Jesus expounds on the Christian walk and OSAS
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Jesus is the incarnated word of God. That is the light to our path. To follow the incarnated word involves reading it, being enlightened by it, and then becoming a doer of the word and not a hearer only.
13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
There are people who are genuinely seeking light for their path and then there are those like these Pharisees who are actively seeking to discredit Jesus. They do not want anyone to have the light of life, they do not want anyone to be able to not walk in darkness.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
The Pharisees are in darkness, this confirms the Lord's testimony. For example, in 1980 I was reasoning with some believers and we could not understand how everyone on earth could be controlled with what they could buy and sell. We thought, what about the jungles of Africa, how could anyone know what is going on everywhere. So we thought that in Revelation where John talks about this he probably only meant Europe. That was just 45 years ago and we couldn't see and yet the New Testament told us this 2,000 years ago. That is a confirmation of the Lord's word, He knows where He came from and where He is going and the rest of us don't.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
This is a reference to the woman caught in adultery in the first seven verses of this chapter. Again, there are two kinds of people, both are walking in darkness. One wants to be able to see and desires the light of life. The other tries to keep people from having the light of life and is very judgmental trying to condemn others.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
As Christians we do not judge individual people, but there are things that the Bible and God do judge. We can agree with those judgments and say Amen to them.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
We are coworkers with God. If you are faithful to be a coworker then He will back you up and bear witness of that.
19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
This is very interesting. If you are a faithful coworker of God seeking the light of life, and endeavoring to walk by that light then those that know the Father will also know you and those that don't know you will reveal they also don't know the Father. This is discernment. You have to fully and totally give yourself to the Lord, and you must be walking in the light of life. If you are doing that and not judging others then those who don't know you will reveal that they don't know the Father either.
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
Finally, all these false ones pretending to be men of God with discernment but in fact are walking in darkness, these ones will be like flies swarming around the money. Jesus is in the treasury, where the money is, and that is where all these false ones are also buzzing around. If you have concerns that a brother or sister is false, follow the money. The reason that anyone pretends to be a Christian when they aren't will always be tied to the money. Sometimes they may seem like they are generous. So the red flag here is not that they are obviously thieves and liars, but that they are buzzing around the money.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
To die in your sins, that is like being condemned to hell.
22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. This reveals what is in their heart. They are the ones contemplating suicide.
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
The Lord has just given you a master class on discernment and how to discern if someone is from beneath or above, if they are of this world or not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
This is what "once saved always saved" is referring to. If we believe in Jesus Christ and in His sacrifice on the cross where He shed His blood to wash us of our sins, then we will not die in our sins. But there is much more to the Christian life than simply the promise of not dying in your sins. There is no promise here concerning your inheritance. As children of God we all have an inheritance due to our birthright, but like Reuben you can sell that birthright. There is no promise here that you will be a priest and king separated unto God and sanctified. No, simply the promise that you won't die in your sins and go to hell. There is no promise here of a reward or a crown. If you want those promises then you must spend time in Jesus Christ, the light of life, and endeavor to walk by that light.