WENTZVILLE | Matt Hess 

August 3rd, 2025
John 8:33-47

They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” 39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:33-47 

1. Blinded by Bloodline 

They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:33-36 
 
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born… not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13 

“Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.” Galatians 3:7 
 
”…If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more… But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” Philippians 3:4-9 

2. Proof in their Practice 

 
I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” 39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. John 8:37-40 
 
“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead… Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? … You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works…” James 2:17, 21–24 
 
“Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar… whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 1 John 2:4–6 
 
“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’…” Matthew 3:8–9 
 
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46 

3. Devoted but Deceived