GOD THE FATHER

This month we introduced a message on who God is. Today we are going to describe who the Father is, which will give us a context for understanding the study that we are about to begin on the Holy Spirit.

1. THE NAMES OF GOD

The  Old Testment has many Hebrew Names that describe our God. Through these names we get  to know and understand our God.

El Shaddai:“God Almighty.” The derivation is uncertain. Some think it stresses God’s loving supply and comfort; others His power as the Almighty one standing on a mountain and who corrects and chastens (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Ex. 6:1; Ps. 91:1, 2).

Yahweh Elohim Israel:“The Lord, the God of Israel.” Identifies Yahweh as the God of Israel in contrast to the false gods of the nations (Jud. 5:3.; Isa. 17:6). Adonai: Like Elohim, this too is a plural of majesty. The singular form means “master, owner.” Stresses man’s relationship to God as his master, authority, and provider (Gen. 18:2; 40:1; 1 Sam. 1:15; Ex. 21:1-6; Josh. 5:14).

   Yahweh Ro’i: “The Lord my Shepherd.” Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 23:1).

    Yahweh Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness.” Portrays the Lord as the means of our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).

    Yahweh Shammah: “The Lord is there.” Portrays the Lord’s personal presence in the millennial kingdom (Ezek. 48:35).

    Yahweh Shalom:“The Lord is Peace.” Points to the Lord as the means of our peace and rest (Jud. 6:24).

     Yahweh Jireh (Yireh):“The Lord will provide.” Stresses God’s provision for His people (Gen. 22:14).

     Yahweh Nissi:“The Lord is my Banner.” Stresses that God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the one who fights for His people (Ex. 17:15).

1. THE ATTRIBUTE OF GOD DESCRIBES TO US WHO THE FATHER IS.
2. BecauseGod is all-powerful…He can help me with anything.

“O Sovereign LORD! You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You!” (Jeremiah 32:17) Creation is attributed to the Father.

1. BecauseGod is holy…  I will devote myself to Him in purity, worship, and service.

“So obey God because you are His children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be His children—is holy. For He Himself has said, “You must be holy because I am holy ” (1 Peter 1:14-16)

• God guards His holy reputation (Ezek. 36:21-23)
• God’s holiness demands exclusive worship (Josh. 24:19)

1. BecauseGod is just…He will always treat me fairly.

“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies. ” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

• God alone is the judge (James 4:12)
• God judges all people with justice (Ps. 9:7-8)
• God’s law and judgments are completely righteous (Ps. 19:7-9)
• He exercises justice toward all humanity (Gen. 18:25)

1. BecauseGod is faithful…I will trust Him to always keep His promises.

God is faithful to fulfill His promises (Heb. 10:23), His faithfulness endures (Ps. 119:90), and is immeasurable (Ps. 36:5)

  III.  THE  FATHER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. Father is the Source of Life.

 The word father is used to describe one who passes on life or who creates, originates or founds something.

Father is used of God in the Old Testament only 15 times while it is used of God 245 times in the New Testament.

2. Jesus: Reveals to us the Father.  Jesus Christ is the Son of God in a unique and special way. He is identified as the “Son of the Most High God” (Mark 5:7). Psalm 2:7 says, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” Jesus referred to God as His Father on numerous occasions. The very well-known John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”

Through Jesus we get to understand the Father: John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.”

3. Our Spiritual Father.

He is a Father to all created but he is a Spiritual Father specifically to those who have accepted Jesus as Savior.

The gospel message reveals how, through repentance, baptism and the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), God Almighty can actually become our Father in a very personal way. He becomes our Father, and we become His children, when we are spiritually converted. Romans 8:14 tells us, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

John 1: “11He came to his own,[2] and his own people[3] did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. ”  ESV

4. Personal relationship

The Holman Concise Bible Commentary says, “Abba is the transliteration of the Aramaic term for father, implying great familiarity and intimacy.” Easton’s Bible Dictionary says it is “a term expressing warm affection and filial confidence.”

God reveals through the New Testament that we can have a warm, affectionate, personal relationship with Him that goes far beyond just acknowledging Him as the One who created us and who gives us beneficial rules to make our lives happy and complete.

This brings us back to the first chapter of Genesis, where Moses records God’s desire to “make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (verse 26). Christians are able to share in the divine nature of God Himself (2 Peter 1:4)!

1. Father – A Term of Personal Love

 [Read Romans 8:14-17]

1. The term “Father” does not mean primarily “male.” It says God relates to us personally in love. Genesis 1:27 says “man” (“adam” = male and female together) is made in the image of God which includes both male and female. God includes within Himself, in His image, both male and female.

It was historically appropriate for God to reveal Himself to humanity in His authority and power as “Father.” But the primary emphasis of the term, especially to Jesus, is of personal love. God is “Abba”, Dad.

2. God Is Love [Read 1 John 4:8-10]
3. God Is Personal (“Abba” = “Dad”). God is not remote, far removed from us; unavailable and uncaring. This was and is a radical view of God.
4.  A loving Father

The most important role is that of a spiritual Father. Thus, Christians experience a God who expresses all the qualities of a loving Father.

He gives us life (John 3:3); He loves us (John 3:16);

He rewards our efforts (Hebrews 11:6); He communicates with us through His Word (John 17:17; Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:13); He corrects us lovingly (Hebrews 12:3-11); and, most important, He will grant us the ultimate gift of life—eternal life in His Kingdom through His grace (Roman 6:23; Ephesians 2:5)—if we repent of our sins and obey His commands (Acts 2:38).

CONCLUSION:  HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THIS GREAT FATHER?

Have faith in him, accept his love, follow his will, obey, honor and respect him.