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All right, well last month when we're in this chapter here I just covered the first 11 verses and I preached about the woman taking an adultery and kind of went through Some of the things that people try to teach that are false about that. And so I just want to really cover that topic Extensively and so that's why we're finishing off the rest of the chapter, which is quite Extensive here tonight. So I'll try to get through This as fast as I can. It's almost seven o'clock and we are having pizza tonight. So just want to let you know that also and I think some goodies got brought here that I can't eat some will offended about that, but Deacon's listening. That's your favorite cookies that miss Teresa makes so anyway so chapter So the title of the sermon tonight is the I am and I'll be covering The fact that Jesus at the very end of the chapter you see how he says Before Abraham was I am and then the Jews took up stones to stone him people will say that Jesus never claimed to be God but they took up stones to stone him for a specific reason because You know They kept asking who are who are you like? Who are you saying that you are and then he's he's telling them I'm not from this world. You're from you're from below. I'm from above It's like, you know, he's pretty much spoon feeding to them that he's God But they don't want to listen and then he finally just gives it to him at the end And then they try to kill him for it. So But so I'm gonna kind of cover the different I am statements that are made tonight But I'm also gonna preach through the chapter So the first point tonight is where Jesus says that I am the light of the world in verse 12 It says then spake Jesus again unto them saying I am the light of the world He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life now this goes back to Genesis chapter number one and if you if you know the the days of creation where Jesus Made or when God said let there be light. That's the first day, isn't it? But the Sun was made on day four So the light that we see in the world is the Sun that he made on day four But the real true light of the world is Jesus And so let's let's just go ahead and keep your finger here and we'll we'll go back and we're gonna look at a few verses Here, but we'll look at John chapter number one. First of all where it kind of explains this a little bit in the beginning of this book and So this is the first time not that this isn't the first time the first I am but He is in in this chapter He is kind of this is where he starts kind of alluding to the fact that he is the I am he says I am The light of the world look at John 1 1 it says in the beginning was the word And the word was with God and the word was God so it's very clear that Jesus Christ is God And John puts that forth in the very first verse in this book And it says the same was in the beginning with God. So it's referencing back to Genesis 1 All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made in him was life And the life was the light of men and the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not This is of course talking about Jesus Look at verse 7 it says the same came for a witness to bear witness of the light that all men through him Might believe he was not that light talking about John the Baptist but was sent to bear witness of that light That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world So Jesus Christ is the light of the world John's backing this up from the very first chapter now turn back to Genesis chapter number one Genesis chapter number one where we'll see that Obviously Jesus is not a creative being but when God said let there be light Jesus is that light so But that doesn't mean that he didn't exist before he said let there be light Okay, so people will say like well Jesus is created and you know That's what the Jehovah's Witnesses false witnesses try to teach that Jesus is a created being he's Michael the archangel and he He'll return to being Michael the archangel later. That's a bunch of rubbish So look at Genesis 1 1 it says in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth and the earth was without form and void and Darkness was upon the face of the deep and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters and God said let there be light and there was light so That and Jesus Christ is the Word of God So in verse 3 that is you know, what what you know, I guess the Greek word is logos or whatever but you know, Jesus is the Word of God, so And so he said let there be light and there was light Jesus Christ Created the world and and God the Father, you know, obviously had him create everything So and it says and God said let there be light and there was light and God saw the light that it was good And you know if it's good, it's God, right? And God divided the light from the darkness and God called the light day and the darkness He called night and the evening and the morning were the first day. So again It's obviously referencing Jesus Christ being that light It tells us in John 1 1 now Jesus Christ is saying himself in our chapter that we're in tonight in John chapter 8 That he is that light So he you can't deny that that's true and he is the light and the life of men and it says all men Right, and so every man is gonna get light in this world at some point Every person in this on this whole planet will have a chance to be saved at some point So and and and then you know people say well there What about the pygmies pygmies in Africa and the people in the dark regions of India and stuff? Everybody's heard of Jesus pretty much in this whole world and if they if they haven't Creation is a witness to the fact that there is a God You can't just look out and think that this world made itself only idiot scientists believe that and teach that stuff So look back at our text to John chapter 8 verse 13 The Bible says the Pharisees therefore say said unto him thou bearest record of thyself thy record is not true Jesus answered and said unto them though I bear record of myself yet My record is true for I know whence I came and whither I go But you cannot tell whence I come and whether I go you judge after the flesh I judge no man and yet I judge or yet if I judge my judgment is true For I am not alone But I and the father that sent me it is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true I am one that bear witness of myself and the father that sent me beareth witness of me Then said they unto the unto him where where is thy father Jesus answered he? Neither know me nor my father if he had known me you would have known my father also So he's basically saying you know, my witness is true God bears witness of me and of course the spirit bears witness, you know, there's three that bear witness In heaven the Father the Word of the Holy Ghost and these three are one and he's just saying, you know Your your single witness not might not mean anything but mine does mean something and God is you know a Trinity So, you know, there's the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit and these three are one and so He he's not just one single witness he's God so first John 222 if you want to turn there you can if not just stick where you're at but if you want to you can turn over there and so It says who is a liar, but he that denied that Jesus is the Christ He's Antichrist that's an eye at the father and the son but whosoever or says whosoever denied the son the same hath not the father but That that But he that acknowledges the son hath the father also, so they're denying the son here and They want to say that they have the father that their father is God But they deny that in very works and just by their own lips, you know they're denying the son at every at every turn and Saying that God is their father and Jesus is about to tell them that that's not the case But you know John also wrote first John second John third John so obviously we can go to those of those scriptures and Get some more detail about the things that the Jews were doing to Jesus while he was alive on this earth John 8 20 says these words spake Jesus in the Treasury as he taught in the temple and no man laid hands on him For his hour was not yet come Then said Jesus again unto them I go my way and you shall seek me and shall die in your sins Whither I go you cannot come so what's he telling these people you shall die and shall die in your sins? He's saying you're not saved. You're going to hell, right? And it says then said the Jews will he kill himself because he saith whether I go you cannot come So this just shows their their spiritual ignorance. They just they don't understand the scriptures They don't understand the words of life that are coming to their ears And so and this is like I kind of talked about this before that Jesus likes to say things to them and get them wondering what he's talking about and Because he said this before, you know where I go you cannot come they're like, where's he going? You know, that's just like why can't we why can't we go with him? You know, where's he going and this time he said they're like, will he kill himself, you know? But they don't understand that he's talking about going to head back to heaven. So And they're completely puzzled by this so Look at verse 23. It says and he said unto them you're from beneath I am from above you're of this world. I am NOT of this world. So I mean that's pretty plain Why what would you think if somebody said that to you? I mean you would think well, hey, he's not from earth So where does he have to be from? He's got to be from heaven, right? and you know most people in this world probably think he's an alien but You know, I don't believe in that stuff. So but I mean he's an alien in the fact that he's not from Earth, I guess but You know, I don't want to get too crazy with that So but anyway verse 24 says I say I said therefore unto you that you shall die in your sins For if you believe not that I am he you shall die in your sin So he's already told him once, you know, you're gonna die in your sins now. He's telling him again, you know He's basically saying I'm I'm from heaven and you're not you're from earth And then he says verse 25 then said they unto him who art thou so now they're gonna quit They're gonna they're gonna ask him the question straight up. Who are who art thou who like? Who are you making yourself to be and Jesus saith unto them even the same that I said unto you from the beginning I have many things to say to you and to judge of you But he that sent me is true and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him They understood not That he spake to them of the Father See, they just don't understand those spiritual words that Jesus is saying unto them And so, you know the scriptures where I said that if you don't have the Father you don't have the Son Well, they don't understand what what they're that he's even talking about the Father because they don't even have the Father because they don't Embrace the Son right? They don't believe on the Son and so they don't understand he says Verse 28 then said Jesus unto them when you have lifted up the Son of Man Then shall you know that I am he and that I do nothing of myself but as my father hath taught me I speak these things and He that sent me is with me the father hath not left me alone for I do always those things that please him and he spake these words and Excuse me as he spake these words many believed on him So no matter how much the Pharisees tried to just come at him and and and try to disrupt what he's doing They there are always people in every place He preaches that still believe on him because the message is going to get through to the people that he's speaking to That are ordained unto eternal life Go ahead and turn to Matthew chapter 13 and Jesus talked this way on purpose He he preached and he spoke in parables so that certain people would understand what he was saying and then certainly People wouldn't and the Pharisees obviously were so spiritually blind They're blind leaders of the blind and so the people that follow them are gonna fall into the ditch with them But he explains this in Matthew chapter 13 verse 10 where he says and disciples came and said unto them Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to them it is not given for whosoever hath to him shall be given and he Shall have more abundance, but whosoever hath not from him shall be taken away even that he hath Therefore speak I to them in parables because that scene they seen see not and hearing they hear not Neither do they understand so, you know, he speaks to him in parables on purpose So the some people just won't see and some people won't hear and he does and some people just won't understand You know because some of these guys are reprobates and you know, it's very clear Jesus said you're going to hell He's not saying you're gonna go to hell unless you change your mind and believe on me So I'm talking about the people that he's specifically talking to that are questioning him in that way because there's there's a crowd here There's a crowd of people are listening to him But when they're asking these questions Then he's he's answering their questions and he's telling them what he thinks of them And so he's he's making clear distinctions He's not telling everybody in the room. They're going to hell. He's just talking about them specifically So now number two tonight the truth will make you free Let's look at verse number 31 back in our text It says and said Jesus then said Jesus to the Jews which believed on him So there were some Jews that believed on him, right if you continue in my word, then are you my disciples? Indeed so that's a very good point to make that yeah, I mean people that believe they're saved But that doesn't mean that you're one of his disciples See the disciples actually followed Jesus when he said come follow me and I'll make you fishers of men Then they dropped what they were doing and followed him and there's a lot of people that he got saved in his earthly ministry and he would say hey follow me and some people would and some people wouldn't and the difference between A true disciple and one, you know this, you know, obviously there's a lot of people that are saved that aren't disciples You know when when you don't want to take up your cross and follow Jesus and you don't want to continue in his word Well, they're not really truly his disciple You might be saved but not necessarily a disciple because it says these certain Jews believed but he says if You continue in my word then are you my disciples indeed? So there's that if just like in the Old Testament if you keep my commandments and all that so Look at verse 32. It says and he shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free So that's a that's like a very famous scripture You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free and how do you know the truth? Well, you've got to continue in God's Word And so there's a lot of people out there that are saved and they don't really understand a lot of the things about the Bible They don't understand Doctrine they don't understand a lot of the great truths of the Bible because They don't continue in the word and so people can you know, the the don't continue in the word They're gonna get wrapped up and a lot of things that aren't true They'll start watching Nephilim videos online and I think that's true and flat earth and yeah a bunch of other just crazy stuff, right, but You know, I mean if but if you continue in his word, that's why it's so important for us to continue in the word That's why it's so important We do the New Testament challenge or that we just read our Bible through One time every year and don't just stop and say oh see I continued his word Well, no, it's talking about for your whole life You know, we're supposed to continue and that's not the only thing we do to be his disciple. Obviously we follow not only Read the Bible, but we also try to live what the Bible says to do Okay verse 33 it says they answered him we beat Abraham's seed and were Never in bondage to any man How sayest thou he shall be made free now when it says this part kind of confused me It says they answered him and it's talking about you know specifically the Jews that believed on him and then they start going back and forth with him as If they're not saved or something, but I don't know that necessarily it's talking about the Jews that believed on him I think that just other Jews are responding to him because it like threw me for a loop I was like, well if they believed on him, why are they treat? Why are they talking to him like this? But there was other people there besides the ones that believed on him It says we beat Abraham seed we were never in bondage to any man So they're putting forth the fact that this is what that all Jews everywhere say We're children of Abraham. And so therefore we're God's chosen people and no matter what we're gonna go to heaven Which is absolutely not true, there's always been you know, the nation of Israel when it was formed You know, there's always been people that were unsaved in that nation even when Moses took them out of Egypt, there was a bunch of people there that were reprobates that were not saved and Obviously there was a there was a lot of people that were but you know People's car he's like you're not going into the promised land You're you know because they said they didn't believe right and so a bunch of people now not all those people that died I don't believe all those people that died in the wilderness were unsaved But you know as a whole that nation could not go into the promised land because of their unbelief, you know and then You know It's funny like they won't obey God and do what's right when they're supposed to and then they're like well We're just gonna go anyway now and then they go in with no protection from God and they get smoked right so They just have always been kind of a stiff-neck people that God's always had to chastise and so on and so forth But it's kind of like that for us today, too If you think about it, isn't there a lot of Christians out there that think that they're saved and they're really not There's a whole bunch of Christians. There's you know, I would say that there's Billions or at least you know because the Catholic Church they would a lot of them was consider themselves Christian But none of them are going to heaven Unless they accidentally got saved and then stumbled in the Catholic Church and don't know any better they didn't continue in his word or something, but someone that's like Believes in the sacraments and all that kind of stuff. They're not going to heaven because they're not trusting in Christ alone But that's a billion people in this world and then think about all the other quasi Christians, you know the Pentecostals these bozos upstairs here that you know, they're spitting and and Frothing at the mouth and whatever else that they're doing and they think that they can lose their salvation You know, I'm sure they'll be handling rattlesnakes at some point. I don't know I don't know what they do or what they believe but you know A lot of the things that they say will be like well the Holy Ghost told me this or you know Things like that. It's like the Holy Ghost didn't tell you anything unless it comes from this book right here You know, so when people go well the Holy Ghost told me to shut up That stuff just pisses me off. I just barber, you know, I don't really need a barber too much anymore, but I just shaved my head or whatever, but I was barber once and she and I was like This is before like I kind of became, you know, kind of got really serious about I mean I was a Christian obviously, but there was a lot of things. I still didn't understand but I was just like, yeah Let's support the Christian barbers or whatever. So I was going this lady and she was cutting my hair and At the end of cut my hair one time. She's like, I just want to tell you something. God told me you know and she starts like giving me this prophecy that God told her to tell me and I just was like listen, I don't want to hear this crap, but I just kind of walked out I paid her and walked out and I never went back again because You know there that's just a lie God did not tell that person anything. He didn't tell her a single thing So then that just tells me you're a lying deceiving false prophet Yeah to say you're speaking in the name of the Lord. How dare you do that? But even Baptist will do that sometimes too. Well, the Spirit was just kind of telling me. No, he wasn't He wasn't if you read it in the Bible and the Spirit says, you know You know seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Then yeah, the Spirit didn't talk to you about that. Okay, but the spirit said hey, I Really think I need to go soul winning. Well, the Bible says go you there for and preach the gospel, right? So we're supposed to you know When when the Bible is clearly telling us something of the Spirit and we're taking that in we're saying hey The Holy Ghost told me to do that. Well then yeah, okay The Holy Ghost did tell you do that But once you start saying that you that the Holy Ghost told you something and you're speaking in the name of the Lord You're way out of bounds and you're just lying So, you know people will say that kind of stuff just flippantly and it drives me crazy I'd I can't handle I'll just be like shut up Anyway, I kind of lost my my spot here. So we're yeah, we're talking about Abraham So now the children of you know, they say they're Abraham seed and Jesus affirms this fact That they are the seed as in the earth or the physical seed, okay, and You know in in the modern translations, it'll say descendants, you know Instead of saying the seed which is wrong because the word seed see how that it sells how it says we are Abraham seed This just shows that they don't even understand the prophecy of Abraham being God You know the seat that the seed is actually talking about Christ the one who's actually talking to them right now And it says we were never in bondage to any man. Well, the Romans are ruling over him right now So I don't understand what they're talking about there The Greeks were over them before that the Medes and the Persians were over them before that the Babylonians took them out and destroyed their temple before that and Then in judges they're getting they're having to have a Savior rise up Like all the all the different judges that rose up to help because they kept just falling into sin and worshiping Baal But they were never into bondage any man I mean, that's just a dumb statement. But anyway It says in verse 34 Jesus answered them Verily verily I stand to you whosoever committed sin is the servant of sin And a servant abideth not in the house forever, but the son abideth forever And this is an interesting thing that Jesus is saying right here that and basically this is true if you know Whosoever is commit sin you are a servant to that sin And so just like the picture of Egypt, you know Egypt is a picture of the world and us being of the world and being trapped in bondage to the sin that we're in and so when God freed the the Israelites From that bondage. That's the picture of salvation and being freed from that bondage of sin Right, and of course they didn't get right right away You know, the the guys are still wearing earrings and you know the first thing chance they get when Moses takes off They're you know dancing around some golden calf But with half the half dressed and you know, make at making a golden calf The music they're playing sounds like the sound of war to Joshua It's like, you know Slayer playing or something in the camp. I don't know but You know what I'm saying cuz Joshua goes it sounds like there's war going on the camp and then and then You know, he's like it's not the noise of war do I hear but those that sing that's what Moses said Yeah, and it's like well, I've never been to a church service that it sounds like war in the camp So he must have been you know playing some screamo stuff or something. I don't know But you know they're dancing, you know So Moses isn't that mad until he comes down and actually sees what they're doing because like right before that He's like, you know God's saying I'll make you a great nation I'll kill everybody here and make a be a great nation Moses like don't do that Lord You promise you weren't gonna do all you know, you were gonna protect, you know, you were gonna bring forth You know this promise and and you promised Abraham Isaac and Jacob and then he comes down with a tank of minutes. He's like You know, he's ticked off it says when he saw the calf and he saw the dancing he just like Freaked out, right? So then he was mad, right? So Anyway, I don't know what that had to do with what I was talking about I was just saying that the the servant of you know It just made me think about cuz I'm preaching through Exodus right now that Jesus is imparting the spiritual truth about the fact that those that are Servants of sin have not been freed because they haven't believed on the Lord Jesus Christ because that's what it takes to be free Obviously people still sin in their in their bodies But once you've been freed from that servitude of Sin, then you get to abide in the house forever See how it says and the the servant abideth not in the house forever So someone who remains a slave and is no longer Or is not saved. They're not gonna abide in the house forever. They're they're not going to heaven It says but the son abideth forever and it says and if the son therefore Shall make you free. You should be free indeed. He's talking about getting saved. So And and so look at verse 37 it says I know that you're Abraham seen so see he affirms it right there I know you are but you seek to kill me because my word hath no place in you. I Speak that which I have seen with my father and ye do that which you have seen of your father So now he's about to really upset them I mean, he just continued kind of ramps up the the things that are gonna really upset these guys But now he's making a clear distinction between him and his father and them and their father Which is a theme throughout the Gospels that the that these Unbelieving Jews and the real enemies of Christ here the ones that actually kill him they are reprobates You know, and obviously there are some of the of the rulers and leaders that did believe in him But they were afraid to openly say so, you know, they came to him by night or you know they came and begged the body of Jesus at the end and Sometimes they would make a council and not let people be there that were kind of on his side Or if they spoke up like I think a couple chapters ago or whatever one of them spoke up and They were just like they just cut him to the quick and he kind of had to shut up after that. So but So the third the third point I wanted to to mention here is that Jesus? He kind of teaches the reprobate doctrine in this passage here. So which is of course, you know something that most of Christianity denies That that reprobate doctrine is true But Jesus teaches it here because he's making a clear distinction between God and his people and the devil and his people So look at verse 39 says they answered and said unto him Abraham is our father Jesus saith unto him unto them if if You were Abraham's children You would do the works of Abraham But now you seek to kill me a man that hath told you the truth Which I have heard of God this did not Abraham You do the deeds of your father then said they unto him or said they to him We be not born of fornication. We have one father even God, so they're claiming that God is their father, aren't they? and he's saying If you were Abraham's children then then they're just gonna claim that God's their father and then verse 42 Jesus said unto them If God if God were your father You would love me for I proceeded forth and came from God neither came I of myself But he sent me. I mean just flat-out tell him I came from God God sent me here If God were your father, but so if he's saying if God were your father what's he saying? He's not your father Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word so they can't understand what he's saying Remember I was went back to the part where he speaks in parables. They can't understand his speech they don't even really understand the concepts that he's preaching to them and They can't hear his word they can't understand the Word of God because that's who he is Just flat-out telling the truth and they just every everything he says they deny Everything that you know and then they turn the people against them And it's just like this is this is kind of how children of the devil are they won't they can't understand God's Word I mean they can read it hundreds of times and they won't understand it That's why you have all this bogus commentary floating around out there from hundreds of years ago, and it's like They don't even know what they're talking about They're just clueless And that's why it's just important to just let the Holy Spirit guide you because we have the spirit of truth We have the comforter the moment you get saved The Holy Spirit seals you with the Holy Spirit of promise and you are saved forevermore The Holy Spirit will never leave you and he says that he will help us He will guide us into all truth. So he will guide us into all truth, and so we are able to understand God's Word and There's and then if they're not saved or they're some kind of you know devil. They're not gonna understand it He says why do you not understand my speech even because you cannot hear my word You're of your father the devil and the lust of your father. Will you do? So now he just straight-up says your father's the devil and this really must have pissed him off He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth Because there's no truth in him when he speak at the lie. He speaketh of his own For he is a liar and the father of it. So he's the father of lies he is the original murderer and No sin existed before the devil actually committed sin and he got his own creation you know, he got all the angels or not all the angels but a third of the angels to Rebel with him and then he his creation Adam and Eve his create the people he created turned against him too Well, they they they just didn't keep his commandment and they end up turning the whole world into sin so but So now he's just calling him out and saying because your fault you're gonna do the things that your father does See, I'm doing the things that my father tells me to do. I'm preaching truth Um, you know, he's healing people bringing people back from the dead walking on water doing all these great miracles You know just he's a great guy. And what are they doing? Just Just the most wicked thing you could think of they're plotting to murder him at every turn Like he can't even walk openly anymore if you remember in chapter 7 even his own Brothers turned against him and we're trying to get him killed and then so he can't walk openly and and at all he's having to go to the outskirts and come around from the other sides of town and stuff and because they're wanting to kill him for what for being good and so It says he that is of God here with God's words you therefore Hear them not because you're not of God. So he's just telling them you're not of God You're the love your father of the devil now the reason why I say he's teaching the reverberate doctrine is because this if you are a Son of Belial a worker of iniquity if your father is the devil then you are a reverberate So there are people there's like three different groups of people. There's those that are saved then there's just the general unsaved and Then there's the reprobates Okay, and I would say that the saved are few the reprobates are few and then there's this big pool of people They're just unsaved that need to be reached and the map the devil's trying to reach the masses with his message to reject God believe this religion Don't believe in God at all or whatever it is. He's trying to get him to do He's trying to get him into some kind of idolatry whatever he can do to not have them get saved Maybe to get them to kill themselves or or whatever he can do to stop people from getting saved That's what he's gonna do and our mission is try to reach those masses with the gospel and to get them saved But if the Bible says that someone's a child of the devil Does mark it down that person is a reprobate just like Eli's sons It mentions all the wicked things that they're doing and then It says that God You know So Samuel has a or notes Eli has a talk with his sons Because they're lying with the women at the at the gates of the temple and then they're getting the best pieces of meat for themselves And they're doing all this wicked stuff and then you know Eli tries to reprove them But it doesn't do any good and then it says that God wanted to kill them. Yeah That there were sons of Belial so Belial is the devil bail is that represents the devil and So when it talks about that anytime it says that there were sons of Belial that's talking about someone's a reprobate so and a reprobate is someone that's Unable to be there. They have lost their chance to be saved See everybody has a chance to be saved Jesus in this in the beginning of this chapter or in John It says that he's the light of the world and the light upon all mankind, right? and so Everybody has this chance, but you can lose your chance to be saved. You can blasting the Holy Spirit like these clowns do here event towards the end of the the chapter here and You can add to or remove from the Word of God You can try to change or mess with the Word of God or take the mark of the beast in the end times All three of those things you'll lose your chance to be saved You know and then people say well the Bible only says there's only one thing that you can do But really you have blasting the Holy Spirit if you mess with God's Word you have blasting the Holy Spirit if you reject the truth and deny it and you know if you're if you if you take the mark of the beast you're Devoting yourself to Satan and becoming a child of the devil anyway, so all three of those things It's like well the but you know because people will say well the reprobate doctrine isn't true You're so you're adding to and you're telling people they can't be saved over these things And then they'll talk about the things that we believe about the queers well I don't believe that the act of doing some sodomite thing it makes you a reprobate I think it just shows that you are a reprobate It's just like if you get a cough You know you got a cold right if you get if you start sneezing and your sword gets through your throat gets sore You know you got a cold coming on and if someone is a sodomite That's a symptom of the fact that they're a reprobate in their heart. That's why Romans 1 Specifically says this is the curse of God upon these people and the men changed and Did vial affections? You know men with men working that which is unseemly yeah, and the women even changed the natural use of their bodies You know why is it giving that example and then saying? God gave them up. God gave them over. God gave them over to a reprobate mind Reprobate means that they're rejected in Jeremiah 6 30 It says reprobate silver shall men call them for the Lord because the Lord has rejected them and so Reprobate means rejected. I mean, I'm sure you guys all might know that but But Jesus is teaching this concept here by it, and this is the clue that he's calling them children of the devil Mean in every other instance. We would say that this is true So why would we why wouldn't we think it's true when Jesus is actually saying it right to their faces? he's saying your your father is the devil and We see them blasting the name of the Lord we see we see them I mean blaspheme the Holy Ghost here in a little bit, but now let's look at number four Before Abraham was I am so there's seven People say that there's seven great I am statements but I think that there's probably more than that actually in the book of John, but if you include this one and There's some other passages that I'll show you But I kind of want to just go over what the great I am statements are before I talk about the thing with Abraham Let's turn to Exodus chapter 3 for just our Why why they get mad and try to kill Jesus at the end of this chapter and Remember they say that they they follow Moses they believe in Moses and all this other stuff and really they don't Because Moses taught of Jesus. He said a prophets gonna rise up like unto me him show you here They're supposed to follow that prophet and they're not doing what Moses said, but look at Exodus chapter 3 verse 13 It says and Moses said unto God Behold when I come unto the children of Israel and shall say unto them The God of your fathers has sent me unto you and they shall say to me What is his name that I and what shall I say it unto them and God said unto Moses? I am that I am and he said thou shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I am hath sent me unto you. So when Jesus says You know before Abraham was I am it's very clear that he's saying that he's God Okay, that's where it's coming from and so with the I am statements that you see in the book of John I'll just kind of you can write these down I'm not going to turn to all of them because I still have time to go there tonight, but So The ones in the Gospel John you have the I am the bread of life. That's John 635. I Am the light of the world. That's John 812 where we started tonight. I am the door John 10 7 I am the Good Shepherd John 10 11 and 14. I Am the resurrection and the life that sounds like two but a lot of John 11 25 and then this one John 14 6 is I am the way the truth and the life. So there's three right there He's not only the way but he's the truth and the life and then in Chapter 15 verse 1 he says I am the true vine So you have all those references to Jesus saying I am in the book of John And this is the one that really gets the Jews fired up though when he just says before Abraham is I was I am But yeah, you can look those up for for reference if you want later on And then so let's go to actually John chapter 18 and I kind of consider this one and I am Statement he kind of makes it a couple times in this passage But it's when Jesus is betrayed in the garden and this is the only count of this actually happening in The Gospels but you know this book is written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Son of God And that by believing we might have a wife through his name. So John chapter 18 verse 4 says Jesus therefore knowing all things that should come upon him went forth and and said unto them whom seek ye They answered him Jesus of Nazareth Jesus saith unto them I am he and Judas also which betrayed him stood with them as soon as As soon then as he had said unto them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground So when he said I am he you know, he's like I am He then they fell to the ground because the power of God's Word and the fact that he is the I am I think that that's what knocked him down, right? I mean they wouldn't just fall down for no reason, right? Then I see them again whom seek ye and they said Jesus of Nazareth Jesus answered. I've told you that I am he After they all fell down, right? If therefore you seek me let these go their way So and notice he also says it three times and when God says things three times, that's a time to pay attention, but obviously the Trinity and obviously emphasizing that he is God so Normal men when they say I am it I'm he you know, you're not gonna the whole crowd isn't gonna fall down. So Unless Benny hands doing it and that's fake. So right. He's got a coat where's whipping people with it Back to John chapter 8 says in verse 48 Says then answer the Jews and said unto them say we not well That thou art a Samaritan and hasta devil So it's something that they're already saying and then they say say we not well This is like, you know, this is something we say all the time and it's it's true because look at what you're saying Thou art a Samaritan. So like that's that's like a dig right? Because they hate the Samaritans and then they said he has to devil. So what are angels? They're ministering spirits Right, they minister to those that are the heirs of salvation. So what are devils? They're fallen angels, but they are also spirits, aren't they? so When they say that Jesus has a devil they're saying he's in dwelt By a spirit that's not the Holy Spirit, right? So this is them Saying that he they're saying that the Holy Spirit that's in him is the devil and that is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit That is blasphemy of the Holy Ghost and there's no forgiveness for that in this life Nor in the life to come So they I mean so he that's they just kind of you know, let us know that Jesus is right Of course he is that That these people were children of the devil. He's right. Their father's the devil. Jesus answered I have not a devil but I honor my father and Ye do dishonor me. I mean I kind of look at that and it's like it seems like kind of a something that you wouldn't really pay attention to but he's You know you do dishonor me like He doesn't freak out on him, but that's a really strong thing to say to them He do dishonor me by calling by saying he has a devil. I mean they just Made sure that their reprobates right there and I seek not mine own glory. There's one that seeketh and Judgeth verily verily I say unto you if a man keep my saying he shall never see death Then said the Jews unto him now We know that thou hast a devil Abraham is dead and the prophets and now sayest of a man keep my saying he shall never taste of death Art thou greater then than our father Abraham which is dead and the prophets are dead Who makest thou thou thyself? So I kind of feel like they're calling him out in front of everybody, you know when they keep asking him like, who are you? like they're trying to get him to say who he is and I think that they know who he's saying he is he's already kind of pretty much made it clear I thought but But it says who makest thou thyself Jesus answered if I honor myself my honor is nothing It is my father that honoreth me of whom ye say that he is your God I think that's a pretty cool thing to say there too. He's like of whom ye say You say it but it's just not true Yet you have not known him But I know him and if I should say I know him not I shall be a liar like unto you but I know him and keep his saying your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and He saw it and was glad That's an interesting statement there. So what does he mean by that? Well, There's a couple choices that you could probably make with this. So now some people believe that Melchizedek is a is it a pre Appearance of Christ now some people believe that you know that he was just a regular guy We just didn't know who he came from and all that stuff and that he's a he pictures who Christ would be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek some people believe that he actually was a Pre-appearance of Christ and Abraham did see him. Okay, so that's one theory Which I don't have time to go through all the scriptures but that's one theory that it could be talking about that Abraham saw him at one point and Then there's another there's another theory I was just kind of thinking of right before the service go under to Hebrews chapter 12 Hebrews chapter 12 Because we when we die We go to heaven Say people go to heaven Abraham's welcoming people into heaven, you know, Abraham's bosom, you know It's not a place in hell It's actually him welcoming people to heaven but so They're conscious. They're awake. It's not soul sleep. The body is asleep, but the soul and everything is still active and everything so But I just I was thinking about this verse in Hebrew chapter 12. It says wherefore seen that we Also are compassed about was so great a cloud of witnesses So are people witnessing what we do in this world Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run With patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and Is set down at the right hand of the throne of God? so I mean If they can see what we're doing can't they see do you think that they could have saw his day the day that he? Was born in Bethlehem and all the works that he did to and you know to be the author and finisher of our faith So those are just two theories. I mean, I wouldn't be dogmatic about either one, but Is it possible that Abraham saw those things? Yeah, is it possible that Jesus Christ really was Melchizedek that's possible, too It just kind of depends on you know You know, there's only one real truth So you can think one thing and it might not be true but obviously if you if you think whether you think he was Melchizedek or not, you know, I don't think that's We know he's a priest after the order of Melchizedek now, and we know that everything he did Basically earned his way to be in the high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. So But either way I'm just saying that When Jesus said that Abraham wanted it says he rejoiced to see my day and And he saw it was glad those are kind of some options that you can think of like the way I've always thought about it and this is my personal I guess opinion is that He was you know, Abraham saw when Jesus was sent to the earth and witnessed all these things and saw You know the fact that he was sent when he was sent because there was an appointed time when Christ came That's just my personal, you know, I again I'm that's my opinion So but one thing we know for sure is that he did rejoice to see his day and he saw it and was glad Then said the Jews unto him thou art not yet 50 years old and hast thou seen Abraham Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am so there's the Smackdown right there that's when he Really just pissed him off to the fullest extreme there So and it says then took the upstones to cast at him but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple going through the midst of them and so passed by and You know the Bible in John says this a lot and that his time was not yet Especially the book of John says his time was not yet says that a lot And so no matter what they would have tried to do. They weren't going to capture Jesus You know I think of the time when he went and preached in Luke I think it's Luke chapter 4 and they're trying to throw him off the cliff And then it says he passed through the midst of them right here says he he you know they tried to throw rocks at him, but he just Left and went right through the middle of them and like none of the rocks hit him, I guess And he just passed by so they're really bad aims or you know, God just wasn't gonna let him get hit whatever it was You know, maybe he just was like matrixing every rock. I don't know but it just said he passed through the midst of them I don't know but Right. There's Jesus. I mean if you say that Jesus never claimed to be God That's just I've showed you all those instances where he says I I You know and that is like the most clear of him saying what before Abraham was I am so he's saying he's older than Abraham Disney and That's what they had a big problem with that. He is saying that he's older than Abraham Therefore making himself out to be God by saying he is the I am so that's all we got for tonight folks and Let's pray and We'll close the service your heavenly father. We thank you Lord so much for this great chapter Lord Pray Lord that we would continue in your word Lord that we would always be your disciples and Lord when we think about quitting or we think about Just going back to Egypt in our heart pray Lord that we would remember the things that that our Savior has done for us and and we would Or just not let the world get us down Lord. Let let not our depression or any other thing that we're going through stop us from serving you and that no matter what Happens and what's thrown our way that we would always just continue in your word and continue to be your disciples Lord We thank you. We love you. We thank you so much for Everything that you went through for us and everything that you did for us, and we ask you that you would take us home Safely tonight. Thank you for all those people that came out on a Wednesday night to hear the Word of God Jesus name we pray Amen