"God's Word is food for the mind." - Cyril of AlexandriaLooking at the “if/then” statements in John 8 can be exciting. There are a lot of great promises here to encourage us in our faith. Opposite that, it can be challenging if we haven’t yet made the decision to believe in Jesus. This is because we encounter Jesus for who He really is (God, “I AM”) and He tells us things about ourselves that reveal who we really are (e.g., from earth and will die in our sins if we don’t believe in who He says He is). These claims may make some of us squirm a little in discomfort. Jesus is good at doing that!
Here’s a breakdown of “if/then” statements from John 8. Look them up, chew on them for a while, wrestle with them, and then try and let these words replace your hunger for the things of this world.
Here’s a breakdown of “if/then” statements from John 8. Look them up, chew on them for a while, wrestle with them, and then try and let these words replace your hunger for the things of this world.
The Meal
+ 8:12 – Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” and promises those who follow Him that they will never walk in darkness and have the light of life.
+ 8:24 – Jesus tells those who are not willing to believe in who He says He is that they will die in their sins.
+ 8:28 – When Jesus is lifted up (referring to the series of events leading up to His crucifixion and following it, such as the resurrection and ascension into heaven) we will know who He is.
+ 8:31-32 – If we hold to His teaching we are His disciples. On top of that, we know truth and this truth sets us free.
+ 8:51 – If we keep His word we will never see death (my fav!).
Table Talk
+ 8:12 – Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” and promises those who follow Him that they will never walk in darkness and have the light of life.
+ 8:24 – Jesus tells those who are not willing to believe in who He says He is that they will die in their sins.
+ 8:28 – When Jesus is lifted up (referring to the series of events leading up to His crucifixion and following it, such as the resurrection and ascension into heaven) we will know who He is.
+ 8:31-32 – If we hold to His teaching we are His disciples. On top of that, we know truth and this truth sets us free.
+ 8:51 – If we keep His word we will never see death (my fav!).
Table Talk
- Which of these statements do you find most challenging?
- Why is it so challenging?
- What would it take to change your view on it?
- Why is it so challenging?
- What would it take to change your view on it?
9 comments:
The statement that sticks out to me the most is +8:12I find it so challenging because he promises that anyone who follows him that they will never walk in darkness again and have the light of life. I follow him with all my heart i just feel like i am in darkness all the time, with my friends, the choices i make, and the things i do. I feel like God should step in and help me. I know God is there but sometimes i question it because sometimes when i need him the most it just feels like my light is burt out and i cant light it again.
I want to light that light again I want to follow God even better by choseing better friends, making the right choices in God and life, treating my parents with respect, and think before i do things in life if i start doing all that i belive my point of view will change on that statement (God Is Good)
hey it is todd sonnigsen and here is a little poem to follow up my comment
For The Lost Souls
WHY DO YOU LIMIT GOD’S LOVE AND HIS POWER
WHEN HE YEARNS ALL HIS GIFTS UPON YOU TO SHOWER?
YOU LIMIT HIS GRACE BY THE LIFE YOU ARE LIVING,
BY REJECTING HIS LOVE EVERY TIME THAT YOU’RE SINNING.
WHAT, MY DEAR CHILDREN, DO YOU EXPECT TO RECEIVE
WHEN YOU REJECT WHAT GOD OFFERS AND IN SATAN BELIEVE?
WHY DO YOU CHOOSE SATAN AND ETERNAL DAMNATION
WHEN MY SON GIVES HIS KINGDOM AND ETERNAL SALVATION?
WHAT IS MORE REWARDING WHEN YOUR SOUL IS AT STAKE?
THE DECISION, DEAR CHILDREN, YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE.
NOTHING FROM SATAN WILL BE EVERLASTING
EXCEPT THE FIRES OF HELL WHERE YOUR SOUL HE’LL BE CASTING.
SATANIC SNARES YOUR SOUL ARE NOW BAITING,
WHILE GOD IN HIS MERCY IS PATIENTLY WAITING.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET STARTED, I ASK THAT YOU PRAY
FOR TOMORROW MAY BE ON THIS EARTH YOUR LAST DAY.
BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE TO CORRECT YOUR MISTAKE,
DECIDE, MY DEAR CHILDREN, WHICH ROAD YOU WILL TAKE.
USE THIS TIME OF GOD’S MERCY HE HAS GIVEN TO YOU
BY ACCEPTING HIS GIFTS, AND YOUR LIFE HE’LL RENEW.
Todd,
Thanks for responding. Great poem, who wrote it?
question for ya:
How will you motivate yourself to start doing these things and then keep yourself motivated to continue doing these things?
You have the desire, but is that enough?
T <><
id have to say the most challenging one is
+ 8:12 – Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” and promises those who follow Him that they will never walk in darkness and have the light of life.” because like you will never know when your gonna fall out of following him like most of us could just say ya im gonna b a follower but not accept him for who he is but they don't even know him or don't even want to know him but like everybody has stepped in the darkness sometime i wish i could like restart mi life and choose new-better friends and treat mi parents better i want a better relationship with God then what i do already and sometimes i don't know i just don't think he notices me when he looks at the world i mean i know he does but sometimes i just don't think he is but i know i need to like restart everything but this is where i would start with god i would only change to a different question to b harder if i could restart mi life and follow him and not stop this is only a challenging verse because it is hard to stay following him and never give up on him when you especially think he is not paying any attention to you
if i restart mi life and choose better friends, treat mi parents better, and mi sister in law to give her a chance, and to try and stay in the light
kc e
Hey kc E. Thanks for thinking about it. You are right that it is hard to walk in the light. It should never be treated as if it is easy and normal. It goes against everything we want to naturally do.
I know what you mean about wishing you could start over, but the truth is that we have our past as it is and can't change it. But, the good news is that we can change the future. If we've done things in the past that we regret we do not have to repeat them. We can even sometimes mend relationships with people we have hurt in the past.
Jesus wants us concentrating on the here and now. Tomor has enough worries of its own. Remember Matt 6:33 and go on a search for God's kingdom.
I appreciate your honesty and sharing.
T <><
um actually a couple of days after you gave us that green card i made it half of them r from mi friend Cory Clark he's been helping me a lil i asked him if he could like tell me things bout god so ya thats basically all we talk bout and the other half i made but ya ur welcome
Questions
Which of these statements do you find most challenging?
The one i would find "challenging would be
8:31-32 – If we hold to His teaching we are His disciples. On top of that, we know truth and this truth sets us free.
because sometimes it is hard for us to do what God wants. Doing what God wants are like our aspirations/goals in life.We are trying to reach it but are struggling to get there,and sometimes we may not make it. I really want to follow God's word,and become like him,knowing what to do at the right time.I feel like I struggle to do what God wants I try to do it but then theres like thing that get in my way,like peer presure. I make promises to God,and sometimes end up breaking them forgetting about them. Popularity is something going on in my life. I mean i want to like everyone and talk to everyone,I dont want to not talk to somebody just because i think that im too popular. Im not popular. I dont want to be)= I want to be considered a normal person.,but sometimes i get rapped up on some of the thing my friends say so i act like im popular sometimes,thats just a habit that i want to loose forever!!God does not judge by external appearence.I dont want to either! Sometimes I pray to God asking for an answer to all my problems and when he does not respond i get mad at him and ask him why he has abanded me! Then I tell myself God loves you and you shouldn't give up on him. Football gets in the way of me and God's word. I know its stupid but sometimes i'd rather watch football than pray to God. I am in quizzing which is good for me because im learning more about our wonderful Lord. I will never stop believing in the Lord and his word. I cant! Its in my heart. He's in my heart. I cant get him out and I wont try to. I need the lord. Without him i'd probably be like some of my cousins,doing drugs and in jail,but instead im here,going to church,praising God.I feel like im here for a reason that only God knows. Maybe i'll know later on in my life. I have faith and pride in the Lord. Yes Lord I will obey your word i wnat to be free from Sin's passions and desires. Im here for God.So i shall loive for God.He is coming soon!!!(= Yes Lord Come!!
Crystal Torres
john 8:51 if we keep his word we will never c death" it is challenging cause it doesn't make since, anything that is right
Amanda s from youth group
Hey Crystal and Amanda! Thanks for stopping by and thinking about this post. Good thoughts.
Crystal – Doing what God wants is so hard because it goes against what is easiest (at least sometimes it is) and most natural for us to do. One of the freeing things I discovered about God is the amount of help, grace, and mercy He gives to help us keep His commands. The Old Testament story is about a people who failed to do what God wanted them to do. The New Testament story is about God doing in His people what they couldn’t do themselves (we see this is Acts 2 where God pours out His Spirit on His people). The Spirit living inside of you makes it possible for us to obey Him. So, yes it hard to do what God wants us to sometimes (but that is all part of being free and having a choice), but the strength is there and the possibility to become like Him is more real than we could ever imagine. Read Ephesians 5:1-2 (I bet you have it memorized for quizzing!??!).
Peer pressure was a huge problem for me growing up. It’s hard to stand alone and go against the crowd isn’t it? I never really learned to do that until I was forced to do it. Again, it was something that didn’t come natural for me. God was good and used that experience to mold me into someone who has no prob standing alone. God is at work in you, sometimes we want instant change, but more than likely He is slowly working in us because we can handle slow change better than if it hit us all at once. Make sense?
Amanda S – That is a challenging verse. I think the people Jesus was talking to even had trouble with this statement. They were probably thinking literally that Jesus was saying a person wouldn’t die who believed in Him (that’s impossible because we all will face death! Right?). You can compare and maybe flesh out more of what Jesus is trying to say by looking at John 10:10 and John 11:25.
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