I am he." 10 Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight." 12 Then they said to him, "Where is He?" He said, "I do not know." 13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.

We are taking a second look at this section of Scripture because there is so much that is going on that we missed last week. Jesus cares more about the blind man than He does His own life, because it says as He passed by He saw the man. He was leaving the Pharisees who were trying to stone Him and yet He stopped to help this man. Oh, that we were like Jesus and cared about people like He did and still does. Jesus knew He was on a divine timetable and that He had a limited amount of time to work and accomplish the purposes that He was sent to do. We need to realize our time is limited too and we need to work like Jesus said to, because a time comes when our time to do God’s will is done. There are no do overs, no un do’s, no deletes, what is done is done and what has not been done will never be accomplished by us. Lastly, life’s circumstances ought to draw us closer to Jesus and when people look at us they ought to be like the people who saw the blind man and said in verse 8 "Is not this he who sat and begged?" 9 Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him." He said, "I am he. We should be so different after Jesus has saved us that people wonder if we are the same person and then we get to testify that we are, but we are changed totally, completely, and only by the grace given to us by Jesus coming into our lives.

John 9:1-7 Jesus said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam"

John 9:1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

In this very familiar Scripture we need to make sure we don’t think we know everything that is going on here since we have heard this story so many times. There are a lot of things happening behind the scenes as in any Scripture we read. That is why we have to be very careful when we study to make sure we are really getting the meaning behind it that GOD wants us to have. Number one his disciples assume the man is born blind because of someone sinning. We also need to understand that sometimes God allows circumstances in our lives so that He might get glory from the way we respond to it. Third, there is a limited amount of time we have to work for God and do His will for our lives. Lastly, we have to go to the source of every solution to the problems of life. Note that He doesn’t always fix everything, but He enables us to handle all the ups and downs of life, no matter how bad things get. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

John 8:48-59 Jesus said to them before Abraham was, I AM

John 8:48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 "And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." 52 Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.' 53 "Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 "Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.(NKJV)

This is the section of Scripture right after Jesus tells them if the Son sets you free you shall be free indeed. They say they never have been in bondage, they are Abraham’s descendants and then Jesus tells them the truth about who they really are, so they start accusing Him of all kind of things. They accuse Him of being demon possessed, that He is a half breed Samaritan and finally say He is an illegitimate child. But Jesus has the last word as usual and tells them if they keep His word they shall never see death, nor taste it. He says He honors His Father, but they dishonor Him. They finally hear Him say that Abraham rejoiced to see His day and they are incredulous and say you are not even 50 years old how could you see Abraham. Then Jesus lets them have it by saying He is the great I AM, Yahweh, Jehovah, the Self Existent One, the one who has always existed and will always exist. Then they try to kill Him again, but as usual they fail since His time had not yet come.

JOHN 8:37-47 Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham

John 8:37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father." 39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 "You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father--God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 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. 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.

In this section of Scripture we will see the difference between the true children of God and the false professors. Many people say they belong to God, but Jesus tells us here that if we were truly His children (Abraham’s children), then our walk will match our talk. It is easy to say you are a follower of Christ; it is another thing to have that ring true by the way you live and talk day in and day out. The Bible always matches saying and doing together. James 2:14 says what does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? In other words if you say you have faith, but are not backing it up by working for God, then you are not really saved. He says can this kind of faith save him. It is a question that is asked with the implied answer of no it cannot and will not. He puts it this way in James 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? That is why Jesus can tell these Pharisees that they are not His children, but the devil is their father and that they are liars and murderers too.

JOHN 8.31-38 JESUS SAID TO THOSE JEWS WHO BELIEVED HIM, IF YOU ABIDE IN MY WORD, YOU ARE MY DISCIPLE

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father."
In this very familiar section of Scripture we see Jesus get down to the heart of the matter. This is one of the most crucial truths in Scripture regarding whether we are truly saved or not. If we are truly saved, we will continue to believe His Word, follow His Word, and obey His Word. The old song says Trust and Obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey. If we are to be truly saved we have to first trust that His Word is true and believe it, then we have to follow or obey it. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. We need to examine ourselves to see what we trusted in and who we trusted in and did it make a change in the way we live. Those are the tests outlined in the Book of First John, which John also wrote. If you say you are saved and the way you live has not changed and if your want to’s have not changed (I used to “want to” live in sin, now, I “want to” please God”) then you need to ask yourself am I really saved. Jesus said this way in another passage Luke 6:46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? (NKJV)