Sermon # 38 - The Attributes Of God The Father Series

For today’s meditation let us dwell on Psalm 103:13, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” (ESV)

This Psalm that David wrote is based on the understanding that the relationship between the Almighty God and mankind is like that of a father with his children. Just as a father has compassion on his children, the Lord too shows compassion on all those who fear Him. All through this Psalm, God is portrayed as the one who is all-wise, all-knowing, powerful, holy, Almighty One who has no beginning or end. It also describes the immense love that this God has for all human beings.

The bible teaches us that everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus become sons and daughters of the Most High God. As we study this psalm we will try to understand the characteristics of this God who is our Father. Sometimes when we look at earthly fathers we may falter, as we erroneously compare them to our heavenly Father.

1. A Father who forgives us

We read in Psalm 103:3, “who forgives all your iniquity” (ESV)

So often we perceive that God is harsh or strict, and one who is keenly waiting to punish us. The reason for this faulty understanding of God is that there are those who portray God this way. They therefore also teach that one can appease God by their good deeds. Let me remind you that we have a God who forgives us all of our iniquities. Iniquities are all those sins we commit willfully, and knowingly against the commandments of God. Nonetheless, the privilege for the children of God, is the fact that God is willing to forgive us all of our sins and iniquities. This forgiveness is priceless, because God the Father sent His only Son Jesus, and placed the sins of all mankind on Him, so that everyone who believes in Him will be forgiven of all their sins and iniquities.

In Titus 2:14 we read, “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (ESV)

Jesus redeemed us from all lawlessness by His sacrificial death on the cross, and made us a holy people so that we can do good works, and accomplish the will of God on the earth. We must bear in mind that God is one who is forgiving. The bible teaches us that God is our loving God though we go astray many times, and in many ways. While we were entangled with sin, curse and sickness, God the Father sent His Son Jesus to deliver us from all of them. If you are in doubt if your sins are forgiven, all you need to do is confess your sins, and be sure that we have a Father who will forgive us of all our sins and wickedness. God is bountiful in forgiveness, but every so often we do not comprehend this. There are those who when they go through a hardship or trial, blame themselves, and feel that God is punishing them for some sins they committed in the past. Be certain that when God forgives us, He does so totally and will never remember our sins and iniquities any longer.

I am reminded of an incident in John 8 where the men brought to Jesus a woman who was caught in adultery. They wanted to stone her to death in keeping with the laws of Moses, and wanted to know what Jesus thought about it. Jesus was categorical when He told them that the one who was without sin should be the first one to cast a stone at her.

As believers in Jesus we want the Lord to forgive our sins, but so often we are frugal in extending forgiveness to others. The prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, reminds us that God forgives us as we decide to forgive those who trespass against us. If you are filled with this sense of being unforgiven, it could well be because you have not forgiven someone, and are holding a grudge in your heart. Choose to forgive all those who are against you, and every issue that hurt you from the depth of your heart, and never remember them anymore. We have a God who is always willing to forgive us of all our iniquities, and He is our loving Father.

2. A Father who heals us

We read in Psalm 103:3, “..who heals all your diseases,” (ESV)

Let me emphasize on this verse that declares that God is one who heals all diseases. When Jesus was here on earth, He performed many wonders and miracles. He turned water into wine, raised the dead to life, drove out demons, but one thing He did regularly was to heal those who were sick.