What Does It Mean To Have God As Father?

Romans 8:15-18:

Romans 8:15–18 (NLT)

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

17 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.

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

Do you remember what it was like the first time you said, “I love you.” Or the first time your child called you “Mommy” or “Daddy”? There’s something very special about these terms we use in these relationships. This was a big deal in the first century. Jesus was the first Jewish Rabbi to address God as “Father.” (Matthew 6:9: Our Father who is in Heaven...)

Not all are God’s children

John 1:11-13:

John 1:11–13 (NLT)

11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

Not all are God’s children Those who “believe” and “accept” Him o These terms aren’t how we use them today o They require obedience

We are born of God

John 3:3-8:

John 3:3–8 (NLT)

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.

7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

• This isn’t merely a change of behavior • This isn’t following a set of rules • The Christian life is a literal transformation of who you are as you are born into the family of God. • The wind metaphor is Jesus’ illustration of the power of the transformation in the life of a Christian and the way that is reflected to a world who doesn’t know the source or destination.

God loves you immensely

1 John 3:1:

1 John 3:1 (NLT)

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

Literally, “Where in the world does this kind of love come from?” The love of God was demonstrated for you in Christ. The love of God is demonstrated as He is involved in your life daily.

God provides for you

James 1:17-18: What does it mean to have God as Father?

James 1:17–18 (NLT)

17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

What does this say about your relationship with God? You are His prized possession! His desires for you are good, and so His gifts to you are good.

Matthew 7:11:

Matthew 7:11 (NLT)

11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

God doesn’t just give you what you need. He intentionally blesses you as a good Father who loves His children. Jesus is talking here about God’s provision of your earthly needs...

Romans 8:31-34:

Romans 8:31–34 (NLT)

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.

34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

God has made every provision for your life in Him. He didn’t even withhold His own Son from you. He has also given you everything you need to walk in victory over the sins you struggle with and over the anxieties you face. He knows your every need, and His grace is sufficient for you.

God disciplines you

Hebrews 12:5-11:

Hebrews 12:5–11 (NLT)

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.

6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?

8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Like every good father should, God disciplines us... The word discipline has both positive and corrective uses... In a corrective sense, discipline refers to the way that God brings me back from my disobedience... In a positive sense, God disciplines His children just as we teach our kids the things they need to live life well... What does it mean to have God as Father?

God wants you to approach Him

Romans 8:15:

Romans 8:15 (NLT)

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

This is an intimate term that a child uses for their “Daddy.” It speaks to the way that God desires us to approach Him—like a small child who runs to their daddy with the full assurance of His love, goodness, affection, and acceptance of them.

Hebrews 4:16:

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

God knows who we are. He knows our weakness. He knows our faults. And just as you are, He wants you to come to Him with full assurance of His love and desire to have you close to Him.

James 4:8:

James 4:8 (NLT)

8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

God guides your steps

Psalm 37:23-24:

Psalm 37:23–24 (NLT)

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

This is a promise. So many times, we reflect on knowing and discerning the will of God as if God was sending us on some kind of a sadistic scavenger hunt. God’s promise for you is that if you are walking with Him and seeking to obey Him, then in his grace, He will guide your steps.

Proverbs 3:5-6:

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Now what?

What is your attitude toward God? Do you relate to Him as your Father? Do you struggle to relate to God? Are you afraid of His condemnation and judgment? He is FOR YOU! Are you accepting the loving discipline and direction of God as your Father? Are you drawing close to Him? What does it mean to have God as Father?