The Dividing Line (John 8:31-59 Jeff Kliewer)

For Louise if you cannot make that we are going to email out a link for the live stream To that as well so you can check your email box if you can't be a part of that. We have obviously there's no starting point today.

If you're in here you you wouldn't be trying to go to that anyway. But that's postponed for a week because John is sick. As far as prayer meeting tonight that is still a go even though There's something else evidently happening at the same time.

Now the prayer meeting is at 6 and that that will go till about 7 for those who can make it and For those who wanted to bring dinners to Dave Reynolds All of those spots are already taken so the church has rallied and that need has been met so praise the Lord.

And thank you so much for doing that and for your willingness to do it as well. So with that I have three more announcements that I'm going to tag team this off to J. And then Matt and then Sandy the last three announcements.

Church Announcements and Ministry Updates

Good morning, everyone. Just a quick reminder. Next Saturday morning. We will have a workday a work morning at church. Something for everyone. We're going to be doing some deep cleaning some minor maintenance painting and spackling things like that but there is One need for high high technology effort and equipment.

We need a couple people with irons to come and help get the wax out of the carpet and the chairs left over from Christmas Eve so if you are so inclined that would be very much appreciated, but we'll start at 9.

Well, we'll have doughnuts and coffee just to get everybody moving and we'll be out well before noon I think so if you can make it that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Morning everyone. I'm Matt. This is my wife Jess. We wanted to come up here just to share An important announcement. The Biddle's are starting another marriage couples class. And we were blessed a few months ago to go through that with them.

And the class really did a great job at just bringing God back to the center of marriages. It's about a 13 week course and it really just bring God's for God's first. But also just gives practical items for you to sort of break down walls of your normal routine.

And to really reconnect with your spouse.

It is a book study, so you will be given a book. There is a little bit of homework involved each week. But we did. We found that doing the homework together actually brought us closer together and gave us a lot of great discussion points to Talk about throughout the week.

You do some scripture memory. It's a 13 week study like you said on Tuesday night. They have space left for two maybe three more couples, so if you're interested definitely see them. I was really impressed just to be in the company of other Couples that wanted to strengthen their marriages.

It's not necessarily people that are that are struggling although it could be but we were The couple that was married for the shortest amount of time. So we had couples that had been married for 20 30 40 years and we were able to gain some wisdom from them and even get some insight into some things that They had struggled with or had come encountered with that.

We now have some scripture and some backing and some wisdom to go forward with.

Which I thought was was great a lot of takeaways, so there is homework. You'll do some work. It's a ton of fun, so connect with the Biddles. I think their phone Number is going out in the past the grant.

But I also think you can touch base with them you know throughout here. So if you have any questions you can talk to us or talk to them. We really encourage you to kind of step it. Thank you great friend.

Yeah I Mean.

You were digging yourself a hole there about the gluten thing. All right. Well we have a very special Time right now before we begin to sing and to worship the Lord. It is called Extending the right hand of fellowship.

Anybody heard of that before. Well in the book of Galatians Paul and Barnabas had come back from a mission trip and they went and met the Apostles Peter James and John those Reputed to be pillars and the Bible says that these pillars of the church extended the right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas, so what does it mean to extend the right hand of fellowship.

Well you shake hands. We still do this to this day as a sign of agreement and well fellowship. That you have koinonia that you are one in agreement and in purpose and that you are together. And so what we do is when people have become new members of the church.

They've gone through starting point. And they've also been examined in a sense by the elders to make sure that they are genuinely born again. We acknowledge as born-again brothers and sisters that they're part of the household of the faith.

And so what we do then on a subsequent Sunday is we invite those who have recently become members. To come to the front and we will literally extend the right hand of fellowship. But symbolically what this means is we're recognizing that we are one in koinonia one in fellowship in the Lord.

So at this time first of all ask the elders to come forward those who would extend the right hand of fellowship. We have Matt and Michael and myself. Or anybody who's been an elder you're still an elder at heart, please come on up Eric.

I see you there. Now when someone has been an elder. This is a good teaching moment. When someone has been an elder they remain an elder. They still shepherd the church. There's still an example to the flock.

It's just that they're not on session at that moment on the board. But it's they still function as an overseer and and someone who cares for the flock all right so with that. Why don't we just ask those who are being introduced as new members, and we haven't done this for about a year.

So there might be quite a few. Come on up to the front and we will extend the right hand of fellowship if you've never been.

Welcomed in this way before come on up, and then we'll just gather up in the front here all right.

Well, we have a couple new members. It looks like yeah praise the Lord. All right, let's give a hand clap. I think the Lord has been doing great things here at Cornerstone Recently so praise God let's pray for those who have come into membership and for us as a congregation to be one in koinonia.

Gracious Heavenly Father we thank you for what you are doing here at this church. It is not our church. It is your church. Christ you are the head of the church and we thank you that you have welcomed us in and Grafted us in and made us members of the household of faith.

And so Lord we pray for these who have come as members that you would bless each one Lord that you would give them gifts of your Holy Spirit spiritual gifts to serve in the body of Christ. We pray that you would fan those gifts into flame Lord give them opportunities for the gospel and for building one another up.

Thank you Lord for each of them. And we pray for the congregation Lord that you would help us to be one as you are one. We think of Jesus's high priestly prayer in John 17. Help us to have unity in the spirit in the bond of peace.

Thank you for this church family of which you have made us apart. We thank you Lord for the body of Christ. Help us to serve within it and we love you and praise you and give you all the glory for it in Jesus name.

Amen, thank you guys.

We are excited. We're gonna sing some songs together this morning if you're comfortable standing stand with us. And please remember that as Jeff said we can be excited about a football game or a sporting event and I know you can probably imagine how stadiums will roar with excitement.

But we have such a better Purpose in praising our Savior and our Lord by singing songs together. So that's what we're gonna do this morning with all of our hearts and all of our voices, let's sing together this morning.

My heart grows faint within when the darkness My fears are pressing in. I will trust in you. In the silence, I will wait. I will stand upon your word. You're my solid rock and my salvation. My steadfast hope that won't be shaken my soul will wait.

My soul will wait for my stronghold amidst of every threat. Though the wickedness. Yes, I know the outcome sure Satan's evil plans will fail in your power. I'm secure. You're my solid rock and my salvation.

I stand fast. I'll be shaken my soul will wait. My soul will wait for my comfort when I feel forsaken my refuge and my sure Foundation my soul will wait my soul will wait. This is love I can this is mercy unreserved through your Sacrifice so great.

I have peace that's undeserved for the battle has been won and I fear no shame or loss. Now the sting of death is gone. You're my solid won't be shaken. My soul will wait my soul my Comfort when I feel forsaken.

My sure Foundation our hearts this morning Before the Lord who is worthy of our praise our Savior our defender our rock and our salvation. Let's continue to sing about his love and how it endures forever.

Marvelous matchless love too vast and astounding to tell Forever. Existing in words above now offered and given to in a beauty Eternal the father the spirit the son. So fish endlessly. Generation is brimming with thankfulness.

The mountains exultant they stand the seasons. Rejoice in your faithful you crown every matter with come you paint every shade in the sky. Each day the John wakes as an Encore and marvelous sure his love Endures forever.

St. Marvel entered our broken fullness of time. How far we had fallen from righteousness. Your cross is our door to redemption. Your death is our fullness of life. That day Did in your resurrection. You lift us to infinite heights.

Could anything sever or take us from the same marvelous. How great how sure. Let's pray together. Lord we are So grateful that we can stand before you our Savior our Defender and our Redeemer. Standing here and Praising your name because you are worthy.

You are worthy to be praised from the beginning into the end. Let the earth Hear the sounds of praise to you. To God be the glory. For everything that he has done be the glory great things. So love me the world that he gave us.

It is life atonement for sin. Life-gate that all may go in. Praise the Lord Praise the Lord. Let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord Praise the Lord. Let the people Rejoice through the Father through Jesus the Son.

Glory great things. He has done Redemption the purchase of blood through true Jesus apart and receive Praise the Lord let the earth hear his voice. Praise the Lord. Son of glory great things he. Let's sing that course again praise the Lord praise the Lord praise the Lord.

Let the earth people Rejoice a son a glory great things he.

Prayer for the Word to Be Honey and a Hammer

Let's pray our gracious Heavenly Father We come now to open your word and As your word is read and preached We ask that it would be sweet to us sweeter than honey Like honey from the honeycomb to others Lord in this building or listening we pray that it would be a hammer The hammer of Jeremiah 23 that it would smash to pieces our lies and False conceptions.

So to some make it honey and to others make it a hammer as Needed Lord and we pray Lord that as we go from this place Your word would be honey to us that we would love it that we would abide in it. That we would find place for it.

That we would live in it in Jesus name we pray amen very sadly last Monday 27 Thousand lives were lost in the earthquake in Turkey. This was the largest natural disaster since 2010 when in Haiti probably five times that lost their lives.

I Was in this region of Turkey a number of years ago on a mission trip. We flew into Ankara and then headed Down south and to the east. To a number of places. I remember in Palatla, Beledisi the image that is in my mind is In a town where there's no known Christians there was a boy at this makeshift zoo and in the zoo was a wolf and The zoo was just like along the side of the road.

It was really just not like you would imagine at Busch Gardens or at the Philadelphia Zoo. It was just this makeshift thing and the boy just stood there staring the wolf in the eye. Didn't break his stare and it just captured my attention to think that there are so many wolves in this land and so few sheep.

Headed south and Spent time in Kayseri a city that was shake was shooken. How do you say? What's the the past shaken? Got to go back to grammar school here By the earthquake and We went to an underground church.

Now by underground, of course, you understand it means that Christians are not openly identifying there they're in hiding because of persecution, but in this case the church was physically underground a Business operated on the first floor and I won't tell you the name of the business because this is going online.

But underground the basement floor was a cleared-out space where on Sunday mornings Christians would gather. I want to tell you there are more Christians in Turkey than reported. We went to another church, which was above ground.

It had glass walls the glass storefront and they had pilings concrete pilings in front of that glass because there was danger that a Jihadi would drive his car right into the church building on a Sunday morning.

That's how intense the persecution was there. But there were many faithful believers. I got to see baptisms while I was there. So it breaks my heart that The buildings collapsed and 27 ,000 lives were lost.

I was reading some articles on behold Israel Which is a website by Amir Safari and He had the option to click on some links. Where you could you could hear the screams of people under the rubble and I tell you I did not have The the will to click on those links.

I don't want to hear that. It was such a troubling thought to imagine being crushed under the rubble. But it's not as though the 95 of people who are Muslim when they died entered into paradise. Because these are a people who by and large Reject the Word of Christ they do not believe that he is the Messiah and So we are told that they do not enter into paradise.

But into eternal suffering. Let that hit you for a moment. There was a time in Jesus's ministry Where he was approached and someone asked him if he had heard of the current events because people talk about current events.

Well, this one was where Herod had mixed the blood of worshippers with the offering on the altar. In other words somebody worshiping was killed murdered and their blood spilled on the altar. Jesus heard that report and Then he said did you hear about the Tower of Siloam that fell and crushed 18 people and you would expect a moment of Compassion and surely our Savior was compassionate, but the way he expressed love here was very unexpected.

Referring to the 18 people who were crushed when the Tower of Siloam fell. This is Luke 13 Jesus said and unless you repent You will likewise perish his love. Was a call to repentance. That if they will repent they can have life, but as it is they are dead in their trespasses and sins there is a major difference between the living and the dead.

But on the other side of death the chasm Widened still further in Luke 16. Jesus tells the story I don't know if it's a parable or actually real people. The story of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man was comforted in this life.

Lazarus was very poor and he would lay at the gate of the rich man and he longed to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man's table and The dogs would come along and lick the wounds of Lazarus. So he suffered greatly.

But when he died he entered into paradise and he was Comforted at Abraham's side. Conversely in the great reversal this one this rich man was in hell and From the flame of fire. He called out to Abraham to send Lazarus to just dip his finger in water To cool his tongue because he was in anguish in the flame.

But Abraham said I cannot send him. Because the great chasm has been fixed between there and here a Gorge a deep valley and in they there was no crossing it. It was insurmountable and So the man begged that that Lazarus or some other would would be sent to go tell his brothers about this place called hell and warn them and Abraham said they have Moses and the prophets and they won't listen and They wouldn't listen even if one rose from the dead.

Which of course is prophetic of Jesus rising from the dead. They don't listen to the prophets or the one who rose from the dead. Their hearts are hardened. When the earthquake took place in Turkey. Do you realize that along the ridge of that earthquake the pressure between the Anatolian plate and the Arabian plate underground had become so great that when the plates slipped across each other it Moved the land 10 feet to the west along that Ridge not through the whole country of Turkey, but along the ridge and it opened a gap of 10 feet in some places a Giant gorge separating some on one side and others to the opposite side imagine heaven and hell in this way a Gorge that no one can cross.

Eternal life and joy in paradise. Or eternal suffering in darkness and in flame and in torment in a chasm that separates the two. Now we may think because we're raised in America which has been identified as quote-unquote a Christian country.

Or perhaps because you were raised in a Christian family and you've heard the Word of God. That you are on the right side but the great and important teaching of the book of John is that you must personally believe in Christ and Continue believing in order to be saved.

The thesis statement of the book comes from John 20 31 these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and Believing you may have life in his name. It doesn't say that you once and for all believe and then move on with your life.

It says and believing a continuing belief. You have life. My desire in preaching John 8 31 and following today. Is that everybody who hears these words? Would believe and continue to believe and abide in the Word of God and have eternal life and that none would be lost.

So turn with me to John 8 verse 31 and Realize that this theme from John 8 31 and following is a major concern for John. Some people have said that the book of John is an Evangelistic book and it is it's meant that people would believe.

But that book is also very importantly Directed to the church. It is directed to people who gather in the assembly who hear the Word of God and they taste The powers of the coming age and the goodness of the word and they have fellowship in the spirit Powers of the age to come in the words of Hebrews 6.

These are people who assemble yet are still in danger. Look back a couple pages to John 6 66 a very memorable verse because of its reference number John 6 66 Jesus said this is why I told you I'm sorry after this many of his disciples Turned back and No longer walked with him after a hard teaching.

Some did not continue to follow but it says some of his disciples some who had been following him Turn back and no longer walked with him in the same way. John 8 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him if You abide in my word you are truly my disciples so this concept of an abiding faith Is very important.

God's Word is Like a massive earthquake and when you read the words of Christ in John chapter 8, let it shake you to the core. It shakes and changes everything. When God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai It shook the mountain.

So that Moses himself said I tremble with fear and the people were afraid to even touch the mountain or go near it. Because the glory of God that was present that day and the earth was shaking. We're told in Hebrews 12 once more Shall I shake the heavens and the earth?

So that everything that can be shaken will be and all that remains is the kingdom that cannot be shaken. His word shakes things up and it separates things this passage in John 8 31 through the end of the passage shakes us up and It separates two groups.

I decided to take a large chunk of scripture today a lot of verses. Because each section is saying the same thing and I don't want you to miss the thrust of it as We go through it. The thrust comes from verse 31 If you abide in my word Then you are truly my disciples.

This idea that the one who abides and continues in the word is a true disciple Not a false convert. But a true genuine disciple will continue to love the word continue to hear the word have ears to hear.

So follow along. That this concept of abiding or keeping the word Repeats again and again look at verse 37. You seek to kill me because My word finds no place in you. John 8 40 a Man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.

His word is the truth from God verse 43. It is because you cannot bear to hear My word. You see this is the theme that runs through look ahead to verse 47. Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason that you do not hear them is that you are not of God.

Again in verse 51 and 52 truly truly I say to you if anyone Keeps my word. He will never see death and then the Jews will repeat that back if anyone keeps my word He will never taste death verse 52. And finally in verse 55 If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I Keep his word.

You see that the theme runs through and it travels across three descriptions of a false convert. Now the Pharisees here are the false converts. They not only claim to believe the word. They came claim to be the keepers of the word.

They're the authorities. They're the true believers and Yet, in fact, they are false converts and they will be described in three ways. First of all as a slave as slaves. Secondly as offspring of Satan and thirdly as dead.

All three descriptions are saying the same thing they think that they have life because they're identified outwardly as being Jews and believers of the word. But in truth, they are not converted. So let's take it verse by verse and we'll move quickly today.

Verse 31 is where we begin. Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him. Now notice if you're reading the ESV or any other translation besides the King James version. That this says believe him. The King James here is weaker at this point.

Because it translates this phrase believed on him. But that misses a distinction in the Greek which should be picked up in a translation. Look at verse 30 as He was saying these things many believed in him or on him.

That preposition in the Greek is ice ice out. Oh This this is the word for faith and the root of that believing. In him or on him it means to trust into or to throw oneself entirely upon to rely on Christ to believe.

It's the same word that we have in John 3 16 for God So loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes ice on him in him. Genuinely trusting. But notice in verse 31 the language is slightly different and That's key Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him that's a weaker expression.

Why is it weaker? Because they're simply accepting what he just said. But they haven't fully committed themselves completely thrown. There's their lives into him to abide in him and he in them. It is a weaker expression to say they believed him.

They might only think that he's a prophet. They think that he's speaking for God. Verse 27 He's been speaking about the father. Many of them didn't understand it. So he makes this comment in verse 28 when he's lifted up.

Then you will know that I am he. Some are believing in him. In other words, they're believing that he is God. I am a go a me. Others are only more broadly accepting some of his teaching and That is very instructive for us from the book of John because of 666 and now 831 and then again and again John 15 is about abiding in him and his word abiding in you to remain.

To stay to keep his word. That's the test if you're a genuine disciple. Notice, it's not to be born to the right religious family. It's not to have walked an aisle or signed a decision card or pray to prayer.

Or even to come to church on a regular basis. There is a dividing line that runs right through humanity and. The separation between those who are on one side and the other is the Word of God. The question is do you abide in that word?

Do you believe it and continue to keep it in everything that he has to set? Colossians 1 23 Says if we continue. The previous verse speaks of being reconciled To God and you are reconciled if you continue in the faith.

Hebrews 3 verse 6 and also 3 3 14 refers to the same reality. We are God's house if we continue and Abiding continue to believe continue to trust. You see it in verse 31. Jesus does not accept a profession of faith and a vague general believing in him or believing him.

I should say as Evidence that someone is genuinely saved. He says quite the opposite if you abide in my word. You are truly my disciples. This doesn't refer to discipleship as some higher Christian life as.

If you are born again, and then you become a disciple the more you study and you reach the higher heights of Christian. No, that's not what it means to be a disciple. Remember John 6 66 some of the disciples departed because they weren't true disciples.

The idea here is a disciple indeed a True disciple a genuine convert. You are that convert if you continue in the word. You abide in it and he clarifies in verse 32 and you will know the truth and the truth Will set you free.

The true Christian is the one who has been set free. Set free from lies from the deceit of false religion. Eyes open to see the light. Truth is what sets you free. Believing it from the heart and continuing to believe.

There are many false offers of freedom. There are many false religions that claim to offer freedom. But they deceive the convert into a false belief. Some of the more emotional churches whether it be a hyper Pentecostal or charismatic church that is so relying upon experiences someone might feel a warm tingly sensation and feel moved by the power of the music and Assume that because of that They are genuinely a child of God, but is that the test given to us in the scripture?

It's not it says you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Genuine freedom comes by the word. By abiding in scripture that the word is in the believer and the believer is abiding there.

Staying there. We were witnessing out at Princeton this week and one of the students Was objecting to the teaching of heaven and hell and he said well his Catholic priest told him that after he dies he would be given the opportunity to repent and This goes hand in hand with the teaching of purgatory and this young man Did not believe that there was a God.

He was an atheist a physics major. He did not believe that there was a God. But he supposed it was possible and his strategy was to die at whatever time he was called to die. And if it so appears that there is a God and he's standing face to face with him.

He'll repent then. Because this is the doctrine of Rome that there is such a thing as purgatory. He was trusting the wrong priest. This human priest No priest at all was telling him lies and the lies of this priest had him bound behind bars of a prison.

He thought he was okay. Only to find that if he dies in his sins as Jesus refers to it earlier in John 8 There is no purgatory. There is no chance apart from this life. It is appointed to man to live but once then to die face judgment.

The words of Christ Give light and they expose that Roman Catholic doctrine as a lie. You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. There is a progressive Christianity which bears the name Christian but doesn't deserve it.

It rejects the parts of Scripture that it finds intolerable. It deconstructs those things and Takes only the parts that it regards as sweet and acceptable. It will tell a person who persists in any manner of sin that God accepts that as Long as they simply believe.

But Ephesians 5 1 to 7 regarding sexual immorality Says that the sexually immoral will not inherit the kingdom of God. The same is said in Revelation 22 that outside are the dogs and the liars and the sexually immoral.

Progressive Christianity comes along with this lie that says you can be a gay Christian. Giving people the false. Hope that they can continue with the sins that they walked in prior to meeting Christ and Mary the truth with the lie according to John 8 32 it is only the truth That sets you free.

What I'm trying to say is that there are many teachings which are nothing but lies that imprison people and make them slaves to sin and What is needed is the sharp edge of truth of God's Word. God's Word.

According to Jericho Jeremiah 23 is like a hammer. It shatters lies. And the only way that you can be set free from a prison if you are behind bars is to shatter those bonds. To break those bars apart to bring down the prison that the prisoner can go free.

God's Word is like a hammer. It is an earthquake that shakes men and women loose and sets them free. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free and There are many Christians who have been set free who can testify.

Alongside Paul as he speaks of those in 1st Corinthians 6 11 such were some of you. But you were washed you were clean. You were justified. The truth actually sets people free. What is the stronghold in your life that you think is?

Unbreakable. Is it a certain sin pattern in your life a way of thinking. You're believing a lie. It is the truth that shatters these lies and breaks the prisoner free. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

Now as the rest of the passage unfolds we're going to move quickly because each description as a slave an offspring of Satan and a dead man each of these is the rising of temperature as the Conflict between Jesus and the false convert is exposed and each one is a picture of a false convert.

Let's look at them verses 33 to 37. They answered him. We are offspring of Abraham and Have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say you will become free? Jesus answered them truly truly.

I say to you Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever. The Sun remains forever. So if the Sun sets you free you will be free indeed. I Know that you are offspring of Abraham yet You seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.

So there in verse 37 is the thrust of the passage the main idea. They're claiming to be believers in God. Children's of children of Abraham. But there's an inconsistency. They desire to murder the Son of God.

Their life doesn't match their profession. Notice the parallel between verse 34 and earlier in verse 32. Everyone who practices sin is a slave. To sin in bondage. But verse 35 the slave does not remain in the house forever.

The Sun remains forever. Verse 36 if the Sun sets you free you will be free indeed. So who sets you free? It is the only free one the only one who is not a slave to sin. Who can set others free? The slave.

Became a slave by sin. The Sun is the only one who never sinned so it is Christ himself Who set sinners free? He is the only one who died the death of the sinner in the sinner's place. He's the only one who died on a cross.

He's the only one who rose from the dead. So he's the only one who can give you new life. The Sun will set you free. So what does the truth have to do with it? Back up in 32 you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

Jesus is the truth. So, which is it who sets you free or what sets you free. Well, it is Christ who himself sets you free but the Word of God is how we know him. Notice in verse 32 you will know the truth and In verse 31 abide in my word.

So my word there does not refer to he himself but to what he has said. It's what Christ has said and this is how you know the truth. The genuine disciple believes the word and the word is what sets us free.

So If someone is not believing what Christ says regarding himself and everything to which he speaks. That person is not free. To be genuinely born again is to be submitted to the Word of God. It's to continue in it.

It's to take God at his word to believe what Jesus says. By contrast these Pharisees these Jews are Not believing and so they show that they are slaves. The second illustration is the offspring of Satan.

Versus the offspring of God. Look at verse 38 here. He hints at where he's going, but they don't get it right away. I speak of what I have seen with my father and You do what you have heard? From your father.

They answered him. Abraham is our father. Now pause there for a moment. What are they trusting for their salvation. They're trusting in their religious heritage their family their genealogy. That they descend from Abraham and it's true.

They descend from Abraham, but they are not believing the way Abraham did nor living the way Abraham did. Justin Martyr wrote a book called dialogue with trifle in the first century he was an apologist for the Christian faith.

Trifle was a Jew and The two of them debated Christianity. Justin Martyr presenting the truth but the Jewish man in the story trifle said that Abraham stands guard at the gates of hell and if a Wicked Jew is on his way to hell if he's a murderer or a liar or a fornicator and Completely rejects God if he's on his way to hell Abraham is there to snatch him and rescue him and Send him to heaven because after all though, he's a wicked man.

He's a descendant of Abraham. You see the thinking in the first century. Look back at the text. They answered him Abraham is our father. To them that settles it. They're children of God because they descend from Abraham.