Marks of a Good Father
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Happy Father’s Day! Fatherhood is a critically important role in society as a whole, and in each family individually. Nations rise and fall as a result of fatherhood or a lack thereof. Children’s success has much to do with their father’s effect in their lives. Mothers are also critically important for many reasons, but only fathers can be fathers.
Any decent father cares about being a good father, and performing his role. Sometimes however, his sincere effort can fall short. The story is told about the children who begged for a hamster, and after the usual fervent vows that they alone would care for it, they got one. They named it Danny. Two months later, when Mom found herself responsible for cleaning and feeding the creature, she located a prospective new home for it. The children took the news of Danny's imminent departure quite well, though one of them remarked, "He's been around here a long time--we'll miss him."
"Yes," Mom replied, "But he's too much work for one person, and since I'm that one person, I say he goes."
Another child offered, "Well, maybe if he wouldn't eat so much and wouldn't be so messy, we could keep him."
But Mom was firm. "It's time to take Danny to his new home now," she insisted. "Go and get his cage."
With one voice and in tearful outrage the children shouted, "Danny? We thought you said Daddy!"
Jokes aside, it can be hard at times for a man to know how to be a good father. Where can he find the answers? There are many opinions out there as to what a good father should be and do—psychologists, books, life coaches, TV, and more—but the Bible is the only perfect guide for fatherhood. God gave us Scripture to guide us through every challenge that life brings our way.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Peter 1:3 (KJV 1900)
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
So today, I would like to encourage you by offering hope to all those who need to hear this. The Scriptures, given by God, contain all the wisdom and knowledge we need to live a joyous, successful, God-honoring life on this earth. If you’re desiring to learn how to be a good father, the Bible reveals how. If you’re trying to be a good son/daughter for your father, the Bible reveals how. No matter what your dilemma, the Bible has what you need. But there is a catch: in order to see all of Scripture “unlocked” for your understanding and benefit, you need to have a Heavenly Father. You need to meet God the Father in salvation before you can benefit from all that Scripture contains for us to read. This morning, I want us to see “Marks of a Good Father” from our text, and I pray that God will use it to teach us, not just about human fatherhood, but about Himself as the Heavenly Father.
Prayer
A moment ago, I mentioned that God is the Heavenly Father. This is only possible through salvation in Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:22-29
Vs. 22-24 - Sin is our problem.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Our sin violates God’s law, and pollutes us. In that condition, we cannot be allowed into God’s pure Heaven. Since all our good works are as “filthy rags” in God’s eyes (Is. 64:6), we cannot do anything that will earn us eternal life. (Eph. 2:9) The law reveals us to be sinners—criminals, guilty and condemned.
Vs. 25-26
There is only one alternative to eternal judgment for our sin. That alternative is faith in Christ Jesus. He alone died for your sins, and He alone can pay for them. His payment is available to all, but His payment has not been applied to all. It is only applied to the accounts of those who put their faith in Him as the Saviour, the spotless Lamb of God. Those who have done so have God for their Heavenly Father. Do you know what it means to be a child of God?
Vs. 27-29
At first glance, vs. 27 may seem to teach that baptism brings salvation. But Scripture is very clear it does not. Baptism is, however, an outward testimony that shows what has already happened in the heart. Those who have been baptized have publicly “put on Christ” by declaring where their allegiance lies, and by joining the church membership roles through baptism. They were already saved, and now they have declared so by being baptized.
Salvation could be described as a “great equalizer,” because in Christ, we are not rich or poor, weak or strong, old or young, dark or light. We are not Jew or Greek, bond or free, male or female. We are one in Christ Jesus. We are heirs of God. God is our Father, and His Fatherhood teaches us much about Him, about earthly life, and about human fatherhood. For the next few minutes, I want us to notice “Marks of a Good Father.”
Galatians 4:1-7
This passage, in detailing some things about the Heavenly Father, tells us some things about what good fathers do.
I. A Good Father Does What is Good for His Children
I. A Good Father Does What is Good for His Children
Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
A good father makes wise choices for his children, to provide for their education, clothing, food, and general well-being. Wicked people in our world claim that children should be encouraged to make life-altering decisions while still very young, but good fathers don’t allow that! Children need guidance, protection and leadership. A good father provides what is good for his children, even if they don’t want it at the time.
God is the infinitely good Father, and He never does anything that is not right and good for His children! We don’t always understand how His gifts are good, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
II. A Good Father Provides for His Children On Time.
II. A Good Father Provides for His Children On Time.
Gal. 4:3-4
“When the fulness of time was come...”
A good father not only does what is good for his children, he does it on time. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew it was right for Israel to be under the Judaic system that He gave them. When the time was perfect, God sent His Son to die on the cross, ending the Judaic system in the process.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Matt. 7:7-11 Something is good if: 1) It is the right thing, 2) If it’s given in the right way, 3) If it’s given at the right time.
Giving your child a stone to eat isn’t the right thing.
Throwing the food at your child in anger isn’t a good thing, it is abuse.
Feeding your child 2-3 days late isn’t the right time.
III. A Good Father Chooses to Love His Children.
III. A Good Father Chooses to Love His Children.
We live in a time where there is a dearth of natural love. Mothers intentionally butcher their babies in the womb, fathers abuse their children and abandon their families, and humans all over abuse each other. A good father loves his children. And he doesn’t just love them because they’re the kids he ended up with; he loves them on purpose...because kids, like the rest of us, aren’t always very lovable.
God the Heavenly Father loves His children on purpose, and by choice. He proved this by adopting us.
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
He wasn’t stuck with us; He came to redeem us!
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
IV. A Good Father Doesn’t Require His Children to Earn Their Family Membership.
IV. A Good Father Doesn’t Require His Children to Earn Their Family Membership.
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
A good father recognizes his children as full members of the family; he doesn’t require that they earn it. Babies are family members before they can behave well, and before they understand what a family is! If God required sinners to earn their membership into His family, we would be doomed. But so many people are trying to earn it. And they never can.
Christ came to redeem us! He came to pay the penalty for our sins, because we cannot. Has your sin debt been paid? Has Christ’s payment been applied to your account?
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
V. A Good Father Molds/Shapes/Trains His Children.
V. A Good Father Molds/Shapes/Trains His Children.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
A good father is concerned for his child’s behavior and training. He observes his child, and corrects when necessary. He not only discourages wrong behavior, he demonstrates right behavior, and praises the child for emulating it. The Heavenly Father does this as well! He works in our heart and life to change us into the kind of person we should be…the kind of Person He is.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
God changes His children into conformation with His nature, by His Spirit. Have you been changed? Many people try to be good on the outside, but they aren’t different on the inside. How has the Spirit of God changed you from the inside? If He hasn’t, you are not God’s child.
VI. A Good Father Desires Fellowship With His Children.
VI. A Good Father Desires Fellowship With His Children.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
A good father is not only a breadwinner. He is not only an authoritarian or disciplinarian. He is not only a protector. A good father also desires fellowship with his children. He desires to spend time with them, to converse with them and have fun with them. He desires to have heartfelt talks with them. God desires the same with His children.
The word “Abba” is Aramaic for “father.” It is easy for us to speak of “God.” We may easily reverence the Creator. We may even comfortably talk about God as the Father of all mankind. But it’s not natural for sinners to fellowship with God as their personal Father. Is God your Father? A small child does not hesitate to run to his father when in need. He is bold to do so! It does not occur to him that there is any other reality. For true saints and children of God, it is natural and normal to draw near to God, because He is not just the Father, but MY Father.
We may pray fearfully to the Creator. We may try to live a pious life before Almighty God. But do we run to Him as our Father whenever we have a need? Do we desire close daily fellowship with Him? Just as my small children love to come and climb up in my lap to sit with me, so our Heavenly Father desires that we come to Him daily, hourly, for every need that we have, including the need for fellowship. What love—that our Heavenly Father desires to fellowship with sinners!
VII. A Good Father Gives His Children Full Family Rights.
VII. A Good Father Gives His Children Full Family Rights.
Gal. 4:7
A good father doesn’t withhold full family rights from his children. He treats all children as equal family members, regardless of their age, or how they are behaving. He does not make his children wonder if they are fully secure in his love and acceptance of them.
The Heavenly Father, from the moment He rescues a sinner from their sin, gives full rights of membership in God’s family. I am still a sinner, but because I have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, I am a full heir of God! I have equal access to all the rights of God’s family, just like Christ does. Think of it!!
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.
I cannot explain this to you—it is beyond my understanding. I cannot justify it to you, because sinners don’t deserve God’s grace. But the Heavenly Father is kind, loving, gracious, and longsuffering with His children, and I believe what He says in His Word.
VIII. Wise People Recognize a Good Father
VIII. Wise People Recognize a Good Father
Anytime, but on Father’s Day especially, it is good and right to tell your father you appreciate him. Most dads do the best they can, and you should thank your dad for doing so.
No human dad is perfect, and it is easy for children to get so focused on their dad’s imperfections, that they fail to recognize that they have a good dad. Let me say to you, that wise children recognize a good father!
In Galatians 4, Paul alludes to that idea.
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
God is the perfect Father. He is loving, kind, and gracious. He is merciful and longsuffering. He has withheld our judgment and extended us blessings. He has protected us and comforted us. He has given us the truth of the Word of God, and allowed us to sit under the preaching of it. He sent His only begotten Son to die for man’s sin, so that we could be free from the bondage of it. Folks, that is a GOOD FATHER!
Even though God has done all of this, billions of people today are still trying to earn their way to Heaven. They don’t recognize that God is the perfect Father, who is extending His mercy and grace to them, inviting them to become His children, and He their Heavenly Father. Friend, don’t labor in the weak and beggarly elements of the world, vainly trying to work your way to Heaven. The gracious Heavenly Father is offering you a better way…the only way that will bring your salvation.
Dear listener, are you God’s child today? Is God your Heavenly Father? Our world needs good fathers, and we are reminded by ever-increasing wickedness in the world that good fathers are rare. The only answer to our world’s plight is one father…THE Father. Have you been adopted into God’s family? Do you have regular, personal, intimate fellowship with God your Heavenly Father? Is He constantly changing your life through the indwelling presence of His Spirit?
If you have never repented of your sinful condition, and given yourself wholly to God, trusting in Jesus Christ alone to save you from your sins, you are still lost. You are part of Satan’s family, and you are destined for eternal judgment in the lake of fire. Don’t remain in that condition. Come to Christ! God wants to be your Heavenly Father…and He is the best father of all.