Children are always proud of their fathers and know their names. But there are those who don't know their father's name, because they don't know him and have never met him.

Some of Jesus' Jewish contemporaries once told Jesus that they were not children of prostitution, but that they were children of Abraham and of God. Look:

“I know that you are Abraham's offspring, yet you seek to kill me because my word does not enter you. I speak what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have seen with your Father. They answered and said to him: Our father is Abraham. Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that he has heard from God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father. So they said to him: We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, who is God. Then Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would surely love me, for I came forth and have come from God; I did not come of myself, but he sent me.” John 8:37-42.

They claimed Abrahamic and divine paternity, although they wanted to eliminate Jesus. And Jesus told them that:
“Why do you not understand my language? Because you cannot hear my word. You have the devil for a father, and you want to fulfill your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not stand on the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of lies. But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me. Who among you convinces me of sin? And if I tell you the truth, why don't you believe me? He who is of God hears the words of God; therefore you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” John 8:43-7.

Jesus asked them why they didn't understand his language, and said that it was because they didn't listen to his Word. And he said that their father was the devil, who did not stand on the truth. Now the truth is God's law. Therefore, they didn't understand what Jesus was saying because they didn't keep his law. Therefore, they could not be children of God, being children of the devil.

So it is today. Countless religious people think of themselves as children of God, even though they don't listen to Jesus' words. And they still have the gall to say that it is the keepers of God's law, His Truth, who are heretics.

Jesus said that “He who is of God hears the words of God; therefore you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”
God's word is the truth and the truth is his law. So whoever does not listen to the Truth is not of God. Because Jesus spoke the truth, which is His Law. Psalm 119:160 and 142.

At his coming, Jesus will say to those on his left, “I do not know you” and to others, “I never knew you”. Meaning that they didn't keep God's commandments or that they never did.

So get to know Jesus by keeping his commandments, so that you too may be known by him.

Guarulhos-Sp, 07/12/2024.

Oli Prestes
Missionary