God’s True Family
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say that we shall be free?” John 8:32,33
God called Israel to be His light to the nations. But instead of taking the knowledge of the true God to the nations around them, Israel saw itself as exclusive. It squandered its calling and delved deeper into sin.
In the passage above the Israelites confused being biological children of Abraham (which they were) with being children of God (which they had forfeited).
When Jesus came to them, they had moved so far away from God that they could no longer recognise Him, even when His perfect human form stood before them.
Jesus had come to save them just as much as he had come to save the world but they would have nothing of it. The nation called to carry God’s light into the world was itself in darkness.
Membership of a church doesn’t guarantee membership in God’s family. Nominal church membership can be just as strong a barrier to true Christianity today as it was to the Jews in this passage. They were blinded to their sin and so blinded to their need of a Saviour. Nominal church membership can shield us from the true life of Jesus.
Don’t let it happen to you.
To listen to this message, download in MP3 here