God the Father

God the Father Right mouse click to save/download this Podcast as a MP3 file

“Are we not all children of the same Father? Are we not all created by the same God?” (Malachi 2v10)

The defining function of the Father is that He is the Almighty who intervenes, sustains and provides. This Father God is the God of Israel who did new things in His own timing for them, that they themselves could not do. At just the right time, He gave His only begotten Son. This Almighty Father can and will do all that He intends.

In the Old Testament, there was a concept whereby the King of Israel was thought of as a son of God, and therefore God was a Father (Psalm 2). This however was more as a national identity rather than a personal relationship between the individual and God. Hosea 11v1 states that “when Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt”, shows that the concept of God as Father, was not entirely new by the time Jesus said to call God, "Father". By calling him Father that means that God is a personal God! He loves all of His creation and He sustains it! He wants them in a relationship with Him!

The Father of All Creation

As all of humanity is made in the image of God, the Fatherhood of God must apply to all humanity. God is the Father of our Spirits (Hebrews 12v9). God the Father is also the one who maintains life, He cares for each person (Matthew 18v10) and wants everyone to be in His kingdom (Luke18v16). Even when people reject Him, He still cares for them, not wanting any to perish. Jesus when teaching on prayer, said to call God, Father!

From when Jesus as a twelve year old proclaimed he was about His Father’s business, to the agonising prayer of John 17 and on to the last words uttered during extreme agony on the cross, Jesus recognised God as Father when he cried out “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23v46). Whatever Jesus did, who He is and what He does now, is based on the relationship with His Father. He is the Son, the Word of God who God the Father spoke, creates and bears (John 1). The words Jesus spoke were those He heard from the Father. The actions Jesus did were those He saw the Father doing (John 5v19). It is the Father that will decide when time will end!

The Father of Christian disciples

God is a Father of all Christian disciples in a way different from those who have maintained a rejection of Him. God is Father only because Jesus Christ was the Son of God (Romans 8v17; Hebrews 2v17). Because of this, Christian disciples have new life (John 3v3) and a new family (Hebrews 13v1)! Christian disciples have been adopted as heirs and as children (John 1v12). Paul in Galatians 4 states that is why God sent His son Jesus Christ – so that Christian disciples could no longer be slaves to sin, but children of righteousness an have God the Spirit dwell within them! This new life means Christian disciples have available to them the partaking of the Father’s nature! 2 Peter 1v3-4 states “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” When was the last time you as a Christian disciple asked God to keep His promises made concerning you? As well as this, the Father both cares for His children (Matthew 6v32) and disciplines His children (Hebrews 12v6-8). God disciplines His children and “It is painful.” (Hebrews 12v11) Therefore if we are Christians, and we have non-repented and habitual sin, God will discipline (Hebrews 12v10). If we sin and are not disciplined, then we are not His children (Hebrews 12v8).

Christian disciples have this new and new family because we have a new standing before Him, through our belief in His Son, Jesus Christ! While all humanity are His offspring (Acts 17v28-29), Christian disciples are more! Christian disciples are sons and daughters of the living God, and His heirs (Romans 8v17)! Whereas those of humanity, who continue to reject Him, are still under His condemnation before Him as Judge (Revelation 20v11), the Christian disciple is free from condemnation and has the legal status and privilege of being called His sons and daughters! That is one reason we are to tell others about this God we serve! Christian disciples are no longer separated from the love of God, and never can be (Romans 8v39). We may forsake Him, but the Father never forsakes us.

That we are to call God, Father when we pray, signifies that the God we serve as Christian disciples, calls us into relationship and that He is personal. When we pray, we are to be intimate with Him, as a child with their earthly father.

For more to think about please do read Romans 8v12-25. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. Why can only Christian disciples call God, “Father”?

Q2. How as co-heirs with Christ, are we to react to sufferings?

Q3. How can we as Christian disciples, “wait patiently”?

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