Unfortunately we are in a time where not many people KNOW our God. They confess Him with their lips, and He is near in their mouth, but far from their reins (Jeremiah 12:2). They are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15), transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). Although these false prophets can speak great swelling words, and really "hit you right where your at" in an emotional frenzy… they do not know Him (2 Peter 2:18-22; Matt 7:22,23). So, how can we know who’s of the Father, and whose of their father? Let’s look at John 8.

Throughout the book of John the word "Father" is used about 100 times. That’s because Jesus, the Christ, was trying to bring out His relationship with the Father. The Son came to declare the Father (John 1:18), to tell that God was His Father (John 5:18), to seek the will of the Father (John 5:30) and finish it (John 4:34). The Son spoke only those things that He heard of the Father (John 8:26), and did only those things which He saw the Father do (John 5:19ff), to show that He WAS the Son of God. Now, understanding that about the book, and we could go into much more, let’s begin in John 8:25.

As I stated earlier, through out this book the Jews are constantly trying Christ to see who He is, and although He declares it to them, they won’t believe it (Acts 13:40,41). Just touching on v29, you can see why the Father never leaves Christ alone… because He always does those things that please Him (Heb 11:6). The main context we need to look at is vs. 31 and 32.

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," (John 8:31,32).

Upon this statement of them being "made free", the Jews quickly stated back that "we are Abraham’s seed" and that they were never in bondage. However, Christ says, "Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin" (8:34); this parallels the verses we looked at earlier in 2 Peter 2:19. Now lets focused in on verse 38, because it sets up the verses to follow.

"I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father," (8:38). Here we are going to see the relationship between a Father and his offspring. Christ spoke and did the works of His Father, and they were doing and speaking those things that they saw and heard from their father. Who was their father?

They first argue that their father is Abraham, to which Christ quickly tells them that if they were Abraham’s children they would do the works of Abraham. Read vs. 39 and 40. Once again we see the relationship of what you do, and who your father is. In verse 41 Christ tells them again that they are doing the deeds of their father, to which they refute that God is their father. Once again it is clearly seen (vs. 42 and 43) that God can not be their father, because they don’t do the works of God (like the Son does).

In verses 44-47 Christ gets very straight with them and lets them know who their father is and who’s works they are doing. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." You WILL do the works of your father, whether it is God, or the Devil.

With these things in mind, let’s flip over to 1 John 2:28,29. In 1 John 2 and 3 this relationship between a father and his child is brought out again. I want to start in 2:28,29 because it leads into chapter 3 (which almost completely deals with the "children of God"). Specifically I want to pay attention to v.29, "If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him." Can you see the relationship already? To be born of Him, to be His offspring, you do what He does. Now let’s continue on into chapter 3.

This chapter has to do with the "children of God" (i.e. those born of Him, as we just looked at). Your text might read "sons of God" in verses 1 and 2 of chapter 3, but the Greek word is "teknon" (child) as apposed to "huios" (son). This phrase "child of God" is very specific, although used very loosely in the church today, and we are about to see what makes up a child of God.

Let’s read chapter 3:1-7. In verse seven you see the phrase coming up again concerning righteousness. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." Don’t be deceived! If you are doing righteousness, you ARE righteous, even as He is righteous. Your doing the works of the Father, and you shouldn’t be ashamed of that.

Many today are easily offended by the light, which should come as no surprise (John 3:19). Therefore, when they see your light, rather than glorifying your Father (whose works you are doing), they try to snub out your light saying, "You’re too righteous!" Too righteous? Where is that in scripture? It’s not there. In fact if they would read, they would see that the whole purpose for the Jesus’ death was to take away sins, so that we might BE RIGHTEOUS.

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him," (2 Corinthians 5:21).

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them," (Ephesians 2:8-10).

"Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works," (Titus 2:14).

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed," (1 Peter 2:24).

If you remember what Christ told the Jews in John 8 concerning them being servants to sin, you might look at Rom 6:16-18.

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

The blood of Christ cleansed out conscience from dead works, so that we could serve the LIVING GOD (Heb 9:14). This saving grace that has come to us is teaching us that, "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ," (Titus 2:11-13). I know that as soon as you start denying ungodliness and worldly lusts people began to say, "You’re being too righteous!" That’s because your light reproves them. If you do it, they remember that they should too, and they don’t want to.

So, let no man deceive you! He that does righteousness IS righteous, even as He is righteous. Don’t be ashamed, but rather rejoice that you are doing the works of your Father, you are a child of God, and it does not yet appear what you shall be, but you know that you want to be LIKE HIM; therefore you purify yourself, even as He is pure.

Continuing back in 1 John 3:8, what about those that commit sin? Who are they of? Yes, once again they are of their father the devil. You can read down into v10 and see the things that we have been talking about, but something new is brought in towards the ladder half of verse 10. Do you see what else a child of God does? They love their brother. And this is where the rest of the chapter focuses. I would love to go on to talk about the love of the brother, but this is already getting pretty long, so you might look for part two…. Lord willing.

The main thing I wanted to bring out is that you shouldn’t be ashamed of being righteous. Christ wasn’t ashamed of doing the works of His Father, but He in fact told everyone. And of course, they hated to hear about how righteous He was, so they killed Him. Hey! You are no greater than your Master (John 15:18-22). It’s only through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Be righteous! It’s why He died for you. Don’t receive this grace in vain (2 Corinthians 5:21-6:2). Do the works of your Father, deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, RIGHTEOUSLY, and godly in this present age. That you may be blameless and harmless, the CHILDREN OF GOD, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:25).