Verse of the Day (January 15, 2020)

Verse of the Day (January 15, 2020) #BMSeminary – Jesus promises a freedom that no one else can give based on truth that he alone possesses. As the Messiah, he has come to set prisoners free (Luke 4:16–21; Isa. 61:1–3). True freedom can be found only in the “right paternity”: not everyone who claims Abraham as their father has God as their Father, “for not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel” (Rom. 9:6). None can claim God as their Father who won’t have his Son as their Savior. If our spiritual genealogy includes only our earthly heritage (as was true of the “children of Abraham” in this passage), we may be religious, but we are still spiritual orphans. True spiritual heritage requires a connection to one who existed long before Abraham, namely, Jesus: “before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Only through the gospel can we be rescued from the dominion of darkness (Col. 1:13), where Satan is father, and be brought into the family of God, where we are given the full rights and delights of the children of God (John 1:12; Gal. 4:5; 1 John 3:1–3). (Gospel Transformation Study Bible)