"God as the Perfect Father"

I. Introduction: The Foundation of Fatherhood

A. Family Appreciation

Tyler as Family Minister

Supporting parents in faith formation of children

Parenting as "highest calling"

B. The Fatherhood Crisis

Research Reference: Think Biblically podcast with Dr. Anthony Bradley

Statistical Reality: Fatherlessness contributes to social problems

Clarification: Moms are important, but more children lack fathers than mothers

Biblical Perspective: Ezekiel's teaching on individual responsibility

C. The Connection

Good father relationship affects spiritual, mental, social, academic development

Transition: Same principle applies to seeing God as Father

Understanding God as good Father is essential for spiritual development

II. John's Defense of Truth (1 John Background)

A. Historical Context

John's ministry in Ephesus after New Testament times

False teachers questioning core truths

B. Two False Teachings

Jesus wasn't real, didn't come in flesh

John's eyewitness response: "We heard Him, we saw Him—He was real"

Personal experience: walked with, ate with, heard Jesus

Distorted View of God:

God as distant professor grading on knowledge

Christianity as purely intellectual pursuit

Ethical behavior deemed unimportant

C. John's Foundation

Key Verse: John 14:9 - "If you've seen me, you've seen the Father"

John's personal knowledge of Jesus = knowledge of the Father

III. The Father Jesus Revealed

A. Two Essential Characteristics

Relational Person: Not distant, but engaged

Shaping Father: Forms us into people of love through demands

B. The Perfect Balance

Love and Forgiveness: Jesus' compassionate nature

Ethical Expectations: Clear standards (Sermon on the Mount)

Earthly Father Analogy:

Loves unconditionally but has expectations

Disciplines because he loves

Sets boundaries for child's future

Heavenly Father: Same principles, but perfectly executed

C. The Problem John Addressed

Misunderstanding led to two extremes:

Fear

Spiritual complacency

Result: Failure to imitate God

IV. Modern Misconceptions

A. Fear-Based Religion

God seen as eager to punish

No feelings of intimacy or warmth

Religion associated with fear

B. Ethical Resistance

Moral behavior labeled as judgmental

Truth-telling compared to hate speech/crimes

Accusations of hatefulness for calling out sin

C. John's Corrective Vision

Two Essential Truths John Saw in Jesus:

Jesus who truly loved all people

Father who genuinely cares

Wants the best for us

Goes to all means to prevent punishment (not eager to punish)

Jesus who expected us to be like Him

Love justice

Pursue holiness

Ambition to be like God

D. The Unity of Truth

Not contradictory, but complementary

Love without standards = permissiveness

Standards without love = legalism

V. Children of God: The Core Identity

A. John's Language Choice

Consistent use of "children" to refer to Christians

Central Text: 1 John 3:1 "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

B. Tremendous Implications

Being God's children affects how we live

Warped concept of God's fatherhood = warped living

C. Personal Reflection Question

"When I say God is your Father and you are His child, what comes to mind?"

Answer reveals spiritual health

D. Two Possible Responses

Positive Association: Good earthly father creates fond feelings

Loving and present father

Discipline seen as expression of love in hindsight

Negative Association: Poor earthly father creates barriers

Absent father → fathers don't care

Present but unloving → discipline as personal issues, not love

E. The Challenge

Put aside earthly impressions

Truth: God is perfect expression of fatherhood

Critical for spiritual growth

VI. Three Benefits of Knowing God as Perfect Father

A. First Benefit: Understanding When Others Think We're Strange

1. The Reality (1 John 3:1b)

"The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

People without God as Father won't understand us

Confusion and disapproval expected

2. Supporting Scripture

John 15:18-19: World's hatred explained

John 16:1-3: Persecution predicted because they don't know Father

3. Family Differences Analogy

Christmas Tree Illustration:

Friend's family: tree up Christmas Eve

Speaker's family: decorations day after Thanksgiving

Both thought the other was odd

4. Expected Behaviors That Seem Strange

Forgiveness over revenge

Generosity over hoarding

Truth in love over people-pleasing

5. Clarification

Not reason to be obnoxious or self-righteous

Reality check: living as God's child brings misunderstanding

B. Second Benefit: Wanting to Be Like Him

1. Natural Child Behavior

Children typically admire father

Want to copy what father does

Unconscious imitation

2. Personal Illustration: Bao's Adoption

Matching shirt purchase

Backpack thumb-under-strap habit

Immediate copying behavior

Adorable picture as reminder

3. Biblical Foundation (1 John 3:7-10)

The righteous do what is right "just as he is righteous"

God's seed remains in His children

Cannot continue in sin

Distinction between God's children and devil's children

4. The Natural Process

Not forced, but natural

Know God as loving Father → want to be like Him

Love what He loves, hate what He hates

Character reflection of His character

C. Third Benefit: Removing Fear

1. The Judgment Reality

New Testament teaches day of judgment

Jesus will return

Distinction between righteous and unrighteous

Can be terrifying

2. Confidence for God's Children (1 John 2:28-29)

"Continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming."

3. Perspective Transformation

Not: God coming in condemnation

But: God coming to rescue and bring us home

4. Proper Expectation

Second Coming = eager expectation

Welcomed home to Father

Experience Him beyond imagination

5. Father's Heart Illustration

Speaker as father wanting kids excited, not afraid

Correction may be needed, but predominant feeling = joy

Application: Child running into father's arms after long trip

VII. Questions for Reflection

A. Three Diagnostic Questions

World's Response: Does your Christian behavior seem strange to others?

Values, choices, priorities misaligned with world's expectations

Should happen if truly living as God's child

Desire for Imitation: Do you want to be like God?

Admire and respect Him enough to imitate

Healthy child behavior with good father

Warning sign: Constantly fighting God's will or resenting standards

Fear vs. Anticipation: Do you live in fear of God?

Unhealthy fear: Makes you hide rather than run to Him

Father's desire: Respect but not predominant fear

Proper response: Anticipation, not dread

VIII. A Choice We All Have

A. The Reality of Earthly Parents

No choice in who our earthly parents are

Sometimes wished for different parents

B. Personal Illustration

Blessed with Ron and Pat Catteau

Childhood wondering about Bryan's parents

Wealthier family, had things speaker's didn't

Cable TV example: They had cable, speaker had antenna

Clarification: Not wishing for different parents, illustrating lack of choice

C. The Spiritual Choice

We DO have choice about spiritual family

God calls us to be His child

IX. "Too Good to Be True" - Series Theme Integration

A. The Seeming Impossibility

God wanting to be our Father seems too good to be true

Why: If God is perfect love, anything less would be false

Truth: This call is "too good NOT to be true"

B. Two Possible Audiences

1. For Believers Led Astray

Seeing God as distant and demanding without love

OR loving without standards

Thinking perfect Father idea is wishful thinking

Message: Not too good to be true; exactly as good as God says

Call: Recommit to being His child fully

2. For Those Who Don't Know God as Father

Lies believed:

God is against you

Looking for reasons to punish

No resemblance to Him possible

No hope for holiness

Live in fear rather than comfort

C. John's Message

Don't let goodness keep you from embracing truth

Don't let seeming impossibility cause rejection

Put away false notions

Dare to believe something wonderful

X. The Invitation

A. What God Offers

Calls you His beloved child

Lavish love experience

Invitation through faith in Jesus Christ

Discovery: What seems too good to be true = truest thing in universe

B. Everything Ready

Perfect Father waiting with open arms

Adoption papers signed by blood of Jesus Christ

Inheritance already prepared

Only needed: Say yes to Father's invitation

C. The Paradox

May seem too good to be true

That's exactly what makes it gloriously true

XI. Final Choice and Challenge

A. The Decision

Continue as orphan: afraid, disconnected, convinced perfect love is too good to be true?

OR step into incredible reality of being called child of perfect Father?

B. Closing Declaration

"He is so glad to be your father!"

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Key Scriptures

1 John 3:1 - Children of God

1 John 3:7-10 - Imitating the Father

1 John 2:28-29 - Confidence at His coming

John 14:9 - Seeing Father in Jesus

John 15:18-19 - World's hatred

John 16:1-3 - Persecution for not knowing Father

Series Integration

Central Theme: Throughout 1 John, truths seem "too good to be true"—but God's perfect fatherhood is "too good NOT to be true."