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Explore the teachings of Jesus in the court, Forgiveness, Light vs. Darkness, Life & Death, Freedom & Bondage, and the distinction between Law & Grace in Chapter 8, revealing contrasting themes on forgiveness, spiritual truths, and religious hypocrisy. Dive into the powerful messages conveyed in this chapter.
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Contrasts and Conflicts Chapter 8 By Warren W. Wiersbe
Grace and Law (8:1-11) Jesus Taught in the court of women (8:20) Trap – the act of adultery The law requires that both guilty parties be stoned (Lev. 20:10,Deut. 22:22) not just the women Jewish leaders’ dilemma If He said Yes, …”friend of publicans and sinners If He said No, He broke the law
Jesus passed the judgment on judges Hypocrites condemned another person and not themselves By Law (Deut. 17:7) the accusers cast the first stones Jesus asked those without sin to cast the stones but every accuser left convicted by their own conscience Jesus forgave the woman & warned her to sin no more
For Jesus to forgive this woman He had to die for her sins. Forgiveness is free, but not cheap. The Law was given to reveal sin (Rom. 3:20) We must be condemned by the law before we can be cleansed by God’s grace Law and grace compliment each other, not compete with each other.
Conviction before conversion Christ’s forgiveness doesn’t give an excuse to sin; “Go and sin no more” Ps. 130:4 “But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared” Light and Darkness (8:12-20) 2nd “I am” statement Sun was a symbol of Jehovah God (Ps. 84:11, Mal. 4:2) One sun in our galaxy; it’s center of and source of life, God is light (I John 1:5)
Wherever the light shines, it reveals humanity wickedness (Eph. 5:8-15) “I am” statement is related to the Feast of Tabernacle: Candelabra reminding people of the pillar of fire To follow Jesus means to believe Him and trust Him. The results are life and light. Unsaved are walking in darkness because they love darkness. (John 3:17ff)
Jesus claimed to be the Light of the Word, but Jewish court wouldn’t permit bearing witness to himself. Witness - 7 times This witness – undependable judging on the basis of externals, only human judgment. Deut. 17:1; 19:15, Num. 35:30 The testimony of two was required & validate judgment.
They claimed to know the law of God, but they didn’t know God of the law Where is thy Father? Word father 21 times in chapter 8 The father was not God, but the devil Religious but children of the Devil Life and Death (8:21-30) He warned them again that He would leave them and they would not be able to follow Him. Instead, they die in their sins.
Suicide? Jews were taught to honor life. If Jesus committed suicide, then He would go to a place of judgment. Actually, it was they who were going to the place of judgment. Different destinations because they had different origins. Jesus came from heaven, but they belonged to the earth. The believers has his citizenship in heaven (Luke 10:20; Phil. 3:20, 21) but the unsaved belongs to this world,
“children of the world” (Luke 16:8). The Christians die in the Lord (Rev. 14:13) while the unbelievers die in their sins because they live in sins. Jesus boldly made several claims to deity (8:26). How would Jesus was sent by God, and had heard from God the things that he taught? Now, He talked about His own death. “Lifted up” on the Cross (3:14, 12:32) Dual meaning in crucifixion & exaltation. “suffering and glory”
Salvation is a matter of life or death Freedom & Bondage (8:31-47) Continuance in the Word – discipleship was the proof of true salvation When we obey His word, we grow in spiritual knowledge; whenever grown in spiritual knowledge, we grow in freedom from sin; Life leads to learning and learning leads to liberty
Jesus was talking about freedom from sin, political freedom The claim that Abraham’s descendants was never in bondage was false for they were enslaved by seven mighty nations in Judges and Assyrians (10 tribes) and Babylon (2 tribes) as well as Rome. Difference between spiritual freedom and bondage is matter of whether one is a son or servant.
A servant may live in the house, but he is not a part of the family and he isn’t guaranteed a future. “Whosoever keeps on practicing sin is the servant of sin”. The religious leaders would not only die in sins, but they were living in bondage to sin. How can slaves of sin be free? Only by the Son. How? Through the power of His Word (John 8:38-47) “The truth shall make you free” (8:32)
Jesus identified Himself with the Father in heaven while He identified the religious leaders with the father from Hell, Satan. Jesus made a careful distinction between Abraham’s seed (physical descendants) and Abraham’s children (spiritual descendants due to personal faith - Gal 3:6-14)
The religious leaders were unlike Abraham for they wanted to kill Him and rejected the truth. Abraham was the “friend of God” & fellowshipped with Him in Love (Isaiah 41:8). Abraham listened to God’s truth and obeyed unlike the religious leaders. Nature is determined by birth and birth is determined by paternity. If God is your Father, then you showed God’s nature (II Peter 1:1-4), but if Satan is your father, you showed his evil nature.
Characteristics of these religious leaders: Rejected the truth (8:40) They did not love the Lord (8:42) They did not understand what Jesus taught (8:42,47) Satan is a liar and murderer. Religious leaders lied about Jesus, hired false witnesses and had Him killed.
Honor and Dishonor (8:48-59) When the leaders couldn’t refute Jesus’ statements, they attacked His person. We are not born of fornication-slur on our Lord’s own birth. Impossible to Honor the Father without Honoring the Son. Jesus warned them that they would die in their sins because of their unbelief. Now He invited them to trust His Word and “never see death”(8:51)
Abraham saw His day and rejoiced How? He saw the future city by faith (Heb 11:10, 13-16) Before Abraham was “I AM” (8:58) The most difficult people to win to the Saviour are those who do not realize that they have a need. They trust their religion to save them.
Whose Child are you? God the Father because you received Jesus Christ in your life? Or Satan your father because you are depending on the counterfeit righteousness, “work righteousness”, not the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus Christ. If God is your Father, the heaven is your home. If He is not your Father, the hell is your destiny. It is a matter of Life or Death!