The Fatherhood Of God

THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

OBSERVATION: BEFORE CHRIST’S CRUCIFIXION, JESUS PRAYED TO HIS FATHER. THIS IS OFTEN CALLED THE HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER AS RECORDED IN JOHN CHAPTER 17.

INTERPRETATION: JOHN 17:3 (NKJV) AND THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM YOU HAVE SENT. JOHN 17:3 (THE BOOK-PARAPHRASE) AND THIS IS THE WAY TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, TO KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, THE ONE YOU SENT TO EARTH.

POINTS TO PONDER:

CHRIST WAS PREPARING HIMSELF FOR THE CROSS. THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY FOR MANS’ REDEMPTION EXCEPT HIS CRUCIFIXION. KNOWING THIS REALITY HE PRAYED FOR HIS DISCIPLES TO HAVE STRENGTH FOR THEIR FUTURE JOURNEYS KNOWING THEY WOULD ENCOUNTER SEVERE TRIALS (HEBREWS 12: 1-3). THIS REALITY HOLDS TRUE TODAY FOR MISSIONARIES IN COUNTRIES HOSTILE TO THE GOSPEL.

MANS’ DEEPEST NEED IS ETERNAL LIFE. ALTHOUGH HE MAY NOT KNOW OR ACKNOWLEDGE THIS REALITY. HIS GREATEST FRIEND IS GOD WHO GIVES ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. AGAIN, MAN MAY NOT KNOW OR ACKNOWLEDGE THIS REALITY. CHOICE BECOMES A REAL LIFE ISSUE!

CHRIST’S WORK ON THE CROSS REVEALED HIS LOVE FOR HIS FATHER. BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION HE PRAYED, “NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR WILL GOD”. HE COMPLETED HIS MISSION ON EARTH AND RETURNED TO HIS FATHER. HIS COMPLETED WORK ON CALVARY GAVE GLORY TO HIS HEAVENLY FATHER. HIS MISSION WAS COMPLETE AND GAVE ETERNAL LIFE TO ALL WHO BELIEVE.

ETERNAL LIFE IS NOT A PROFESSION OF RELIGION OR FACTS ABOUT CHRIST’S MISSION ON EARTH. NEITHER IS IT AN ABSTRACT THOUGHT.

APPLICATION: THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD DEMANDED REDEMPTION OF MAN THROUGH JESUS CHRIST HIS SON.