“‘…and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters,’ saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17
Dear Ones:
In the Old Testament the Father appears in Genesis, chapter one verse one: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” We know from the context of this verse that here, “God” is the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. At the creation of man, we discover a more specific reference to the Father. “And God said, ‘Let US make man in our image, after OUR likeness.” (1:26) Why does Scripture from this time forward begin distinguishing the Father, from the Son and the Spirit, and yet, all being One God? First of all, it is because it is the truth. All three persons of the Godhead were creating the heavens and the earth. We find in the New Testament that the same is true with regard to redemption. This we see by Jesus’ command that his disciples be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three Persons are working as One to bring about the salvation of the sinner, making him to be a “new creation” in Christ. Isaiah would sum this up by saying, “…Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer; Thy name is from everlasting.” (63:16) In the consideration of the Father, perhaps one of the greatest traits and characteristics of His nature, which has a direct bearing upon our lives on this earth, and into eternity, is the fact that He is eternal, ever-lasting. “…And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6) There is no change, or variableness in Him. He is ever, and always the Eternal Father. What bearing does the knowledge of the Father have on the believer?
When Christ took upon Himself human flesh, and dwelt among us, He brought with Him the revelation of His relationship with the Father, and the Father with Him. It was an invisible relationship, and yet, the effects of such could be seen in the life of Christ. Phillip on one occasion asked the Lord: “…Lord, show us the Father,” (Jn. 14:8) to which the Lord Jesus would respond, “…He that hath seen me hath seen the Father…Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?” (v.9,10) The Lord was making clear to Phillip that though the Father and Himself were two distinct persons, yet they were one in nature, mind, heart, purpose and power. They lived in perfect synchronization and symphony…never a discord in thought or deed. Why does the Lord Jesus speak so much of the Father, both in prayer, as well as in doctrine? By Christ’s example as a Son, and His work on Calvary by the Spirit, we are called to KNOW the Father, the Eternal Father. This Father in heaven, by Christ, made a way for us to come into His holy presence, there to commune with Him. Is the Father delighted that we come to Him?
According the Gospel of Luke, we find that at Jesus’ baptism, the Father said: “Thou art my beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased.” (3:22) Later, the Father, would declare, when Jesus was on the mount of transfiguration, “…This is My beloved Son; hear Him.” (9:35) These two declarations reveals to us great, and whole-hearted affection of the Father towards the Son. He is the Beloved. When a person comes to Christ, and is saved, the Father places him IN Christ. We know that God the Father so loved the world, that He gave His Son, but do we grasp that being IN Christ means that the Father sees us perfect and accepted in Christ? This is why we have access to Him, in the quiet and aloneness of our hearts and in places of worship. We are beloved, as Christ was, and is, loved. Christ prayed: “I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (Jn. 17:26)
Dear Father, Strengthen us to live in Thy love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Love, Dad