John 8: The Spirit of Life vs. the spirit of the world and its religions, rebellions, and deceptions

1/10/2004

I was reading John 8, today. Something occurred to me as I was prayerfully reading. Just from this one chapter I started noticing examples of “who we are in Christ.” And, of course, it is just as clear “who they are without Christ”—until they hear and bow their knee to Jesus. I was considering the absolute necessity of being clear-minded in agreement with God on this matter, or I’ll make large mistakes in how I relate to others. When I encounter relatives or neighbors who are not surrendered and regenerate in Him, if I am blind to the “species” distinction because I “see men after the flesh” rather than with Spiritual eyes (1Cor.2:11-16), I will stumble in my heart and dealings with them …and I won’t embrace God’s urgency that they are only one breath away from Hell, and that our species are not compatible. I mention these things below with compassion in my heart, but they are certainly real and true, according to Jesus, so I must embrace them.

Here is the list from John 8 that was so helpful to me, today:

1. Those truly fully His and Saved have the Light of Life; those who are only religious, or in rebellion to Jesus, are in darkness.

2. We know who we are and where we are going; they do not know who we are or where we are going.

3. We do not seek to judge, condemn or criticize anyone, but they will be judging, condemning, accusing us according to external, human standards and reasoning.

4. If anyone knows the Father, they will know us, love, respect and welcome us gladly. Those who do not know the Father will reject and hate us.

5. If the Father is drawing someone, they will be drawn to the Father’s Spirit which lives in us.

6. We are not of this world; they are of this world.

7. We are not alone; they are alone in their sins.

8. We are born from above; they are born from beneath, even if religious, but not abandoned to Him.

9. We speak for Him; they speak for themselves.

10. We do what pleases God; they do what pleases themselves.

11. We are free from sin; they are slaves to sin.

12. Our Father is in Heaven; their father is in Hell.

13. We carry out our Heavenly Father’s desires; they carry out their hellish father’s desire, even while being religious.

14. We honor God; they dishonor Him.

15. We do not seek glory for ourselves; they seek their own glory.

16. We know God; they do not know God.

17. We obey the teachings of Jesus; they do not obey His teachings.

18. Our actions reflect what we have seen and heard from our Father; their actions reflect what they have heard and learned from their father.

19. We will do the works of our Father; they will do the works of their father.

20. Our authority is from God; their authority is their own and self-appointed.

21. We listen to God; they cannot bear to listen to God.

22. Our ears are open; their ears are shut.

23. We will speak God’s truth; they will misunderstand what we say.

24. We desire to do our Father’s will; they will desire to practice the lusts and gratify the desires of their father.

25. We will not see or experience death; they will experience death.

Love, Linda