“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham” (Matthew 3:1-2,7-9)
The people thought that by being descendants of Abraham, they were qualified to become children of God. They thought that because they were Israelites, heaven was their home. But they were living in gross error. Why was that?
They lived unrighteous lives (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). A lot were wise in their own eyes (Proverbs 3:7). They had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. They were ignorant of God’s righteousness, and they refused to submit themselves to the righteousness of God, instead seeking to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:1-2). They were hypocrites. They lived careless lives (Matthew 23:14-17)
Abraham’s children will do what Abraham did. Our Lord Jesus Christ says in John 8:39, “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.” A good tree produces good fruit (Matthew 7:17). Abraham was obedient to God. God is good, holy, and righteous; therefore His children will be obedient to Him as Abraham was. They will be like Him, holy and righteous, as He commands us in 1 Peter 1:15-16.
The truth is that those who have genuinely received Jesus Christ the son of God, will be obedient to God’s word: they will live a righteous and holy life. That is what being a Christian is about. In all his earthly life, our Lord Jesus Christ committed Himself to doing the will of the Father, showing us the way to follow. The word of God in John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” As sons of God, we will therefore be “like father, like son” and not otherwise.
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