"They answered and said to Him, 'Abraham is our father.' Jesus said to them, 'If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.'" John 8.39
The children of Abraham do the works of Abraham. Those who make excuses to avoid Abraham's example of sacrificial obedience have nothing to do with him.
In other words, Jesus is saying that anyone who does not imitate Abraham is not his child in faith.
"You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections." 2 Corinthians 6.12
Most people have been limited by the feelings of the deceiving heart. Faith gets stuck in time and gets old...
That is why one needs to be born of the Spirit and become a new creature. A spiritual creature who does not walk by visible things, but by the invisible, which are eternal.
"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." James 1.6
To ask in faith is not asking with a feeling of certainty. To ask in faith means leaving your needs in God's hands because of what He promised.
"So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God." Mark 11.22
Jesus demands of His followers to have faith in God. If faith were a feeling of the heart, how to make one "feel" the faith in God? Impossible. Jesus does not demand anything impossible from His disciples. This requirement from the Lord is concerning the faith-obedience or practice of the Word of God and nothing else.
"Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it." Psalm 141.5
When reprimanded, those who are born of the Spirit consider the teaching, learn and give thanks to God. But those who are born of the flesh, the tares, get angry, feel like they have to defend themselves and still hold grudges.
"Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; according to the greatness of Your power, preserve those who are appointed to die." Psalm 79.11
This groaning is not by just anyone, but someone who believes in the promises of the God of Abraham, and yet is a captive. Times have changed but the moaning continues...
O Mighty One of Jacob, rise up from Your Throne and come to the rescue of those who who put their trust in You!
"Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you;For I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him.” Isaiah 51.2
Abraham symbolizes the Lord God, Isaac symbolizes Jesus and the spirit - or faith - that moved Abraham to sacrifice his dream was the Spirit of God. Nobody in their right mind would subject themselves to obey the Word of God unconditionally, without being moved by the Holy Spirit.
