Fatherhood of God

Aspects of the fatherhood of God

He is the Creator and provider

1 Corinthians 8:6 NLT

But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.

See also Dt 32:6; Dt 32:18; Is 64:8; Ac 17:24–28

He shows love and compassion

Hosea 11:1 NLT

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.

See also Ps 103:13; Je 3:19; 2 Co 1:3

He exercises his providence and care

Psalm 68:5 NLT

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

See also Mt 6:26; Mt 6:31–33; Mt 7:11

He disciplines and corrects

Deuteronomy 8:5 NLT

Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.

See also Pr 3:11–12; Heb 12:5–6

God as the Father of Jesus Christ

Matthew 3:17 NLT

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

See also Mt 11:27; Lk 2:49; Jn 5:17–18; Jn 17:11; Jn 20:17; Ro 15:6; Eph 1:3

1 Peter 1:3 NLT

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,

See also 1 Jn 1:3

God is the father of Israel

He cares for his covenant people

Jeremiah 31:9 NLT

Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and on smooth paths where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my oldest child.

See also Ex 4:22; Dt 14:1; Dt 32:6; Dt 32:18; Is 63:16; Mal 2:10

He is the father of the kings of Israel

2 Sa 7:13–14 This description of God’s fatherhood involves the maintenance of a special relationship between God and David’s descendants, which ultimately includes Jesus Christ.

See also Ps 2:7; Ps 89:26–27

God is the father of Christian believers

He has an intimate relationship with believers

Matthew 6:9 NLT

Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

See also Jn 20:17; 2 Co 6:18; Ga 3:26; 1 Jn 2:13

He adopts believers into his family

John 1:12–13 NLT

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

See also Ro 8:14–17; Ga 4:5–7; 1 Jn 3:1

The fatherhood of God has implications for the church

Character: children are to reproduce the Father’s likeness

Matthew 5:48 NLT

But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Unity: one Father means one family

Ephesians 4:3–6 NLT

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

See also Mal 2:10; Mt 23:9; Eph 3:14–15

Status: believers are related to Jesus Christ

Matthew 12:50 NLT

Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

See also Ro 8:29; Heb 2:11

Inheritance: believers are heirs of the Father’s kingdom

Romans 8:17 NLT

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

See also Lk 12:32; Ga 3:29; Col 1:12; Tt 3:7

Submission: believers are to revere the Father

1 Peter 1:17 NLT

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”

See also Mt 6:9; Eph 3:14