The Names of GOD, "Abba, Father"
Names of God • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 15 viewsShort sermon about the name Abba, Father, given to God the Father.
Notes
Transcript
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Matthew 6:9–13 “Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Explanation for opening with our Lord’s Prayer.
I decided to open with our Lords prayer today because the topic of today’s sermon is “The names of God, “Abba, Father.””
Abba is an Aramaic word meaning father
We are not merely studying translations today however. We are studying the meaning behind the name “Abba, Father”
I want to address a few points in this message.
The relational aspect of Abba, Father
The authoritative connotation of Abba, Father
Our obedience/response to Abba, Father
There are three instances in the new testament where the term Abba is used. I want to start with
Galatians 4:4–7“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Some things you may notice in this passage is God’s sacrifice of his Son for the purpose of our redemption.
His intention to adopt us as Sons and Daughters despite our sins against him.
The freedom granted to us from sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We are made heirs with Christ.
These are blessings that are repeated all throughout scripture. This passage like may others get personal. God has sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
When I think about the sacrifice made on the cross on my behalf, crying is an appropriate emotional response.
Jesus paints the relational aspect between us the God in Luke 15:11–24
Luke 15:11–24 (ESV)
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
What is truly fascinating is that the son becomes contrite and chooses to repent of his former lifestyle.
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’
He realizes where he stands before his father. That he is a sinner no less and unworthy to be called his son.
Is this true for us as well. We have all sinned but do we see realize that we need to turn from that and go home to our Heavenly Father? .
The prodigal son expects punishment. We should expect punishment like any other criminal. But, how does the father actually respond?
English Standard Version Chapter 15
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
“You are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir” (Galatians 4:7).
The son believes himself to return home as a slave only to find himself embraced by his father as his son! We as born again Christians are embraced by our Heavenly Father and made his heirs
Think of all that means. Everything that God owns belongs to us as well because we belong to Him. Our eternal inheritance as co-heirs with Christ is the result of the amazing grace of God.
First point, our relationship with God.
Second point.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
To hallow something is to make it holy or sanctify it.
Albert Mohler says, “When Jesus petitions God to hallow his name, he is asking that God act in such a way that he visibly demonstrates his holiness and his glory”
(Albert Mohler in The Prayer That Turns the World Upside Down: The Lord’s Prayer as a Manifesto for Revolution, p. 61).
Just how we value our names as part of our identity and who we are. God’s name speaks of His identity, character, and His actions. Jesus taught his followers to pray like this. By beginning the prayer in reverence to the Father. Its not about us, but about him. We must recognize the God to whom we pray and serve.
Read Mark 14:35–36 “And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.””
This is Jesus’s prayer prior to his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. He begins his prayer with adoration to the Father and an understanding that His will be done despite his feelings at the time. We serve a Holy God worthy of all honor and respect.
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Abba as a Term of Endearment)
The Consciousness of Sonship
We are his children we are not his equal. We submit to the Father. because of who He is.
It is he who made the earth by his power,
who established the world by his wisdom,
and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
Second point: The authoritative connotation of Abba, Father
Third point: Our obedience/response to Abba, Father
Romans 8:12–17 “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, 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.”
Through Christ we are freed from slavery. Our response to Abba, Father should be this. Repent of our sin and place our trust in the Savior.
Questions:
Are we all God’s children, or is it just Christians? Read Romans 8:12–17 or 1 John 3:1
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, 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.
2. How do you become a child of God? Read John 1:12-13
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
3. How do you know if you have been adopted by Abba, Father (God)? Read Romans 10:9
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
4. Read Romans 8:17 and Galatians 4:6-7 What does it mean to be co-heirs with Chirst?
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.
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.