23/12/2022 - BORN OF FORNICATION

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You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” John 8.41

The Jews were not innocent as to the Truth, but they did not want to obey it. It was enough for Jesus to refer to them indirectly as children of the devil, and they immediately replied that they were not born of fornication. Now, this is the normal situation of humanity, so we have to preach the Gospel, the Good News of what Christ did in His death, so that everyone has the chance to be saved from sin and from the consequent eternal damnation (Romans 3.9-26). This is our true mission!

When someone sins, he misses the mark and gives room to the devil. It doesn’t matter if he was already saved; by sinning, he disconnects himself from God and falls under the enemy’s command. In view of this, it is of utmost importance not to follow Satan’s will (Isaiah 59.1,2; Ephesians 4.27). The Christian’s mission is to make people understand the spiritual reality, to prove the redemption provided by Jesus. Without true repentance and the decision to serve Christ, no one will be saved (Acts 2.37-40).

Looking at the statements of Scripture concerning Israel, we see that the wrong procedure of the father of the family, or the leader of the church, can lead everyone to bankruptcy. At the end of his days, wise King Solomon, for example, disobeyed God, loving many women of the peoples who neither knew the Most High nor served Him, so he got into serious trouble (1 Kings 11.1-25). This resulted in the division of the kingdom after his death, and amazingly, both kingdoms submitted to iniquity, and many suffered.

The Northern Kingdom provoked the Lord the most, doing what He condemned. Therefore, it was taken captive by the Assyrians, and no more was heard of that kingdom (read 2 Kings 17). Their land was prosperous and rich, but they did not recognize the One who had brought them out of Egyptian captivity and made them rich. Because they had forsaken the Most High and given themselves over to unclean practices, Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, scattered them throughout the world. A similar thing will happen to anyone who despises the heavenly Father.

As for Judah, they paid no attention and fell into the same error as Samaria. Instead of going to God, asking for mercy and having bread in abundance, many kings who took over David’s throne did not rule as the heart of that monarch did, and this contaminated the people in general. The outcome was to see God’s judgment fall upon them, who, even after Jeremiah warned them that they would be taken to Babylon if they did not repent, “paid the price,” remaining captive for 70 years (Jeremiah 25.11).

One’s attitudes show whom they serve – whether the Lord or the evil one. It doesn’t matter who you say or think you are; if you disobey the Almighty, you will do the devil’s will (Luke 11.23). Why submit to any temptation if it will lead you into the devil’s kingdom? The Jews complained that they were not born of fornication, and this was partly true, but by acting outside the divine plan, they became children of the devil; the same will be said of us. So get right with God now!

It doesn’t matter if you declare that God is your Father, because if you are in sin, such a declaration is worthless. Jesus said: But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here (John 14.31). Get up from your position and do what the Lord has said in the Word. Whoever obeys Him reigns and lives!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares