God the Father

LESSON 2

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on The Godhead. The topic for this study is: God the Father. In this study, we will consider in detail what the Bible says in relation to the Father.

The Scripture makes it clear that God the Father is separate from the Son and Holy Spirit (see Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7). In several passages of Scripture, He is described with the caring expression of Father. For instance, in teaching the disciples how to pray, Christ began with the words: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" (Matthew 6:9; see also John 17).

The divine attributes of God the Father are clearly revealed in Scripture. He is revealed to us as Holy (Leviticus 11:44; Isaiah 6:1-5; 1 Peter 1:15-16), Righteous (Nehemiah 9:7-8; Daniel 9:14), Just (Ecclesiastics 12:13-14; Jeremiah 9:24), Wise (1 Timothy 1:17), Creator (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3), Infinite (2 Chronicles 2:6), Eternal (Psalm 90:1-2; Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:4), Self-Existent (Exodus 3:13-14; Exodus 6:2-3), Constant / Immutable (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Malachi 3:6; Psalm 102:26-27; James 1:17), Omnipotent (Genesis 17:1; Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26), Omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-12; Psalm 139:7-10; Jeremiah 23:24) and Omniscient (Psalm 139:1-6).

These attributes of God the Father as depicted above are not usually subjects of contention in Christendom. But besides the attributes above, the Father is also revealed in Scripture as Personal and Immanent (Acts 17:27; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4), Truthful / Faithful (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 25:10; Titus 1:2), Good (Psalm 145:9; Matthew 5:44-45), Merciful (Psalm 103:13; Ephesians 2:4), Gracious (Exodus 34:6; Ephesians 2:8), Long-suffering (Exodus 34:6), Forgiving (Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:9), and Loving (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8, 16).

Friends, despite these clear attributes of the Father in Scripture, many of God's people do hold a negative view of Him as a stern God, and one who is quick to mete out punishment to all those who go against His revealed will. In fact, many in Christendom see the judgements of God meted out to the wicked in the Old Testament as the works of God the Father; while viewing Jesus as the tender merciful Son in the New Testament who gave His life to appease the wrath of an angry Father.

But beloved, this concept of God the Father has no backing from the Scriptures. This is because the Bible actually teaches the opposite of this widely held view. Christ once told the Jews that "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). In this text, we see clearly that the God of the Old Testament is the same in nature and character as the God of the New Testament (compare John 10:30 with Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8).

Friends, in the same passage of John 10, Christ made it clear to the Jews that the works that He did were also the works of the Father (John 10:37-38). In fact, just before He went to the cross, our Saviour revealed unto the disciples that those who have seen Him have also seen the Father (see John 14:7-11). Beloved, in these clear poignant expressions, Christ revealed the Father as a loving and merciful God whose works were seen in the day to day ministration of His Son for the fallen race of Adam.

From the prophet Ezekiel, we read the following about God the Father which is contrary to the prevailing negative views:

"For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye" (Ezekiel 18:32).

"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11).

Beloved, from these passages in Ezekiel, we learn clearly that it is far from the desire of the Lord God to destroy the creatures that He has made. On the contrary, this God was willing to save every human being from the wretchedness and consequences of sin (see 1 Timothy 2:4), even if it meant the loss of His only begotten Son. From the beloved apostle, we read the following about the love that God the Father has shown for each of us: "4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

(1 John 4:9-10) From John 3:16-17, we read similar words from the same apostle: "3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

(John 3:16-17) Friends, it is clear from Scripture that God the Father is a loving God who gave up His Son so a sinful planet might be saved from the wretchedness of sin. Contrary to the negative views about God the Father out there, the Son portrays Him in Scripture as a forgiving merciful God who desperately longs for the salvation of every sinner who chooses to return back to Him in repentance and obedience (see the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32).

Exhortation: Because of the salvation of mankind, the Father suffered these heart wrenching words: "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). God the Father was willing to lose the Son, so you and I can be redeemed back into the family of God. Even though the Creator and Controller of the entire universe, He yearns to have and maintain a lasting loving relationship with every son and daughter of the seed of Adam. It is up to us to give Him the chance for Him to show us the love that defines Him.

In our next study, we will consider the topic: God the Son. The Bible Study references for this study are Matthew 3:13-17, Isaiah 43:11, Acts 4:12, 1 John 4:4, Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-4, John 8:58, John 10:30, Hebrews 1:1-8, Philippians 2:5-11 and Colossians 2:9. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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