8:31 耶穌對信他的猶太人說:「你們若常常遵守我的道,就真是我的門徒;
8:32 你們必曉得真理,真理必叫你們得以自由。」
8:33 他們回答說:「我們是亞伯拉罕的後裔,從來沒有作過誰的奴僕。你怎麼說『你們必得以自由』呢?」
8:34 耶穌回答說:「我實實在在地告訴你們,所有犯罪的就是罪的奴僕。
8:35 奴僕不能永遠住在家裡;兒子是永遠住在家裡。
8:36 所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由,你們就真自由了。
8:37 我知道你們是亞伯拉罕的子孫,你們卻想要殺我,因為你們心裡容不下我的道。
8:38 我所說的是在我父那裡看見的;你們所行的是在你們的父那裡聽見的。」
8:39 他們說:「我們的父就是亞伯拉罕。」耶穌說:「你們若是亞伯拉罕的兒子,就必行亞伯拉罕所行的事。
8:40 我將在上帝那裡所聽見的真理告訴了你們,現在你們卻想要殺我,這不是亞伯拉罕所行的事。
8:41 你們是行你們父所行的事。」他們說:「我們不是從淫亂生的;我們只有一位父,就是上帝。」
8:42 耶穌說:「倘若上帝是你們的父,你們就必愛我;因為我本是出於上帝,也是從上帝而來,並不是由著自己來,乃是他差我來。
8:43 你們為甚麼不明白我的話呢?無非是因你們不能聽我的道。
8:44 你們是出於你們的父魔鬼,你們父的私慾你們偏要行。他從起初是殺人的,不守真理,因他心裡沒有真理。他說謊是出於自己;因他本來是說謊的,也是說謊之人的父。
8:45 我將真理告訴你們,你們就因此不信我。
8:46 你們中間誰能指證我有罪呢?我既然將真理告訴你們,為甚麼不信我呢?
8:47 出於上帝的,必聽上帝的話;你們不聽,因為你們不是出於上帝。」
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[b]”
39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would[c] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
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主耶穌在這裡對以色列人,也就是猶太人,更是亞伯拉罕的子孫說:「我實實在在地告訴你們,所有犯罪的就是罪的奴僕。奴僕不能永遠住在家裡;兒子是永遠住在家裡。所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由,你們就真自由了。我知道你們是亞伯拉罕的子孫,你們卻想要殺我,因為你們心裡容不下我的道。我所說的是在我父那裡看見的;你們所行的是在你們的父那裡聽見的。」
而主耶穌更勇敢地說:「倘若上帝是你們的父,你們就必愛我;因為我本是出於上帝,也是從上帝而來,並不是由著自己來,乃是他差我來。你們為甚麼不明白我的話呢?無非是因你們不能聽我的道。你們是出於你們的父魔鬼,你們父的私慾你們偏要行。他從起初是殺人的,不守真理,因他心裡沒有真理。他說謊是出於自己;因他本來是說謊的,也是說謊之人的父。我將真理告訴你們,你們就因此不信我。 你們中間誰能指證我有罪呢?我既然將真理告訴你們,為甚麼不信我呢?出於上帝的,必聽上帝的話;你們不聽,因為你們不是出於上帝。」
. 聽了這話是不是很震驚?其實不只猶太人是魔鬼之子,全人類都是魔鬼之子!因為自從始祖亞當和夏娃犯罪以來,罪已經侵入人的生命中,人已經沒有行善的能力了!是被罪的勢力轄制了,表現的就是抵擋上帝,更是無法接受主耶穌是上帝的兒子、是基督,甚至是不容許主耶穌的存在,認為靠主耶穌得著上帝的救贖是荒謬的信仰。
也因為這樣,我們不要以為人信福音是容易的,除非是聖靈的光照與引導,人是無法真正接受耶穌基督是救主,一切都是上帝的恩典!所以,必須有聖靈的有效的呼召在人心中,人才可以成為上帝的兒女!