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John 8:39-40
Spiritually, Satan has been our father. We already have had his mark placed on us, and in our lifetime we have shown his characteristics. That is exactly what Jesus is talking about here: He knew that Satan was the spiritual father of these people because they carried his mark in the way they reacted to Him and each other.
Abraham had God as his spiritual Father, and Abraham did not attempt to kill the One who became Christ—in fact, He was hospitable to Him and honored Him. He was not hostile to Him in any way, but instead did everything in his power to submit to Him. But here were the people of Jesus' time trying to put Him to death. They were openly hostile to Him.
Our problem is not worrying about taking on Satan's mark—we already have it. Our concern is to control and overcome it because God is now our Father, and He has already enabled us to resist that mark in our lives. It is our worshipful duty to work with God, to strive to break free of that foul spirit's enslaving hold on us.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Spiritual Mark of the Beast
John 8:39
He uses the words "father" and "children" in a well-accepted, spiritual way—that is, a son or a daughter can be considered the child of another if he or she shows the nature and works of that other person. Thus a "son of Belial" shows the characteristics of Belial, meaning confusion, though he is not physically Belial's child. A "son of Abraham," then, would behave or live as Abraham did.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Three)Related Topics: Abraham | Abraham's Children | Abraham's Offspring | Abraham's Seed | Abraham's Spiritual Children | Abraham, Descendants of | Belial | Belial, Son of | Father-Son Relationship | Parent Child Analogy | Parent-Child Relationship | Sons of Belial | Sons of Disobedience | Spiritual ChildrenOther Forerunner Commentary entries containing John 8:39:
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What Does John 8:39 Mean?
Spiritual fatherhood is determined by whose nature and works one displays. A son or daughter can be considered the child of another by showing that person's characteristics, not through physical descent. A son of Belial shows the traits of Belial, meaning confusion, though not physically his child. Likewise, a son of Abraham would behave and live as Abraham did. Abraham had God as his spiritual Father; he did not try to kill the One who became Christ, but was hospitable, honored Him, and submitted to Him. The people of Jesus' time, however, were openly hostile and sought to put Him to death, carrying Satan's mark by the way they reacted to Him and to each other, revealing Satan as their spiritual father.