The Fatherhood Of God Series

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)