One For Sure Way to Distinguish The Children of the Devil from the
Children of God, (Maybe Two)
by Paul Norfolk
BELIEVE JESUS
READ MY BOOK
Why would anyone be interested in knowing how to distinguish “children of the devil from the children of God?”
Well, one reason, if you are a Christian or a person that believes in Jesus or the Bible or even if you are an atheist or have another religious belief you can see what the Bible teaches us on how to distinguish “children of the Devil from the Children Of God; and maybe it does so for good reason.
A second reason a person may want to know how to distinguish children of the devil from the children of God is because the Bible teaches that the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.’ (1 John chapter 5 verse 19)
This information is designed to among other things serve as a reminder where we are at in this dynamic changing scheme of things. Also, it can be very helpful in helping anyone that chooses to improve their relationship with the one true God, in accordance with what the Bible says, and or very possibly see what adjustments we may need or want to make. This information is not intended to be used as an instrument to start labeling and attacking people. Please do not attempt to use this information for that purpose.
When I first learned that the Bible teaches that Satan the Devil is “misleading the entire inhabited earth, my response was: “Okay, but he’s not misleading me.” I’m imagining that this would be most people’s response. Most people that are being misled by the devil would not believe that they are being misled by the Devil. And one reason is because the Bible itself says : " And no wonder, For Satan himself keeps disguising himself as an angel of light.” (2Corinthians chapter 11 verse 14 NWT)
Nonetheless, Jesus urged: "Go in through the narrow gate, because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are going in through it;, whereas, narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life and few are the ones finding it.." (Matthew 7 verses 13 and 14 NWT)
Think about that; "few are the ones finding it." You are under no obligation to believe me, but should we believe Jesus?
Some have found it to be quite beneficial to believe Jesus, even myself.
When I was first started studying the Bible, I was studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses; at that time, I bought out time to learn the Bible. Boy did I have a lot to learn! In full disclosure please allow me to disclose that 20 years later or so I became one of Jehovah’s and is still one to this very day. But what’s the point here?
Namely this; there are many people that believe that they are worshipping or serving God in a way that pleases him, but don’t know that they may be in fact worshipping and or serving the Devil.
And or the group or friends that we have regular association with may be out there kind of bad and moving us in the wrong direction. Our study of how to distinguish children of the devil from the children of God can (among other things) help us to know are we on the right track, and or, are we affiliated with the right people that pleases the true God.
This information may also help us to know whom we should trust and maybe those whom we should not trust.
Lastly, to say that there is plenty of injustice going on in our world today can be considered an understatement, even very much! For many there is much injustice staring people right in their faces. But you know there is also plenty of injustice that's going on that is not so visible, some that's not so in our face. Some that is a little less noticable, except to some. That injustice that I am now speaking about is occurring with Jehovah's Witnesses.
Many of Jehovah's Witnesses have died, been killed, and suffered severely for being preachers of the Good News, for standing for their faith, Also, for preaching things like our God, Jehovah has a day set to bring all injustice throughout the whole earth to an end.
Right now there are Jehovah’s Witnesses in Eritrea suffering inhumane treatment. I’m praying today that many who are praying to the one true God join us in prayer that the inhumane treatment of these prisoners stop, and that they can worship Jehovah freely, and also pray for their release.
Chapter One Tempted By the Devil
Many people say that they do not believe in the Devil and or there is no devil. But do you know who did believe in the devil? That person was Jesus Christ. According to the Bible Jesus had at least 3 recorded interactions with the Devil.
The Bible tells us: “Then Jesus was led by the spirit up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Verse 2 says that After he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he felt hungry, and the Tempter approached and said to him: “ If you are a Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But he answered: “It is written, “ Man must not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Verse 5,
Then the Devil took him along into the Holy City, and he stationed him on the battlement of the temple and he said to him: “If you are a son of God throw yourself down, for it is written: “ He will give his angels a command concerning you; and they will carry you on their hands, so that you may not strike your foot against a stone.”
verse 7 Jesus said to him: “Again it is written ‘You must not put the LORD God to the test.”
Again, the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and he said to him: “ All those things I will give you if you fall and do an act of worship to me.” Then Jesus said to him: “Go away Satan! For it is written it is our Lord God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.” (Matthew 4 verses 1-10
I also took a look at another thought that proved that Jesus not only believed in the devil but also knew intimate characteristics of the Devil. One place that this was found was in the Bible Book of John chapter 8.
Part 2
"Ye Are Of Your Father The Devil:!"
Here we find a group of religious people. They were called Pharisees and Scribes. The Pharisees were the religious leaders at that time and the Scribes were people who were supposedly versed in the Law.
On this particular occasion (among other things) Jesus really set some among them out sort of speaking.
…starting at verse 31 “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.
Verse 33
They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed , and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Verse 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Verse 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Verse 36 If the Son therefore makes you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Verse 37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Verse 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father; and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Verse 39 “They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”
Verse 40 “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard from God: this did not Abraham.”
Verse 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then they said to him, We be not born of fornication; We have one father, even God.”
Verse 42 “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.”
Verse 43 “Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.
Verse 44 “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.”
Please look at that, Jesus told "those" Jews: "You are of your father the devil."" Jesus then goes on to point out what he knew to be identifying characteristics of the devil.
He says that Satan 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.'"
We do not want to be like that do we? Those among us that do choose to be or want to be like that may be putting themselves in line to be labeled as "children of the devil." Or worse, namely as being "judged" as "children of the devil."
However, those of us that are that or have done or is doing things can and should now stop this kind of conduct, also stop in any participating and in any planning of this kind of conduct, ask God for forgiveness, be repented, and seek out the true God wholeheartedly. Those that are among us that are doing this is doing a good thing. I say this because the Bible says that : "God is a rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." (Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6: NWT)
"This Is Why You Do Not Listen Because You are Not From God:" (NWT)
Jesus goes on to tell "those" Jews that they cannot hear God's words because they are not of God.
Verse 45 “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.”
Verse 46 “Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
(John chapter 8 verse 47) “He that is of God heartheth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” (KJV)
WHO IS JESUS? (Part 3)
Now, many people have different things to say about Jesus or in regards to Jesus such as some people say that he is God or was God in the flesh, some people say that he was the Son of God, and some say that Jesus was just a prophet. Even in Jesus’ day there was confusion as regards who Jesus really was.
One day Jesus asks his disciples: Who do men say that i the Son of man Am? They responded some say that thou art John the Baptist, others say that thou art Elias, Jeremiah or one of the prophets; Jesus turned to Peter, But you Peter who do you say that I am? Peter’s response: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
(Matthew chapter 16 verses 13-16)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John chapter 3 verse 16)
What's the point? Namely this; it appears that God ,the Bible and Jesus are trying to help us to see that Jesus is the Son of God. And so that is how I’m approaching my writing today as Jesus being the Christ and the Son of the living God.
The Bible also teaches that Jesus is the Word of God, God’s Chief Spokesman. He’s the Messiah, our Savior, the Anointed One.
Also the Bible tells us that after Jesus’ death and resurrection to heaven he said: “All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to me, therefore, go make disciples of people of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I’ve commanded you, and Look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matthew 28 verses 18-20)
Here we see that Jesus has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth:”
Due to the fact that I am a believer I’m under obligation to pay attention to what is written in the Bible and in Scriptures like Matthew Chapter 17 verse 5, which also reads: a voice from heaven said: “This is my son, the beloved whom I have approved. Listen to him.” (NWT)
Part 4 .. How Children of God and Children of the Devil are Identified
Now , of course all this talk about the Devil and children of the devil and how children of the Devil can be identified according to “The WORD of God itself, piqued my curiosity. I was inclined to keep reading and dig a little deeper. Maybe I had begun doing research so as to know with certainty what I am reading. I ended up at one John chapter 3 verse 10. In the King James it reads: “ In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”(KJV)
Now this Scriptural thought opened my eyes to a lot of things, because you see up until this point we were only talking about Scribes, and Pharisees and Jews that were listening to Jesus on that one particular occasion.
Had I not read further I may have walked away believing and maybe even telling people that all Jews were Devils or children of the Devil. But that is not what the Bible is saying. It says whoever does not practice righteousness:” And so now I have to figure out what is righteousness and who has the right to set the standard of what is right conduct and what is unrighteous conduct. This can get deeper than some of us had anticipated. We Will also discuss "Just Who Has the Right To Say What is Righteous and what is Unrighteous Conduct, and also "Using Our Power of Reason."
PART 5
WHAT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS
