Pillar 1, God the Father

05/19/2015/PastorAdmin

 

  • Doctrine of God the Father
    • The Father is the eternal God.  He is identified as God by the Bible (Psalm 90.2, “Before the mountains were born, Or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” 2 Corinthians 1.2, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
    • The Father is spirit, therefore He does not have flesh, blood, and bones  and is invisible (Jn 4.24;  6.46; Lk 24.39).  Jesus Christ became man and while He was on earth He explained what the unseen Father is like (Jn 1.18).
    • The Father makes the plan for history and the life of each believer (Eph 1.3-14).
    • The Father is the personal spiritual Father of all believers. A father-son relationship exists (Gal 4.6; Eph 4.6; 1 Jn 3.1). As sons, believers are the objects of the Father’s love (Jn 16.27) and heirs of the Father’s very best benefits (Rom 8.17; 1 Jn 3.1-2).
    • The Father-son personal benefits for the believer include
      • access to the Father (Eph 2.18)
      • the spiritual wealth and benefits for time and eternity (Eph 1.3-8) 
      • the Word of God (Jn 14.24; 17.14-17)
      • we are to be like our Father (Eph 5.1) 
      • He will provide all the necessities of life for us (Mt 5.26-33) 
      • He wants the believer to return to fellowship with Him (Lk 15.11-32; 1 Jn 1.3-10) 
      • He sent the Holy Spirit to the believer (Jn 14.26)
      • we are to pray to the Father (Jn 16.23; Eph 5.20)
      • the Father desires to answer our prayer (Mt 7.11) 
      • we can glorify the Father (Jn 15.8)
      • we worship the Father (Jn 4.21-24)
      • the Father directs our production (Jn 15.1)
      • the Father comforts and encourages us during our suffering (2 Cor 1.3-4).
    • The Father has taken personal responsibility for the believer’s benefit (Eph 1.3-8), security (Rom 8.28-39), destiny (Rom 8.28-30; 1 Jn 3.1-2), and victory (1 Jn 5.4-5).
  • The Father’s relation to believers has at least four main emphases.
    • He is our spiritual father and each of us is his spiritual child (1 John 3.1-2; Galatians 4.6).
    • Our Father takes personal responsibility for us and our lives (Romans 8.28,31-32,38-39; ).
    • Our Father cares for us and comforts us (1 Peter 5.7; 2 Corinthians 1.3-4; Luke 15.11-32; Philippians 4.19).
    • Our Father is a pattern for human fathers (Ephesians 5.1; Luke 15.11-32).