Faith alone John 8

The Castle. One of the great Australian movies about the Kerrigan family. They stick together through tough times - a son gone to gaol; a government that couldn't care less; a corporation hellbent on repossessing their home. The Kerrigans celebrate the banal "What do you call this love?" "Rissoles..." "Why go out when you can get this good tucker every night!" They enjoy the serenity of Boony Doon. They celebrate the wonder of a daughter graduating from Sunshine TAFE. This is what it looks like to be part of the Kerrigans. This is what it means to belong to their family.

What does it mean to belong to God's family? What does that look like? Well Jesus and the Jews have differing views...

John 8:39 "Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did."

The Jews believe that to become part of God's family is merely resting on their ancestral pedigree. But Jesus says that it's not a matter of being in Abraham's family tree they need to be like Abraham himself. You need to do the things that he did.

So what did he do? Firstly he was obedient and not independent...

Genesis 22:1, 2 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love...sacrifice him there as a burnt offering..."

Abraham declares "Here I am". A great expression of obedience - "Here I am, where do you want me to go? What is it that you want me to say? Here I am..." God speaks and Abraham obeys.

And Jesus says that obedience is proof of being part of God's family...

John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples."

Jesus calls on us to hear what he says and put it into practice. This is the mark of a true disciple. This is what it means to belong to God's family. Obedience is what Abraham did.

But how do you become part of God's family? It's a gift not a pedigree...

Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Even though Abraham was a sinner - he was a liar, slept with another woman, dismissed their son without care or concern - God declares him righteous, makes him right. God does this for Abraham as a gift through faith. And Jesus echoes the same...

John 8:34-36 I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

All of us sin. But by receiving what Jesus has done for us on the cross we can be set free from sin. It is a gift from The Son to make us sons and daughters of God's family. So to become part of God's family it's not about ancestry or pedigree. Rather it is a gift through faith. This is what Abraham did.

And if your faith is in Jesus your place in God's family is eternal not temporary...

John 8:35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever

and...

John 8:51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.

Because Jesus is alive he can give permanence. Assurance. Eternal life. If your faith is in him he has given you a place in heaven, something incredible to look forward. And this is what Abraham did too...

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went...for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Abraham heard and obeyed God's promises. He lived a life of discipleship. His kept his trust in what God had done for him. And looked forward to the day God would fulfill his promises. This is what it means to belong to God's family. This is what it means to call God "Father". May we do the same. May we do what Abraham did.

One wedding and a funeral Genesis 23-25

All of us face big events in life - birth, death, career, relationships, marriage. The question is how do you go about dealing with them?

Abraham shaped the big events of his life via his faith in God. And we can see this in the death of his wife Sarah. Problem is, he's got nowhere to bury her. The Hittites offer him a cave for free in language reminiscent of God's promise to Abraham...

Genesis 23:11 "Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead."

But Abraham knocks back their offer because he knows that God will give him the land. He doesn't want anyone to say "I gave Abraham his start..." Rather he relies on God's promises. So he buys the cave with his own money and buries Sarah. Though she has died Abraham's faith still remains in God.

And speaking of wives...it's time for Abraham's son Isaac to find Mrs Right. Rather than just pick a local Canaanite girl Abraham's faith shapes this big event too...

Geneis 24:7 "The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, `To your offspring I will give this land' he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there."

Abraham's faith shapes this big event and implores Isaac, who is the heir of the promise to follow suit.

So how do you go about dealing with the big decisions of your life? Does God get a look in or is God the first port of call in prayer? Do your friends have a greater say than what the Bible says?

Abraham's faith grew and grew as he got older and the big events of life were left in God's capable hands. Even though he died with just a glimpse of the promises it's no surprise that author was able to say this about him...

Genesis 24:1 Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.

By trusting the big events in life to God Abraham was truly blessed. Let us do the same.