Test Your Spiritual DNAJohn 8:37-47

Who’s Your Daddy?

I’ve had an interesting time in this life, determining where my traits come from

School Science taught me that DNA was everything

My Daddy, the Preacher, believed that it was all determined by environment

My own experience however, causes me to understand– in a personal way– exactly what Jesus was saying in our focal passage today

Take-Home– the way I act on a daily basis proves who I belong to

Why am I like I am?

37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.” 39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus *said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.

40 But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41 You are doing the deeds of your father.” 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 have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.

43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”

John 8:37-47, NASB

In today’s passage, the debate centers around the word father

Jesus identifies Himself with the Father in Heaven

He identifies the Pharisees with the Father of Hell, Satan

Of course the Jews claimed Abraham as their father

Jesus made a careful distinction between Abraham’s “seed”, and Abraham’s “children”

Who…?

Abraham’s “seed” Physical descendants (DNA)

Abraham’s “children”Spiritual descendants (because of personal faith)

See the difference? (Vv 37-38)1. They wanted to kill Him (Abe– friend of God)2. Abraham listened to God and was obedient3. They resisted the Truth

What…?

One’s Nature is determined by BirthNatural Birth is determined by PaternityIf God is your Father, you share His Nature

2 Peter 1:1-4

Why am I like I am?

To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

1 Peter 1:1-4, NASB

One’s Nature is determined by BirthNatural Birth is determined by PaternityIf God is your Father, you share His Nature

2 Peter 1:1-4If Satan is your father, you share his nature

Understand– not all lost folks are children of the Devil– the parables teach us that “false believers” are Lucifer's progeny

Satan is an imitator- his kids fake righteousness– NO WAY TO HEAVEN

Why am I like I am?

What showed these leaders to be evil?1. They rejected the Truth, (V 40)2. Tried to kill Jesus because He spoke

Truth, (vv 42)3. They didn’t love God (vv 42)4. They could not understand Jesus’

teaching (vv 43, 47)1. Satan’s children may be well versed

in religious traditions, but NO understanding of the WORD

OK. So what characteristics…?

Conflict in my 2 NaturesRomans 7:14-25

Paul even struggled here…?

14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.

19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Romans 7:14-25

Conflict in my 2 NaturesRomans 7:14-25Remember last week– the key is my “habitual” life, not just occasional mishap

Satan is a liar and a MurdererHe lied to A & E and engineered their deaths

Cain was a liar and killer, child of the Devil

Paul even struggled here…?

Cain killed his brother and lied about it

Where is this going?The worst bondage is the kind the prisoner himself does not recognize– gilded cage

The Religious thought they were free but were really in bondage to sin and the Devil

They wouldn’t face the Truth…

Don’t be dragged down…

The way I act on a daily basis proves to whom I belong

It also does the same for others you know

I’m not saying you should be a Holy Joe

I’m giving you the tools to diagnose yourself and others for prayer

This week’s challenge…

Take-Home…