My God and My Father

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: I John 3; Lord's Day 9
Psalters: 225, 89, 347, 278
  1. The meaning.
    1. The name “Father” describes God in the closest relationship.
    2. God is eternally Father. He is Father before He came our Father.
      1. God’s Fatherhood is first within the Trinity in the relationship of the First Person to the Second.
      2. Second, the triune God then begets the Mediator.
    3. Of whom is God Father? Who are God’s children?
      1. From the viewpoint of creation God was Father of all (cf. Luke 3:38).
      2. In His infinite mercy God, in Christ and for Christ’s sake, obtained the right for some to be His adopted children.
  2. Our being children of God and God’s Fatherhood of us in Christ.
    1. How then does God become the spiritual Father of His adopted children?
      1. First, He predestinated us unto the adoption of Christ by Jesus to Himself (Eph. 1:5).
      2. Then God sent His Son to redeem us, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Gal. 4:4,5).
      3. God’s Son gave His Spirit (the Spirit of adoption) to testify with our spirits that we are God’s children (Rom. 8:15,16).
      4. Our adoption is fully realized when we are glorified in heaven (Romans 8:23).
    2. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the children of God (I Jn. 3:1)!
      1. God’s Fatherhood of me is an extension of His Fatherhood of Christ.
      2. The greatness of this love is because ...
  3. There are implications which arise from this relationship.
    1. Our Father provides us with all things necessary for our body and soul (Phil. 4:19).
      1. Our heavenly Father watches out for us, so that all evils are turned to our profit.
      2. This Sovereign God is our Father - able and willing to give us all good and to change all evil to good.
    2. I can rely on my Father in all circumstances of life.
      1. I may trust that He will provide with all things necessary for soul and body, for time and eternity.
      2. As children we can trust Him totally: on Him we can rely so entirely that we have no doubt.
      3. The faith which rests in God sees our heavenly Father as both able and willing to work all for our good.
    3. As an earthly father we have much to learn.