Why do they refuse to believe?

In this Fifth Sunday after Lent sermon on John 8:46–59, Rev. Tyrel Bramwell confronts the truth that those who reject Christ’s Word are not of God. When Jesus speaks the truth and is accused of having a demon, He exposes something deeper than disagreement—He reveals the spiritual reality behind unbelief. This sermon draws a sharp line between hearing and rejecting the Word of God. Through the example of Abraham, who believed against all odds, we see what true faith looks like: trusting God’s promises even when they seem impossible. In contrast, those who harden themselves against Christ show whose voice they are really following. But this is not a message of despair—it’s a proclamation of certainty and comfort. Jesus declares that whoever keeps His Word will never see death. That promise is not symbolic. It is grounded in His identity as the great I AM, His atoning death, and His resurrection.