“A Father Like No Other”
(Message #3 in
SBC Doctrinal Statement Series)
15 Oct. 2017
(SBC, Sligo, IE)
INTRODUCTION:
Today will be the third installment
of a preaching series started two Sundays ago when Pastor Kirk led us into a
study about the Bible, God’s amazing book. He talked about how our Bible came
to be, and about God has protected and preserved it down through the centuries.
He explained why we can put our confidence in it, because it is “God-breathed,”
accurate, and authoritative.
As I mentioned last week, these
studies all fall under the heading of “Systematic Theology.” But do not let
that scare you off because it is not as frightening as it sounds. It just means
that we are going at this quest for knowledge about God in a scientific,
systematic way, collecting data, categorizing the facts as best we can, and
drawing well-reasoned conclusions.
Last Sunday, in the second study in
this series I took on “Mission Impossible”; namely, trying to answer the
question, “Who is God, and what is the Godhead?” We all did passingly well, I
think, all things considered. I talked fast and you listened attentively
without falling asleep. However, I think we will all agree that we did no more
than scratch the surface of this deep subject.
Today we are going to take another
bite at the apple; we are going to tackle the job of trying to explain about
“God the Father.” Now many of the things we discovered last Sunday will apply
here, too, because God the Father is one of the three Persons of the Godhead
that we often refer to as “the Trinity.” Therefore, all the things I said about
God in general last week apply to God the Father, just as they apply to Christ
and to the Holy Spirit.
God is Three-in-One; the three
Persons of the Godhead share the same essence. Moreover, they are equal in
every way: equal in power, glory, and divinity. They all three have the same
attributes, both natural and moral.
TRANSITION:
Our church’s Doctrinal Statement
says this about “God the Father”:
“God is the self-existent Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is omniscient and
possesses exhaustive foreknowledge of all future events. Everything
in all of creation exists to glorify Him. He is an
infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of human
beings, intentionally intervening in pursuit of humanity in order to enter into
a fatherhood relationship with them spiritually through the new birth. He
hears and answers prayer, and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him
through Jesus Christ.”
Many of those statements come very
close to what we learned last Sunday so I will try not to plow the same ground
today, but rather, to help us discover some new things that we did not talk
about before.
However, before we move ahead I need
to again give a warning for the sake of those who were not with us last Sunday.
In trying to explain what God is like, and especially to explain the
“three-in-oneness” that the Bible teaches about the nature of God, many well-meaning
people fall into the error of reverting to what is called “Modalism.” Modalism
is a heretical view that denies the three individual persons of the Trinity. It
stands in contrast to the Trinitarian doctrine of God eternally existing in
three persons. It views biblical terminology of “God the Father,” “the Son,”
and “the Holy Spirit” as merely modes of existence or manifestations of the one
God. In other words, modalists teach that God is just one Being who reveals
Himself to men in three different ways, or “modes.” They say that God
sometimes acts like a father. Other times He operates in the role of Jesus, the
Son. And sometimes, He goes about dressed as the Holy Spirit. They say that
these are just three different ways that God presents Himself to humanity so
that we can better relate to Him. This may sound harmless at first, but in
fact, it is a heresy, and a dangerous one, first popularized by an early third-century
heretical teacher from Rome named Sabellius. For this reason, the heresy is
often called Sabellianism.
MAIN BODY:
“God is the self-existent Creator and Sustainer of the
universe.”
- We looked at this last Sunday
in some depth. We believe that God is an eternal spirit. He has always
existed. He was not created and He did not evolve into who He is now. For
His own reasons, known only to Him, He created the heavens and the earth
and all that are in them. Moreover, He sustains and watches over His
creation.
- Omniscient means, “all
knowing.” There is nothing that He does not know and comprehend. He is
aware of everything that happens. Nothing escapes His observation.
- As to His “foreknowledge of all
future events,” this just reminds us that God is not bound by time in any
way. For Him there is no past, present, and future—they are the same to
Him. He sees a thousand years from now just as clearly as He sees a
thousand years back into history.
- By the way, this fact has
created no small amount of theological debate over the years. There are
those who say that because God can see into the future He already knows
those who will accept His offer of salvation. And based on that
foreknowledge they say He “elects” them to be saved. In other words, they
claim that God chooses them because He knows ahead of time that they will
accept His invitation. However, others rise and say, “No, that is not how
it works. Even though He knows those who will be saved, it is precisely because
He has chosen them from the foundation of the world and has worked in
their lives in such a way as to bring them to faith and acceptance of the
Gospel.” In other words, they accept because they were already elected
unto salvation and chosen by God as objects of His grace and mercy.
- While I believe this is an
important subject and one on which I have very strong views, this is
neither the time nor the venue to take up this discussion. But maybe we will
do it sometime at our Tuesday night Bible study and prayer meeting.
“Everything in all of
creation exists to glorify Him.”
- The Presbyterians have what
they call the “Westminster Shorter Catechism,” which dates clear back to
1647. It was designed as a didactic tool, a teaching aid, to help new
converts learn about their newfound faith. It is a series of 107 questions
and answers dealing briefly with some of the main doctrines of the
Christian Faith. Some of you may be familiar with it. It starts out this
way: “Question #1: What is the chief
end of man? Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him
forever.” As Biblical support for this answer it lists two
references: 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or
whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” And Romans
11:36, “For
of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory
forever. Amen.” I could not say
it any better. Everything in all of creation exists to glorify God, and
that especially includes you and me.
“He is an infinite,
personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love.”
·
When you close your eyes and think
about God the Father, how do you visualize Him? Do you picture Him as a big man
in long, flowing robes, with long hair and a beard, and a smile on His kind,
gentle face? Do you picture Him standing up, or sitting down on a throne?
·
Most of us cannot help but imagine
Him in some sort of a physical body. The problem is that the Bible makes it
clear that God is a spirit, and that He does not inhabit any material form,
including a human type body. Both the Father and the Holy Spirit exist only in
the spiritual realm, as spirit beings. However, the Eternal Son, the 2nd
Person of the Godhead whom we know as Jesus, came from Heaven, took upon
Himself human flesh and lived among us for 33.5 years. As near as we can tell,
up until that time He too had existed only as a spirit. But for our sakes, to
bring us salvation, He lowered Himself and set aside His glory and became a
man, so that He could die as a man to pay for our sins. The concept is
mind-blowing!
·
The Father is, “perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and
love.” I find it difficult to conceive of anyone being perfectly
holy, all-wise, infinitely powerful, and full of love, yet that is how the
Bible describes our Heavenly Father. No wonder Jesus taught His disciples to
pray, “Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name…” How can we
do less than give this amazing God all our love, worship, and service?
- When we come to God and believe
the Gospel and trust in Christ as Saviour and Lord, God becomes our
Heavenly Father. He adopts us as His sons and daughters and brings us into
His family. He gives us His name and He seals us with His Spirit as a sign
that we now belong to Him. Jesus becomes our older brother and we allowed
to share in His inheritance. Ephesians 1:4-8, 13-14 in the New Living
Translation explains it this way: “Even before He made the world, God loved us and
chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. 5 God
decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to
Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave
Him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the
glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. 7 He
is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the
blood of His Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has
showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding…13
And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by
giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee
that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased
us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.” Isn’t
that incredible? It blows my mind!
“He hears and answers prayer, and
He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.”
- Psalm 116: 2 says, “Because He
inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.”
Like a daddy leaning down and cupping his hand behind his ear to hear the
soft voice of his little child, our Heavenly Father “inclines His ear” to
listen to His children praying. And He not only hears, but He cares, and
He answers our cries for help. He does not always give us what we ask for
because He is a Good Father and He knows “what we have need of even
before we ask.” He knows that some things would not be good for us to
receive.
The Fatherhood of God
Now I want to switch gears a little bit and look
specifically at what the Bible teaches us about the Fatherhood of God. This
concept spans from Genesis to Revelation. Indeed, we see images of the
Fatherhood of God in both Testaments, although the picture is a little more
dimly lit in the OT. In the NT it is taught most clearly by Jesus Himself.
Let’s see what God’s Word teaches us about our Heavenly Father.
The Old Testament Picture:
1.
God is described as a father to the
fatherless in Psalm 68:5, “A Father of the fatherless and a Judge for the
widows is God in His holy habitation.”
2.
God’s pity is likened to that of a
father in Psalm 103:13, “Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the
Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.”
3.
Jehovah is a portrayed as a father
to Israel in Jeremiah 31:9, “With weeping they will come, and by supplication I will
lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, on a straight path in
which they will not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is
My firstborn.”
4. However, as a father, God is
dishonored by His wayward children according to Malachi 1:6, “A son honors
his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor?
And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of hosts to you, O
priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’”
5. Notice that the OT references to God
as Father are directed to Israel only. This is clear from Malachi 2:10, “Do we [Jews]
not all have one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal
treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our
fathers?”
6. In sin, the Children of Israel are
likened to the children of foreigners. Listen to God’s indictment of them in
Ezekiel 16:3, 45, “Thus says the Lord
God to Jerusalem, ‘Your origin and your birth are from the land of the
Canaanite, your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite… 45 You
are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and children. You are
also the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and
children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.”
The New Testament portrait:
1.
Jesus’ Father/Son relationship to
God is abundantly seen. Here are a few references:
a.
Matthew 11:25-26, “At that time
Jesus said, ‘I praise You, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, that You
have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them
to infants. 26 Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in
Your sight.’”
b.
Luke 22:42, “[Jesus] knelt down and began to pray, 42
saying, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My
will, but Yours be done.’”
c.
Luke 23:34, 46, “But Jesus was saying, ‘Father,
forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots,
dividing up His garments among themselves…46 And
Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into
Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.”
d. See also Matthew 28:19; John 1:18;
3:35; 6:44-45; 10:38; 14:9; 17:21; note especially John 14-16.
2.
In the NT God is the described as Father
of all the redeemed. He is the Creator of all men, but He is Father only to
His children through Christ. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He
gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His
name.” Notice, too, that nowhere does the Bible teach the universal
fatherhood of God nor the brotherhood of man, as some claim.
a.
As our Father, God is intimately
acquainted with and associated with His children. The Bible knows nothing
of Deism, the philosophy that says that God created the universe but is absent
from it and cares nothing about it.
b.
As Father, God is concerned with
our welfare. He provides for our food, clothing, shelter, and security
(Matthew 6:25-34).
c.
As Father, God invites us to pray
to Him; to pray humbly, privately, sincerely (Matthew 6:5-15; Romans 8:15).
d.
As Father, God punishes or
corrects His children in the same way a father disciplines the children he
loves (Hebrews 12:5-11).
e.
But as Father, God forgives
(Matthew 18:14; Luke 6:36) and comforts His children (2 Thessalonians
2:16).
f.
As Father, God delights to give good
gifts to His children. Matthew 7:11 says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in Heaven
give what is good to those who ask Him!” (see also Romans 6:23b).
So,
what is the significance of the fact that God is Our Father?
1.
As God’s children we are to…
a.
Trust in God. Romans 15:13, “May the God of
hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (also, John
3:16)
b.
Worship Him. John 4:24, “God is spirit, and
those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (also, Matthew
4:10; 11:27)
c.
Serve Him. Matthew 5:16, 45: “Let your light
shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father who is in Heaven… 45 so that you
may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven; for He causes His sun to
rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and the unrighteous.”
d.
Strive to be like Him. (Matthew 5:48,
“Therefore
you are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”)
e.
Glorify Him in life and conduct.
Matthew 6:33 commands us, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and
all these things will be added to you.” (also, Romans 16:25-27)
2.
As God’s children we are heirs of
all that He is and has. This is Romans 8:15-17: “…But you have received the Spirit of adoption
as sons [i.e. the New Birth, John 3:3-8], by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided
we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.”
3.
As God’s children we are in line to
receive wonderful gifts because of Our Father’s loving, generous heart. I think
Paul has this very thing in mind in 1 Corinthians 2:9: “That is what the Scriptures mean when they
say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has
prepared for those who love Him.’”
CONCLUSION:
So, to summarize…The Bible reveals God
as the Lord of the Universe and calls Him “Father” in both Old and New
Testaments. He is the Father and Lord of creation. James describes Him as “the
Father of lights” because He created the stars as well as the angels. The Old
Testament names angels as “the sons of God” (Heb. benai elohim). Paul says that every family under heaven is named or
set aside for Him (Eph. 3:15).
We all need a caring human father
(or an equivalent) as early as possible in our lives to help us understand what
God the Father is like as a Person. Remote, indifferent, unavailable human
fathers can lead us to believe that God also is detached, unconcerned, and
uninvolved in the daily cares of our world. However, the Psalmist in 10:14 praises
God as a loving Father: “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God
in His holy habitation.” Hosea writes in 14:3 that the fatherless
find mercy in Him. King David says in Psalm 27:10, “When my father and my mother forsake me,
then the LORD will take me up.”
The Lord God is more than willing to
help make up for absent fathers. Surely the most wonderful aspect of being a
Christian is that we all have a unique relationship with the Creator of the Universe,
the God and Father of Jesus, the Living Spirit who is Lord of all history.
Through faith in Jesus each one us may call God, “Father.” Unfortunately, the
word “father” sounds alien to those who have never known a natural or adoptive
human father as friend and intimate confidant. Though God the Father is creator
of all things, He is known as a personal and loving Father only to those who call
on Him and seek His face (Acts 17:24:31). The Psalmist writes in Psalm 34:15-22:
“The eyes of
the LORD are toward the righteous, and His ears toward their cry. The face of
the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the
earth. When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and delivers them out
of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the
crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD
delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is
broken. Evil shall slay the wicked; and those who hate the righteous will be
condemned. The LORD redeems the life of His servants; none of those who take
refuge in Him will be condemned.”
We become a child of God by placing
our trust in Jesus Christ as Lord so that our sins can be forgiven and removed
and our spirits regenerated. God receives us into His family, one by one, by
the dual process of (1) spiritual birth and (2) adoption into His family. Each
one of us may therefore make a choice to belong to Him and to benefit from His fatherly
loyal-love.
Those who have not yet trusted Jesus
for access to the Father enjoy “common grace.” God is kind, merciful and
gracious towards all humanity. He is kind to His enemies and withholds judgment
in long-suffering love for the fallen world. “He makes His rain fall on the just and the
unjust.” John 3:16 says that God so loved the entire world that He
gave His Only Son in order that whoever believes in Him will not perish but
have eternal life. This great passage of the Bible is yet another proof of the
Father-heart of God towards His lost and fallen creatures. 1 Peter 1:18-20
explains it this way: “You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways
inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish
or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made
manifest at the end of the times for your sake.”
FEEDBACK:
Any
comments, questions, or observations about what I’ve presented?
