Abba Father

Abba Father

Grasping God as Our Father

In this teaching we are going to look at the Biblical accounts of the term “Abba, Father" – taking time to enjoy God as our Father in Heaven.

In Mark we read of Jesus praying, “‘Abba, Father’ ‘…everything is possible for you. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” (Mark 14:36) The writer of the Book of Galatians tells us, “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” - (Galatians 4:6) The Book of Romans, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:14-17)

This Father’s Day let us grasp the privilege of being given the right to call the God of heaven, “Abba Father.” (Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., & Harrison, R. K., Thomas Nelson Publishers (Eds.). (1995). In Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) The passages we have just read. 1.) Show Jesus’ dependence on His Father, thus teaching us of the necessity of being totally dependent on God’s will in our lives. 2.) Our privilege and enablement to cry out to God, Abba Father is a revelation of the Holy Spirit of Christ. 3.) Our privilege of calling God, Abba Father is through the Spirit of adoption, becoming an heir of God and co-heir with Christ.

The Word Abba

The term Abba is a Chaldee word expressing warm affection with an assured confidence. (Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely) Abba is the Aramaic word for Father, spoken along with the Greek term Father (pat?? pat?r) expresses Jesus’ dependence on God, His Father as He faced the suffering of the crucifixion. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version (Mk 14:36). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)

Abba, Father used in any of the Biblical text is used in reference to a solemn responsible, adult address to a Father who is in heaven reflecting intimacy and affection. (Hardin, L. T. (2016). Prayer. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.)

When a child is afflicted, suffering the consequences of bad choices and is in the need of provision they cannot provide, he or she cries out to their father with a confidence, in a solemn responsible adult address fully dependent, knowing and trusting that their father will be there. Pennie and I are in agreement, it is our hope and prayer, our children know they can come home, whenever they are in need, no matter what circumstances they may find themselves in.

Understanding God as Abba Father opens our hearts to trust in God, no matter what circumstance our sinful nature has put us in, no matter what worldly view has led us to live by and no matter what lie of the devil we have believed. God wants us to know - we can come to Him.

Jesus use of the term Abba Father affirms His intimate relationship with His Father. (Moo, D. J. (1994). Romans. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st ce)

Thus, Jesus acknowledging, “…all things are possible for you…” along with the plea for His mercy, “…Remove this cup from Me…” Jesus is about the feel the pain of all the sins of the world, He is about to give up His life for the sins of all mankind. He trusted in His Father’s mercy and grace. Yet, He submits to His Father’s will, “Yet not what I will, but what you will.” It must be understood, the Scriptures teach us His Father gave Him victory over sin and death, Jesus rose from the grave to be seated at the right of His Father and intercedes for you and I. (Mark 16:9; Romans 8:34)

Holy Spirit Cries, Abba Father

The writer of the Book of Galatians tells us, “God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Galatians 4:6) Just as God sent His Son into the world, so He sends the Holy Spirit of His Son into the spiritual heart of people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. (George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 306). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)