What does it mean to be a Christian? John 8:21–32
Dispute Over Who Jesus Is
21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will dieq in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”r
22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.s24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,t you will indeed die in your sins.”
25 “Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy,u and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”v
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted upa the Son of Man,w then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.x29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,y for I always do what pleases him.”z30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.a
Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,b you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”c
