Come follow v24n7

Come follow!

V24 n7

Over the past few weeks, we have been discussing how habits, customs, traditions, rituals, and all other such things can govern a person’s life, whether they are aware of the fact or not. In the few weeks that we have spent on this topic of habits, it should have helped to make a person more aware of how that during their life, they have become followers of habits, traditions and such, by the influence presented by the people they have chosen to associate with, whether it be physical family, friends or fellow workers. Everything within a persons life is developed in this manner, regardless of what a person may think.

Prior to a person making a commitment to, and establishing a relationship with the Father by and through Christ Jesus, each and every person was born into a world of sin (it has been this way since the fall of Adam), as well as one living and operating within the confines of sin. For all of those whom are yet living in sin, because they have chose to remain in that state of sin, have made the choice to hear and obey the father of lies (that is, the devil). This happens not because I say it is so, but because this is what the Word of God clearly and plainly tells us.

John 8:37, I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. KJV

Even though the people of Israel claimed their lineage and heritage from Abraham, according to the flesh, one can clearly see from the Bible that in all reality, that they were not seeking God with their hearts. Rather, they were following the traditions, habits and such of the religious leaders, and had thus based their relationship with God in and on the physical deeds, rather then on the spiritual. In other words, it was based upon a fleshly experience and ties, governed or dictated to them by the people that were supposed to be leading them into a closer relationship with God.

One must remember and make note of the fact, that these religious leaders of the people, were those that claimed to hear God, and said that they understood His word, and yet they rejected, as well as sought to kill the very Messiah of God who stood openly before them. (And, these were the people that claimed they could hear God?) and for the most part, these people followed and obeyed the religious leaders and their example.

Let us look at a few of Adam Clarke’s comments on John 8:37.

[My word hath no place in you.] Or, this doctrine of mine hath no place in you. Ye hear the truths of God, but ye do not heed them: the word of life has no influence over you; and how can it, when you seek to kill me because I proclaim this truth to you? (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

It is a dismal omen when a person is regardless of the truth of God: it is more so to be provoked against it: out to persecute and endeavour to destroy those who preach it is the last degree of perverseness and obduracy (stubbornness). The word of God requires a heart which is empty. A heart filled with earthly projects, carnal interests, ambition, thoughts of raising a fortune, and with the love of the superfluities and pleasures of life is not fit to receive the seed of the kingdom. When a man shuts his heart against it by his passions, he at the same time opens it to all sorts of crimes. QUESNEL. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

From what is here said, it is manifest, says Dr. Lightfoot, that the whole tendency of our Savior's discourse is to show the Jews, that they are the seed of that serpent which was to bruise the heel of the Messiah: else what could that mean, <John 8:44>: Ye are of your father the Devil, i. e. ye are the seed of the serpent. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

John 8:42-45, 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 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. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. KJV

Even though the religious leaders and the people claimed to be following God and His Word, Jesus Christ is plain to tell them that they were listening to the father of lies. Why did the people reject the very Messiah of God who stood before them? Why did they continue to listen to and follow the religious leaders who spoke against the Son of God, who plainly manifest before them? Have times really changed? Would things be any different, if Jesus Christ stood before the people today?

[Even because ye cannot hear my word] The word "hear" in this place is to be understood in the sense of bear or tolerate, as in <John 6:60>. His doctrine was offensive to them. They hated it, and hence they perverted his meaning, and were resolved not to understand him. Their pride, vanity, and wickedness opposed it. The reason why sinners do not understand the Bible and its doctrines is because they cannot bear them. They hate them, and their hatred produces want of candor, a disposition to cavil (to complain about) and to pervert the truth, and an obstinate purpose that it shall not be applied to their case. Hence, they embrace every form of false doctrine, and choose error rather than truth, and darkness rather than light. A disposition to believe God is one of the best helps for understanding the Bible. (from Barnes' Notes)

What most people miss, is that the promise to Abraham was of faith, not of the physical as many people suppose. Just as the people of Israel and their leaders thought they were safe, because of their physical lineage, the Word is plain to tell us that the promise was made, and carried out by faith.

Gal 3:16, Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (KJV)

Gal 3:7, Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (KJV)

[Now to Abraham and his seed] The promise of salvation by faith was made to Abraham and his posterity. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

[He saith not, And to seeds] It was one particular kind of posterity which was intended: but as of one-- which is Christ; i. e. to the spiritual head, and all believers in him, who are children of Abraham, because they are believers, <Gal. 3:7>. But why does the apostle say, not of seeds, as of many? To this it is answered, that Abraham possessed in his family two seeds, one natural, namely, the members of his own household; and the other spiritual, those who were like himself because of their faith. The promises were not of a temporal nature; had they been so, they would have belonged to his natural seed; but they did not, therefore they must have belonged to the spiritual posterity. And as we know that promises of justification, etc., could not properly be made to Christ in himself, hence, we must conclude his members to be here intended, and the word Christ is put here for Christians. It is from Christ that the grace flows which constitutes Christians. Christians are those who believe after the example of Abraham; they therefore are the spiritual seed. Christ, working in and by these, makes them the light and salt of the world; and through them, under and by Christ, are all the nations of the earth blessed. This appears to be the most consistent interpretation, though everything must be understood of Christ in the first instance, and then of Christians only through him. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

As Paul and Adam Clarke tell us, that the seed of Abraham is of faith, and not the temporal or fleshly lineage. It takes faith to please God, and it takes faith to then fellowship with Him as well. Yet, what is it that you base your relationship with Him on?

How easy it is for a person to base their relationship with God on the physical or outward signs and associations. Yet, the Word is clear to tell us, that those that worship the Father, must do so in Spirit and in truth. This is the fellowship that the Father seeks, or tries to find. Who, or what is it that you are following after this day? Eternity is at stake, will you take someone else’s word for it?

That you may know Him,

In the service of Jesus Christ.

Larry Gazelka