How does John 8:38 connect to the concept of spiritual fatherhood in Scripture? Setting the Scene in John 8:38 • “I speak of what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” (John 8:38) • Jesus contrasts two lines of influence: what He has “seen” with His Father versus what His listeners have “heard” from theirs. • The verse introduces a key scriptural idea: every person lives under the authority and likeness of a spiritual father. Two Fathers, Two Families • Scripture identifies only two ultimate spiritual fathers: – God the Father, source of truth and life. – The devil, “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). • Humanity is divided not by ethnicity or culture but by spiritual parentage (1 John 3:10). • Jesus tells religious leaders that their deeds prove paternity: “If God were your Father, you would love Me” (John 8:42). Actions reveal lineage. Jesus and the Perfect Model of Sonship • Jesus’ relationship with the Father sets the pattern: – He speaks only what He “has seen” (John 5:19; 12:49). – His obedience flows from intimate communion, not mere command. • By mirroring His Father, Jesus exposes the listeners’ mimicry of another father—showing spiritual fatherhood is demonstrated in behavior. Israel’s Story of Fatherhood • God first announces fatherhood over Israel: “Israel is My firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22). • Repeated prophetic calls—“Return, O faithless sons, declares the LORD, for I am your Father” (Jeremiah 3:14)—highlight Israel’s struggle to live as true children. • John 8 represents a climactic moment where national lineage (descendants of Abraham) is shown insufficient without spiritual likeness. The Church’s Experience of Adoption • Through Christ, believers move from the devil’s household to God’s: – “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14) – “God sent His Son…that we might receive our adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5) • Adoption grants: – A new identity—“children of God” (1 John 3:1). – A new nature—“created to be like God in true righteousness” (Ephesians 4:24). – A new inheritance—“heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). Practical Takeaways for Today • Examine the source: whose words shape my thoughts—those of the Father or the father of lies? • Imitate Jesus’ pattern—stay close to the Father, so words and deeds reflect His character. • Celebrate adoption—live confidently as a beloved child, not a spiritual orphan. • Resist former influences—reject habits that echo the old father and embrace the Spirit’s leading into family likeness. |
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