Knowing God as Father

Bible readings

1. Psalm (Psalm 145:8-12)
2. Song of Solomon 2:1-4
3. John 14:1-14
4. Ephesians 1:3-6

Psalm (Psalm 145:8-13)

(8)  The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
(9)  The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.
(10)  All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You.
(11)  They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power,
(12)  To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
(13)  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Song of Solomon (2:1-4)

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. Like a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons.
I sat down in his shade with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. 

John 14:8-14

Ephesians (1:3-6)

Introduction

Opening

• We haven’t come here because it is Father’s Day; we’re here, and it’s Father’s Day.
• When we pray as in the Disciples Prayer: “Our Father in heaven”; we might also commence our prayers with “Our Dear Heavenly Father” – when we pray to God, through Jesus Christ.
  • It means we have a Father higher than any earthly Father; the one we petition.
  • Every father views his children in a way that he doesn’t view anyone else’s children. So does God our Father.
• The Bible says we must honour our mothers and fathers. In May it was Mothers, today its Fathers.
  • It was Mrs Sonora Dodd of Washington in 1910 who advocated for a Father’s Day, which the local church picked up and commended. But it took until 1972 for the commercial world to fully recognise it as a grand opportunity!
• The idea of fatherhood is rapidly being eroded – the idea that a male should be head of a family, much less the provider is becoming anathema. And further the world's sexual immorality along with modern IVF technology negates the need for fathers, giving rise to a very large cohort of fatherless children.
  • The Devil destroys the family in order the picture of God’s love for the Church is lost (See Ephesians)
• I’ll not spend any more time on the cultural aspects of fatherhood, but turn our attention to God our Father, or as the Apostle Paul puts it sometimes; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (e.g. Romans 15:6).
• We lay aside any infirmity or deficiency or hurt that our earthly fathers have caused, and today focus on Our Father who is in Heaven.
• Today we ponder the fatherhood of God, but a few opening remarks:
  • God does not need to be 'Father' to be God, so there is no need to pray "Father God"; God is God, but He is also the Father of any believer in Jesus Christ, and believers are His children.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (Romans 8:16)

• When speaking of the Father and the Son as part of the Trinity, we are essentially talking about the relationship between God the Father, and God the Son. John’s gospel highlights this the most, which is why we read from John 14:

(8) Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." (9)  Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 

• The question I am asking is:

Question

What say you of God; do you believe he is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Three points

Introduction

• God is our Father – what does this mean? What is the reality of having God as Father?
• Some view God as self-righteous, capricious, and distant; yet the Psalmist could write:

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O LORD… (Psalms 145:8-10a)

• The objective truth is God is patient and merciful, slow to anger and righteous
• Another could write God is “a father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5). These are comforting words.

We view God as Father because:

• Fatherhood, identifies God with origin, HIs true identity and love:

“Did not one God create us?” (Malachi 2:10)[1]

“The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness [everything in it] thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1).

• God is the creator of Jesus (Begotten of the Father), Creation, Angels, All Men, Israel and Believers; this does not mean Jesus was created, but the relationship between father and son of the trinity was authored by God the Father.
• We view God as Father, being the giver of good gifts; Jesus could say -

“If you [talking to the leaders of Israel], then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?” (Matthew 7:11).

We will look at God our Father in three ways – 1) His intimacy, which Song of Songs emphasizes, 2) His generosity and 3) His security.

1. Intimacy of the Father

• Intimacy is what we call the experience of really knowing and being known by another person. It’s a word that is used spatially: distant relative (not well known), very close friend (intimate); it’s much more than just knowledge, and it’s much more than sexual, which the world often applies  to such relations.
• The Father’s love for us is imponderable (Eph. 1:4–6). Yet as we begin to contemplate this great love, expressed to God’s beloved Son and to us, it will guide us to a greater awareness of all that it means to know Him as Father.
• God is not distant:
  • We are his children

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1

• One can only long for God as Abba Father, if the Spirit gives carriage – only a believer in Jesus Christ can have this intimacy.

Paul writes, “Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Gal. 4:6).[2]

• Encourage you to do a word study on ‘Abba’ to truly find its meaning. It’s a Hebrew word (in Greek its Pater).
  • It provides the reality of being adopted by God the Father, as sons and daughters of His (both Jew and Gentile alike).
  • It’s a title that could only be used of a child - it is a term expressing warm affection and confidence of a family member. It has no perfect equivalent in our language.
• God knows us thoroughly – He knows our weaknesses and our strengths, and our inner fears.

For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.  (Psalms 103:14)

• Job could say:

Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? (Job 31:4)

• God’s intimacy results in His willingness to listen:

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

• Thus His desire to hear our prays:

But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer (Psalms 66:19)

• He is not distant, or immune to our fears.
• Intimacy is always two way: God wants communion with us, and we need to seek communion with God. Only in faith can be have communion with God – the non-Christian has a vast gulf between him or herself and God; there is no fatherly relationship.
• Intendancy requires our entire focus – read Song of Solomon – each of the actors in SoS[3] only had their eye for each other, and no other. She writes: “I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine;” (SoS 6:3, 7:10).
  • Israel was commanded: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Deut 5:7)
  • Christians are warned: “I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen!” (Rev 2:4)

• What of your love for Our Father? Paul writes

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)

• Intimacy occurs privately in prayer, outwardly in obedience and corporately in worship
  • The Song of Solomon emphasises the later: it is a poem, thus full of pictorial words, and images; foreign to most of us, but if you have ever read Shakespeare, such use of words will be more familiar. The poem is about two engaged lovers who marry; and which is depicted two aspects of human life.
    • It provides insight the way God has created humans as sexual beings; the reason why some churches do not ever read this book, yet we are God’s creation.
    • More importantly, this book provides the depth of love of Christ for his Bride the Church; and God the Father who offers His Son for the redemption of sin.
  • The poem is equally divided between man and woman; because intimacy is two-way. Both need to fully enter into the relationship to be fruitful – neither are passive, and nor should we.

I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love. 

• The key is faith.

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1

• Obedience is the pathway to intimacy with God our Father. David would write:

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me. (Psalm 25:4–5).

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.   Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:22-23 )

Summary

• Intimacy with God is an expression of the inconsolable longing a Believer has after encountering God, the Father of Jesus Christ, Our Saviour. Just as Moses longed to see the glory of God, or David longed to know the ways of the Lord;

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:4–5).

2. Generosity of the Father

• God is generous; Paul urges all to pray:

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 

• The gift is His Only Son, Jesus Christ

In him [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  (8)  which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight Ephesians 1:7-8 

• God’s generosity arises from his goodness: God is good; indeed the only who is ‘good’.

And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.  (Mark 10:18)

• AW Tozer writes: “The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tender hearted and of quick sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes holy pleasure in the happiness of His people.”[4]

• Jesus shows that the Father is generous – the good gift of the blood of His son, as a redemption for our sins.

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matt. 7:11).

• God forgives completely for those that believe:

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. James 1:16-18

• Jesus speaks of his Father using three parables to demonstrate his generosity: Jesus said:

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent [snake]; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:11-13).

• A friend who asks for bread at night to feed another friend who unexpectedly comes to his table,
• A son who asks for a fish – the father will give, and
• A son who asks for an egg.

In each case, the kindness of the friend and then the father led them to respond.

• Access to Our Heavenly Father’s generosity is faith in His son

3. Security of the Father

• God is God – one and only, He is the Everlasting Father (Is 9:6)
• Goes hand in hand with sovereignty - His purpose: so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:7)
• God is Love; we could compare the prodigal Son and loving Father[5]
• AFter Jesus fed the 5000, the disciples supposed He was teaching them about their physical circumstances, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus was incredulous at this response: “Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?”
  • Unlike the disciples, Jesus trusted resolutely that God would meet His greatest needs.
• Spurgeon writes of Solomon: it has been well said that if there is a happy verse in the Bible, it is this one: “My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.” So peaceful, so full of assurance, so over-running with happiness and contentment is it; it’s a measure of security.
• No one can take us from Christ:

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand (John 10:29)

“Sing to God, praise his name; exalt the rider of the clouds. Rejoice before him whose name is the Lord. Father of the fatherless, defender of widows – God in his holy abode.” Psalm 68:5-6

• As David wrote

“As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.”  Psalm 103:11

• You can count on God’s love, even when your circumstances seem contrary. He is only taking you through the difficulty to develop maturity and godly character. He builds things to last, and that takes time. But the finished product is so much better in quality than quick imitations that don’t develop trust in the living God.

• Secure in our hope of salvation: inner witness:

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" Romans 8:16

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Romans 8:35).

• The sovereign purpose of God:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30)

• We are being preserved in God’s power:

… by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:5 

Summary

• Our entire security is based on the work of God – He may have rested from his work on the seventh day (John 5:17)[6], but has worked feverishly since to restore communion between the sinner and himself:

Conclusion

• We have a Father who seeks our intimacy – our whole being; and through Faith and the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to call out; Abba Father.
• Note that he loves you; it is not only that he loved you, and died for you, but he still loves you. He says to you, individually, “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” (Is. 49:16) Look at the nail-print; that is his memorial, his forget-me-not, and by it he says I love you.
• He is a God of love:

“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.” (Jn. 15:9

• Our Heavenly Father is generous, generous to the point of offering his one and only son as a redeeming sacrifice for our sin. Jesus death and resurrection ushers in a new era; he has gone to prepare a place for us.
• As with any perfect father, our entire security is with Our Heavenly Father; we have no fear – trials and troubles come, but He is with us each step of the way;
• How do we respond: as any child who honours his or her father – with obedience:

Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23).

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Notes

Theology notes (Arnold Fruchtenbaum)[7]

The Fatherhood of God

God is the Father of:

1. Jesus
2. Creation
3. Angels
4. All Men
5. Israel
6. Believers

Father of Messiah

Psalm 2:7; John 1:14, 18, 3:16,17; 1 John 4:9.

1. Begotten of the Father, means the father-son relationship is unique, the unique son of the Father
2. Acknowledged by the Father: Matthew 3:17 – This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased
3. Acknowledged by Jesus; God is the Father of Jesus e.g. Matt 11:27; John 8:54, 13:12-13
4. Acknowledged by men; e.g. Pater Matt 16:16 - Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 
5. Acknowledged by Satan and other demons; Matthew 8:28-29 – demon possessed men; “They cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" 

Father of Creation

There is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.  (1 Corinthians 8:6), Also The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth (Acts 17:24)

Father of Angels

Gives rise to the notion that angels are the sons of God.

Genesis 6:1-4 (using Job to demonstrate this refers to angels)

Job 1:8, 2:1, 38:7

Father of All Men (their creator)

Acts 17:29 (Paul speaks to people of Athens)

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

… And he made from one man every nation of mankind

…"'For we are indeed his offspring.' Being then God's offspring …(Acts 17:24-29)

He is the creator of all people, noting he is not the universal Father of all people (that is a universal salvation) – for instance the Pharisees were deemed not to be of God – their father was Satan.

Father of Israel

Exodus 4:22, Deuteronomy 32:6 (Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?), Isaiah 64:8 (But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.), Jeremiah 3:4, Hosea 11:1, Malachi 1:6

Father of Believers

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12)

God the Father is uniquely the Father of all believers through our new birth (AF). God the Father’s relationship with believers demonstrates the salvation aspect of His fatherhood.

Work of the Father

1. Provides life for the Son: For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. (John 5:26)
2. The author of all the degree that sets in motion all God wills (Psa 2:7-9)
3. Election is the work of the Father (Eph 1:3-6)
4. Sent the Son to perform the work of reduction (John 5:36)
5. Disciplines His children (Heb 12:9)

Bible use of Father

Jesus: “my Father” (53 times)

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  (Matthew 7:21)"

“Our Father” (48 times)

Jesus: Lord’s Prayer

Note also means the fathers of Israel; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob viz: Matt 3:9

Paul: most letters – God Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

“Your Father” (35 times – 16 in Matthew)

Mostly Jesus speaking of God; sometimes speaking of the father of a person, i.e. a child.

Includes: “…Honour your father and mother."  (Luke 18:20c)

Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:15-16)

“God and Father”

Mentioned 15 times – all in the New Testament

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (first mention)

“God the Father”

Mentioned 15 times – all in the New Testament

Jesus - Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal. [appointed by the father]"  (John 6:27)

Auxiliary

Song of Solomon

That the principle allegory is the love of Messiah for the remnant Israel does not exclude the wider application of Christ's love for the Church, who loved to the extent he laid down his life for her (Ephesians 5:25) - displaying fully the purpose and extent of love (agape). Marriage is a symbol of the love of Messiah for the remnant of His people Israel, and the love of Christ as Bridegroom for his Church, the bride. Both pictures are displayed in the Song of Solomon.

The book also speaks of the human body, as God created it, in physical terms along with its purpose, including the purpose of sexual pleasure, which takes placed within the auspices of agape love. It displays the pleasure God had in creating the human form and finding it 'good'. In relation to the woman's breasts, the book is explicit; in other aspects the meaning is buried in metaphors.

This book describes with great delicacy the beauty of the female body, a reason why many have found it difficult to read - which stems from the failure to separate the ancient notion that sex was sinful, and the fact God has given sexual drive to humans to be enjoyed in a marriage relationship. And it is in this that the framework for the poem is constructed - the framework of marriage of a man to a woman.

Hymn

God and Father we adore Thee Edward Henry Chater (1845-1915)

1 GOD and Father, we adore Thee,
Now revealed in Christ the Son,
Joying in Thy holy presence
Through the work that He has done.

 2 Filled with praise we bow before Thee;
Thou art evermore the same;
With adoring hearts we bless Thee,
Magnify Thy holy name.

…