The Fatherhood of God
Romans 8:14-17
What comes to your mind when we speak about the Fatherhood of God? One likely answer is that it brings to mind the image of your own Father. For some people that can be a positive association like, loving, caring providing. For other it could be negative live neglected, abusive and not their for them when they needed them.
Rather than depending on our experience to understand the Fatherhood of God we need to look to scripture. In the doctrine of the trinity there is one God, yet three persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
The Father of Israel
When you think of the people of Israel it seems automatic to say, The Children of Israel. It brings a picture of the Father-Son relationship of God and his covenant people. In the Old Testament the paternal relationship applied particularly to the covenant people of Israel. There is never a reference to Assyrian, Babylonian or Persian as children.
God refers to Israel as my firstborn son when Pharaoh refuses to let them go. When Pharaoh refused to let them go, he destroyed Pharaoh's firstborn son.
Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’” (Exodus 4:22-23).
The Fatherhood relation extends to the entire nation, but it is concentrated on the Davidic royal line.
and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ (2 Samuel 7:11-16)
There are two ways the term Father teaches us about the relationship between Israel and God. It tells us of the Father’s love. A Father loves his child. A Father naturally wants to give his child the best he can.
Father’s care more about the welfare of their children than their own welfare. In the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:31)
The picture is a father carrying his son. It’s like the security of falling asleep in the back of the car knowing father will get you home and carry you inside. The father provides love and security.
The other term father teaches us is the child’s responsibility. The child loves his father, and his responsibility is to obey his father. Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)
The father loves the child, but the child has the duty to obey the father. Repeatedly the children of Israel were called on to return from their evil ways, idolatry and then were to no longer go astray. The Old Testament is harsh toward disobedience. The father disciplines and it is the other side of the coin of love.
The Father of Jesus Christ
Jesus has a Father-Son relationship with God.
Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. (John 5:19-23)
Jesus identifies as being Son of the Father. Jesus understood this to be a claim to his deity. For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:18)
Jesus was threatened to be killed because of His unique claim to Sonship. It would be the perfect time to deny it, but rather Jesus puts forth proofs about His unique relationship to the Son of God. He is very deliberate what he says, “My Father” in an emphasis to his unique relationship to Christ.
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17)
Jesus favorite term for God was Father, “Abba”. There are many facets to the Father and Son relationship. The Son is dependent on the Father. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. (John 5:30)
The Son is loved by the Father not a slave and master relationship. The Father has revealed his purposes to the Son. The Son is empowered by the Father. “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. (John 5:36)
The Father gives the Son work. So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:41-42) The Father and Son are for eternity, so God as Father is an eternal aspect of the character of God.
God the Father of adopted children
All humans have the sanctity of life, but separated from God by sin. We are redeemed when we put our faith in Jesus Christ and become adopted sons of God. Adam was created with fellowship with God. The breach of sin separated man all have sinned. Jesus died the just for the unjust to bring us back to God. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ we become an adopted son through Christ.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:14-17)
God’s salvation is expressed as us having adoption as his sons. The Holy Spirit regenerates us that we might be able to cry, Abba, Father. God is the Father of Christians in a real and intimate sense.
In a legal sense adopted children not only have the rights of natural born children but sometimes even stronger. You can disinherit a natural born child but not an adopted child.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13) Receiving Christ means believing in his name. Purring your full trust in Jesus Christ.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (Ephesians 1:17-18)
Never forget the privilege to be an adopted child of God. As God brings new life to you who were formerly dead in sins, so he regards you as adopted children in his family of grace.
The Father God is an eternal attribute of God. He is Father of Israel. He is Father of Jesus Christ. He is Father to adopted children of God.
The statement on the Fatherhood of God and the verses from the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 are found below here.
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https://bfm.sbc.net/bfm2000/
God the Father
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7;
Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.;
Leviticus 22:2;
Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6;
1 Chronicles 29:10;
Psalm 19:1-3;
Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8;
Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13;
Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19;
Mark 1:9-11;
John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8;
Acts 1:7;
Romans 8:14-15;
1 Corinthians 8:6;
Galatians 4:6;
Ephesians 4:6;
Colossians 1:15;
1 Timothy 1:17;
Hebrews 11:6; 12:9;
1 Peter 1:17;
1 John 5:7.
