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AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOD:

Grasping for An Understanding

 

God, Our Heavenly Father

Lesson #13

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    God put fathers in the home to serve a very important function.

1.        They are the heads of the home, governing and guiding it as God desires (Eph. 5:23).

2.       They are to provide the necessities of the home (I Tim. 5:8).

3.       They are to be the spiritual teachers in the home (Eph. 6:1).

4.       They are to be compassionate toward their family members (Ps. 103:13; I Thess. 2:11).

5.       They are to protect those in their homes (Neh. 4:13-14).

6.       They are to discipline their children (Heb. 12:9).

7.       They are to be examples for their children (Gen. 18:19).

 

B.      Sadly, however, not all children have good fathers.

1.        Many homes have no fathers.

2.       In some homes fathers are physically present, but are absent in their obligations.

3.       There are other homes wherein fathers are mentally and physically abusive.

 

C.     Fortunately for all of us, there is another Father, a heavenly Father, who can be ours.

 

D.    In this lesson, we will look at the subject:  “God, Our Heavenly Father.”

 

I.             INTERESTING FACTS

 

A.    God is called “Father”

1.        Only about thirteen times in the Old Testament

2.       But, in the New Testament, God is called “father” at least 154 times.

 

B.      Jesus refers to God by the term “Father” 107 times.

1.        A few years ago, a German scholar was doing research in New Testament literature and discovered that in the entire history of Judaism—in all existing books of the Old Testament and all existing books of extrabiblical Jewish writings dating from the beginning of Judaism until the tenth century A.D. in Italy—there is not a single reference of a Jewish person addressing God directly in the first person as Father (https://www.ligonier.org/learn/qas/what-does-it-mean-us-call-god-our-father/).

2.       The first rabbi to call God “Father” directly was Jesus.

3.       He also taught His followers to call God “Father” as well (Matt. 6:9).

 

After this manner therefore pray ye:  Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 

C.     Sometimes descriptive terms are added to the word “father” when applied to God.

1.        A father to Israel (Jer. 31:9)

2.       Righteous Father (John 17:25)

3.       Abba, Father(Mark 14:36)

4.       Father of glory (Eph. 1:17)

5.       The Living Father (John 6:57)

6.       Father of lights (James 1:17)

7.       Father of mercies (II Cor. 1:3)

8.       Father of spirits (Heb. 12:9)

9.       Father of the fatherless (Ps. 68:5)

10.    God and Father of all (Eph. 4:6)

II.           GENERALLY, GOD IS THE FATHER OF ALL

 

A.    All men have been created by God

1.        Acts 17:26a; Ps. 8:5; Mal. 2:10

 

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the father of the earth…

 

2.       Paul also affirms that we are his offspring (Acts 17:28-29a)

 

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God…

 

B.      All men have been created in the image of God (Gen. 9:6)

 

Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed:  for in the image of God made he man.

 

C.     In this general sense, all men are “children” of God. 

1.        God loves all men (John 3:16).

2.       God is not a respecter of persons (Rom. 2:11).

3.       God is good to all (Ps. 145:9).

4.       God provides for all (Matt. 5:45).

5.       God wants all to be saved (I Tim. 2:4).

 

III.         GOD IS THE FATHER OF JESUS IN A UNIQUE WAY

 

A.    Prior to Jesus coming to earth, Jesus was equal with the Father (Phil. 2:5-6a; Matt. 17:5)

 

…who being in the form of God…

 

B.      His physical birth put Him in the position of the Son of God.

1.        Luke 1:30-35

 

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Marry:  for thou hast found favor with God.  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest:  and the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David:  and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:  therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 

a.       Mary’s role

1)       Thou shalt conceive in thy womb

2)      And bring forth a son

3)      Holy thing which shall be born of thee

b.      Unique birth

1)       I know not a man

2)      The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee

3)      The power of the Highest shall overshadow thee

c.       Unique son

1)       The Son of the Highest

2)      That holy thing which shall be born of thee

3)      The Son of God

2.       Jesus is called “the only begotten Son of God” because He is the only child of God who was begotten by means of a woman and physical birth.

a.       These words are found four (4) times in the KJV (John 1:18; 3:16, 18; I John 4:9).

b.      They involve the virgin birth (Isa. 7:14).

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

1)       Mary was the physical mother of Jesus who became pregnant, having never knew a man.

2)      She became pregnant through a miracle of God (Matt. 1:20-23).  Thus, He was Jesus’ Father, not Joseph (See Matt. 1:16).

 

And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

 

3.       Jesus is different than we are because we are children by adoption (Eph. 1:5).

 

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

 

C.     He is the human representation of the heavenly Father (John 14:7-9).

 

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also:  and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?  he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

 

D.    Because Jesus is the Son of God and we are sons of God, He is our elder brother (Rom. 8:14-17).

 

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 

1.        We are children of God.

2.       We are joint heirs with Christ.

 

IV.        IN A SPIRITUAL, SPECIAL SENSE GOD IS OUR FATHER BY THE GOSPEL

 

A.    This is a very special “parent-child” relationship.

1.        It is formed in a unique way through the gospel.

2.       This relationship is intimately involved with Jesus Christ.

3.       It has special blessings attached to it that our general relationship does not.

 

B.      This relationship involves a new birth (John 3:1-5)

 

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:  for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

 

1.        From the context:

a.       Nicodemus was a Jew.  Therefore, he believed his birth was very important.  He was a child of Abraham by birth.

b.      Jesus taught him that he must be born again to see the kingdom of God.

c.       Nicodemus thought Jesus was speaking of another physical birth, which is impossible to happen.

d.      Jesus revealed that involved two elements, the Spirit and water.

2.       The two elements:

a.       Born of the Spirit

1)       Some have attached some personal, mystical experience to these words.

2)      Peter, however, reveals how we are born of the Spirit (I Pet. 1:22-23).

 

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

a)      The Holy Spirit revealed the Word of God to mankind which teaches us how to be cleansed of our sins.

b)     When a man obeys the words of the Spirit, he is born of the Spirit.

c)      It can also be said that he has been begotten by the word of truth (James 1:18) or begotten by the gospel (I Cor. 4:15).

b.      Born of water

1)       The only water associated with the New Testament and salvation is the water of baptism (Acts 8:36; 10:48).

2)      When an individual is baptized, immersed, for the remission of sin (Acts 2:38), he is born of the water.  He rises to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4).

3)      Paul said that if any man be “in Christ” he is a new creature (II Cor. 5:17).  Only two passages tell us how we get into Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27).   Both of these passages tell us that we get into Christ by being baptized.  It is there that we are born of water.

c.       Paul seems to mention both of these elements in his discussion of the church in Ephesians 5:25-27).

 

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that is should be holy and without blemish.

 

1)       If you are a member of the church, you have been born again.

2)      Paul says this was accomplished “with the washing of water (baptism) by the word (Spirit).

3)      Only after this is completed can He present the church unto himself not having spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish.

 

C.     When a person is born again, he becomes a member of the household of God, the church (I Tim. 3:15).

1.        God is his Father.

2.       Jesus is his elder brother.

3.       All other Christians are his brother and sisters in Christ.

 

V.          GOD, THE HEAVENLY FATHER

 

A.    God governs and guides His home through the Word of God (Ps. 43:3).

 

O send out thy light and thy truth:  let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

 

B.      He provides for His children.

1.        Psalm 37:25

 

I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

 

 

 

2.       Matthew 6:25-26, 28-30

 

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.  Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air:  for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they?...And why take ye thought for raiment?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  and yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothed the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

 

C.     He is compassionate and caring toward His family members.

1.        Psalm 86:15

 

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

 

2.       Psalm 55:22

 

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee:  he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

 

D.    God the Father will protect His family

1.        Psalm 46:1

 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 

2.       Psalm 91:1-5

 

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:  my God; in him will I trust.  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:  his truth shall be my shield and buckler.  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day.

 

E.      God will discipline His children (Heb. 12:5-6).

 

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

 

F.      God our Father is a perfect example to follow (Eph. 5:1).

 

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.

 

G.    Other things God does for His children.

1.        He hears them (Prov. 15:29).

2.       He blesses them (Matt. 7:9-11).

3.       He watches over them (Prov. 15:3).

4.       He tests them (Job 1:8).

5.       He comforts them (II Cor. 1:3)

6.       He strengthens them (Isa. 40:29).

7.       He forgives them (I John 1:9).

8.       He gives wisdom to them (James 1:5).

9.       He opens doors for them (I Cor. 16:9).

10.    He stands with them (II Tim. 4:17).

11.     He rewards them (Rev. 11:17-18).

12.     He has a place waiting for them (John 14:1-3).

H.    There is no more beautiful picture of God as a Father than in “The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).

1.        One man asked:  “Who is God?”  Another answered:  “He is the Father of the prodigal son and the elder brother.”

2.       In this parable, God shows us a (the) Father’s heart.

3.       Interesting elements about this father:

a.       The father listened to his son’s request (v. 12a).

b.      The father gave his son what he desired (v. 12a).

c.       The father allowed his son to depart into the world (v. 13).

d.      The father was prosperous, having hired servants (v. 17).

e.       The father house was well stocked and prepared for the worst, having bread enough and to spare (v. 17).

f.        The father looked for his son’s return (v. 20).

g.       The father was compassionate (v. 20).

h.      The father was not afraid to hug and kiss his children (v. 20).

i.        The father granted forgiveness (vs. 21-22).

j.        The father rejoiced at his son’s repentance (v. 23).

k.      The father restored the prodigal to the position of a son (v. 24)

l.        The father confronted bad behavior in the elder brother (. V. 28).

m.    The father was not a respecter of persons (v. 31).

n.      The father sought to intercede between his sons (vs. 32).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    I John 3:1

 

Behold, what manner of the love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

 

B.      This label is so holy that God condemns any man from using it as a spiritual title (Matt. 23:9).

 

And call no man your father upon the earth:  for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

 

C.     We are children of God.  That fact is almost unfathomable.

1.        We should love Him.

2.       We should worship Him.

3.       We should trust Him.

4.       We should obey Him.

5.       We should exemplify Him.

6.       We should serve Him.

7.       We should share Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God, Our Heavenly Father

Homework

Lesson #13

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.     Why have so many fathers neglected their role in the home?

 

2.    What is the most important part a father plays in the home?

 

3.    Why do you think there was so little emphasis on God as “Father” in the Old Testament?

 

4.    What is the meaning of “Abba”?

 

5.    T – F  In a broad sense, all men can call God their Father.

 

6.    T – F  God sees all men as His children.

 

7.    When did Jesus become the Son of God?

 

8.    When we say, “Jesus is the only begotten Son of God,” what do we mean?

 

9.    In what way are we the children of God?  (  physical birth           adoption  )

 

10.  T – F  Jesus is the perfect representation of the heavenly Father.

 

11.   T – F  Jesus is our elder brother.

 

12.  T – F  All men are the spiritual children of God.

 

13.  To become a child of God, individuals must experience the __________  ___________ (John 3:3, 5).

 

14.  What are the two elements of the new birth?

 

A.                                                                                          B.

 

15.  What does it mean to be born of the Spirit?

 

16.  What does it mean to be born of water?

 

17.  Paul said that Jesus loved the church and gave Himself for it, “that he might _____________ and ___________________ it by the ___________________ of ________________ by the ________________” (Eph. 5:25-26).

 

18.  For which two traits of our heavenly Father are you the most grateful?

 

A.                                                                                          B.

 

19.  T – F  The Parable of the Prodigal Son shows us “a father’s heart.”

 

20.  Why should men never use the term “father” as a religious title?

 

21.  When God looks upon you as His child, is He pleased with you?