But there are many who thus also lay false claim, saying, "We be Abraham's seed". (John 8:33b.) What does Jesus say unto such of them? "I know that ye ((would be)) Abraham's seed; but... my word hath no place in you". (John 8:37a,[b],c.) The Word of God is that of THE "Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with YOUR father." (John 8:38[a],b.)
But such thus answer, "Abraham is our father.
Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham." (John 8:39b-e.)
And do such have the faith and works of father Abraham? "For what saith the Scripture"? (Romans 4:3a.) "The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17c.)
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:17-18.)
"If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ((you perpetuate and promote false doctrine that would actually accuse father Abraham of great sin and unrighteousness, even though)) a man hath told you the truth, ...heard of God: ((but...))
"THIS DID NOT ABRAHAM. Ye do the works of YOUR father." (John 8:39d-40[a],b,[c],d-41a.)
"Was not Abraham... justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" (James 2:21.) Who among such would possess so great a faith as that? "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works ((the action of his faith)) was faith made perfect?
"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." (James 2:22-23.)
O vain man (even woman) it is who would now malign with the falsehood of charging this here as so-called "legalism"! Do you not thereby "bear false witness against thy neighbor"? (Exodus 20:16.) Was not Abraham living long before the Law? (Have you never read Acts 7:6 and Galatians 3:17?) For this here only speaks of "the law of faith" (Romans 3:27f), not of the carnal commandment of the Law itself, "for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness." (Romans 4:9c.) "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13.)
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14:17.)
But now I speak unto such deceived ones directly, "Where is your faith?" (Luke 8:25b.) For "Ye do the deeds of YOUR father." (John 8:41a.)
© October 4, 1997, The Standard Bearer
P.O. Box 765, O.O.B., ME 04064
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