God Our Father

Q0108 God Our Father 2col pp 11/19/08 12:30 PM Page 1
GOD OUR
FATHER
What It Means
To Be His Child
CONTENTS
I
t’s good to be emotionally
stable, but it’s more important
In Search Of to be in the hands of One who
The Perfect Father . . . . . 2
is greater than our problems. It’s
What Does It Mean desirable to be born to non-abusive
To Be God’s Child? . . . . . 4
parents, but it’s far better to be
Family Status . . . . . . . . . 5 born into the family of God. It’s
Access Through beneficial to be employed in
Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 meaningful work, but it’s eternally
Training In preferable to have a Provider who
Godliness . . . . . . . . . . 13 assures a security that exceeds all
Help In earthly benefits.
Times Of Need. . . . . 17 In the following pages, former
Eternal Hope . . . . . . . . 21 Our Daily Bread Managing Editor
Responsibilities Kurt De Haan describes the kind of
To Fulfill . . . . . . . . . . . 25 relationship that when understood
Are You A Member and entered into can give meaning,
Of The Family? . . . . . . . 32 security, and perspective to every
area of life. It’s the kind of family
tie that can give faith to the fearful,
hope to the disillusioned, and
love to those who are lonely and
unprotected. Mart De Haan
Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo: Richard Fukuhara/Westlight
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.All rights reserved.
© 1994,2002 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA
IN SEARCH OF If we had a great and loving

THE PERFECT dad, we will gladly embrace
the biblical picture of God
FATHER as the ultimate parent. If
H
ave you ever seen we didn’t have that kind of
Scotland’s Loch father, we may have a
Ness monster? longing to find the kind of
Caught a glimpse of the father we never knew. Still
abominable snowman high others of us, though, may
in the Himalayas? Or struggle with even thinking
spotted a perfect father of God in terms of a father.
anywhere on this planet? If our dad was abusive,
No matter how thorough emotionally distant, or
our search among the physically absent, it may
families on earth, and no take a deliberate and
matter how much we may perhaps even painful
love our own dad, we know effort to sort through the
all too well that every father misconceptions and learn
has his flaws (which is to cling to the life-changing
putting it mildly). It is also truths of the right kind of
true that what we know fathering modeled by God.
about human fathers and Only Jesus has the
what we have experienced perfect Father (Mt. 5:48),
as children will affect and He alone can help
how eagerly or how us to experience the close
apprehensively we relationship with His Father
approach the subject of that our hearts desire. The
this booklet—knowing and Lord Jesus told His disciples,
enjoying God as our Father. “No one comes to the Father
For some of us, it will be except through Me. If you
a fairly comfortable process. had known Me, you would
2
© 2008 RBC Ministries
have known My Father also. it to be. Author and

. . . He who has seen Me theologian J. I. Packer
has seen the Father” (Jn. wrote, “If you want to
14:6-7,9). As the perfect Son judge how well a person
of God, He revealed His understands Christianity,
Father perfectly, and He find out how much he
showed us how we could makes of the thought of
enjoy a closeness with the being God’s child, and
Father that we could never having God as his Father.
have dreamed possible. If this is not the thought
that prompts and controls
his worship and prayers and
“If you want to his whole outlook on life,
it means that he does not
judge how well a understand Christianity very
person understands well at all” (Knowing God,
Christianity, find out InterVarsity Press, p.182).
Do you believe that? Is
how much he that how you think and live
makes of the each day? Do you enjoy a
thought of . . . close relationship with the
Father in heaven? Do you
having God as know how much He loves
his Father.” you and longs to care for
J. I. Packer you?
The purpose of this
booklet is to help us to see
No other relationship the absolute perfection of
can be as fulfilling. For to our heavenly Father and to
know God as our Father is learn how to make the most
to know life as He intended of our relationship with Him.
3
WHAT DOES IT glass slipper. The prince

MEAN TO BE searched the kingdom to
find the slipper’s owner,
GOD’S CHILD? and eventually found that
T
hink back to a story it fit Cinderella. He swept
you probably read as her off her feet, married her,
a child—Cinderella. and she became a royal
In the popular English princess, part of the royal
version that I remember, family.
a poor peasant girl named It’s a great story. I think
Cinderella was living a part of the reason so many
slavelike existence with of us like the tale is that we
her ugly stepsisters and all like to imagine we too
a tyrant of a stepmother could be a child of a king—
(both are bad stereotypes!). living like a princess or
While the stepmother prince—with all the
and stepsisters went to a privileges that come with
ball in the king’s palace, such a position. We’re
Cinderella had to stay often frustrated by the
home. But when she was daily drudgery or even
magically transformed into mistreatment. We long
a dazzling beauty, she set to be treated as someone
off for the palace in a special.
pumpkin-turned-coach. The Bible describes
During the evening something far better than
the dashing young prince any mythical tale of a
danced with Cinderella and peasant-turned-princess,
fell in love. She had to rush and something more real
home when the clock struck than imagining ourselves to
midnight, however, and be a child of a present-day
accidentally left behind a world leader. The Bible
4
states that common sinners son, and if a son, then

can become children of the an heir of God through
King of the universe. Christ (Gal. 4:4-7).
In the pages that Behold what manner
follow, we will examine of love the Father has
six characteristics of what bestowed on us, that we
it means for a person to should be called children
be a child of God. of God! (1 Jn. 3:1).
F
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amily Status
When the fullness of the Those are powerful
time had come, God sent words! Ordinary people like
forth His Son . . . to you and me can be called
redeem those who were children of the Creator of
under the law, that the universe. That’s worth
we might receive the thinking about.
adoption as sons. And Why do we need
because you are sons, to become part of
God has sent forth the another family? An
Spirit of His Son into your illustration from recent
hearts, crying out, “Abba, history will help us to
Father!” Therefore you are realize the significance of
no longer a slave but a this concept. The images
5
are burned deeply into my world that is dominated by

memory—emaciated babies a heartless tyrant. The Bible
and young children sitting in describes Satan as “the ruler
cribs in a stark, ill-equipped of this world” (Jn. 12:31;
Romanian orphanage. It 16:11) and “the god of this
was soon after the fall age,” who has blinded the
of the ruthless leader, minds of people so they do
Nicolae Ceausescu, in 1989. not believe in Christ (2 Cor.
Conditions were awful. 4:4). Those who reject
Malnutrition, disease, and Christ are called children
death were frequent visitors. of the devil (Jn. 8:44).
The good news was that This directly contradicts
when Ceausescu fell, the the concept of what has
plight of the orphans became been called the universal
worldwide news—and fatherhood of God and the
compassionate people from brotherhood of man. To say
all over the world rushed to that God is the loving Father
help. Food, medicine, and of all people and that no
money poured in. But the one will ever be judged as
most dramatic effort of love worthy of hell is a statement
was made by those who contrary to what Jesus and
struggled through the red the Bible say about who
tape to adopt the orphans. qualifies to be a child of God.
Instead of being children In 1 John 3:15 we learn that
of a ruthless government, humanity can be divided into
they became children of two categories: the children
parents who longed to love of God and the children of
them and provide for them a the devil. And Jesus told
life with hope and a future. Paul that his mission in life
God has done something would be to turn people
similar for us. We live in a “from darkness to light,
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and from the power of Satan children of God, to those

to God” (Acts 26:18). who believe in His name”
What has God done (Jn. 1:11-12).
to bring us into His
family? The Bible uses two
word pictures to explain this A person is outside
process. The first is what
Jesus described as being
the family of God
“born again” (Jn. 3:3). The unless he is
second is the concept we spiritually reborn.
have already referred to—
adoption (Rom. 8:15; Gal.
4:5; Eph. 1:5). Both analogies Adoption is the other key
help us to understand the illustration used in the New
frequent biblical use of the Testament. In Romans 8:14-
expressions sons of God 16, the apostle Paul wrote,
and children of God. “As many as are led by the
Jesus said that a person Spirit of God, these are
is outside the family of God, sons of God. For you did
spiritually condemned, not receive the spirit of
unless he is spiritually bondage again to fear, but
reborn (Jn. 3:1-21). This you received the Spirit of
rebirth is accomplished by adoption by whom we cry
God’s Spirit when a person out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The
expresses personal faith in Spirit Himself bears witness
Jesus as one’s only hope of with our spirit that we are
forgiveness of sin and life children of God.”
in heaven. The apostle Whereas the term born
John said that “as many again may be said to refer
as received [Jesus], to them primarily to the giving of new
He gave the right to become spiritual life and bringing a
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person into God’s family, the enslaved to sin (3:22-

term adoption highlights the 23; 4:3).
new relationship with the • One becomes a child
Father and the new legal of God by a personal
rights and privileges. expression of faith in
We are not only saved Christ (3:26).
from an eternity in hell, • God’s Spirit gives us
but we are also given a new life and makes us
wonderful new status as children of God (4:6).
children of God. Pastor and • To be a child of God
author Erwin Lutzer states, means both freedom
“Christ did not die on the from sin’s bondage and
cross just so our sins could incredible privileges
be forgiven, though that now and forever as a
itself would deserve our spiritual heir (vv.4-7).
endless praise. Sin was How can being
a roadblock which God part of God’s family
removed so that He could change my life? That’s
achieve some lofty goals what the rest of this booklet
in our lives. Specifically, is all about. We will explore
we have been appointed the biblical truths that we
to be sons of God” (You’re have free access to the
Richer Than You Think, SP Father in prayer, training
Publications, p.47). in how to be Christlike, help
In Galatians 3:22–4:7, for every situation we face
Paul highlighted many in life, a new perspective of
of the truths we have hope for this life and eternity,
addressed so far: and last but not least, we
• Until we become a have responsibilities to fulfill
child of God, we are to our Father and to our new
spiritually dead, brothers and sisters.
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F
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ccess Through Prayer
Through [Jesus] we both believed that because God
have access by one Spirit is perfect and separated
to the Father (Eph. 2:18). from evil, He cannot be
When you pray, do not approached so casually, if
use vain repetitions as the at all, by people like you
heathen do. . . . For your and me. Yet Jesus and His
Father knows the things disciples have made it clear
you have need of before that we indeed can come to
you ask Him. In this God in prayer because we
manner, therefore, pray: are family through faith in
Our Father in heaven, Christ.
hallowed be Your name If I wanted to meet
(Mt. 6:7-9). with a high-ranking federal
Let us therefore come government official, I
boldly to the throne of would have to make an
grace, that we may appointment—days or
obtain mercy and find months in advance. But
grace to help in time of when I want to talk with my
need (Heb. 4:16). dad, what do I do? I simply
The statements drop by his home or pick
above would be seen up the phone and call him.
as blasphemous if you Why? Because we’re family.
9
My four children know The New Testament was

they can come and talk written in Greek (the trade
to me anytime at all. No language of the wider
appointments are necessary. Mediterranean world), so
They don’t have to put on the word we usually find for
their best clothes or even father is pater. But because
take a bath first. They don’t the common language of
have to use special language, the day in Palestine was
kneel down, hold their Aramaic, we have good
hands a certain way, or reason to believe that when
follow an outline of what Jesus taught His disciples to
to say. Why? Because pray, “Our Father in heaven,
we’re family. hallowed be Your name”
We can call God (Mt. 6:9), He told them
“Abba.” Abba is the to use the term Abba.
Aramaic term that Jewish In Romans 8:15, the
children use to address their apostle Paul said that
fathers. (Aramaic is a because we are God’s
language closely related to adopted children, we can
Hebrew and was commonly cry out “Abba, Father” (this
spoken during the time phrase is also used in Mark
of Christ’s ministry.) The 14:36 and Galatians 4:6).
English equivalent of Abba Concerning this verse, Bible
would be the terms Daddy commentator F. F. Bruce
or Dear Father. Although the writes that the use of Abba
term was originally derived is significant because
from babytalk, by the time “Abba was not, and is not
of Christ it was a word used the term used by Jews when
by young and old alike to addressing God as their
speak in an intimate way Father. But the fact that the
to their fathers. Aramaic word found its way
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into the worshiping to address God that way. Yet

vocabulary of the Gentile in the New Testament, God
churches strongly suggests is called Father at least 275
that it was used in this way times, and that is how we
by Jesus” (The Epistle Of are instructed to speak to
Paul To The Romans, Him. All that a good father
Eerdmans, p.166). wants to be to his children,
Why is this privilege
so significant? The Old
Testament emphasizes God’s “All that a good
awesome holiness to such
a degree that He does not father wants
seem approachable. The to be to his
tabernacle and temple children, . . .
reinforced this idea by both
structure and ritual. God’s God will be to
special presence was not Christians who
something that everyone approach Him
could enter—only the high
priest, and only once a year. in prayer.”
In his book What Jesus Haddon W. Robinson
Said About Successful Living,
Haddon W. Robinson writes,
“In the Old Testament, Jesus told us, God will be
the Israelites did not to Christians who approach
individually address God as Him in prayer. We can pray
Father. As far as we know, as children” (Discovery
Abraham, Joseph, Moses, House Publishers, p.190).
David, or Daniel never fell In the New Testament,
to their knees in the solitude we have a clear picture of
of their chambers and dared the believer’s privilege to call
11
God “Father.” It is central We can intimately and

to the gospel message and confidently talk with our
to the way we are to live as Father” (What Jesus Said
Christ’s followers. God’s About Successful Living,
holiness and greatness is p.191).
not diminished by this in What is your prayer-
the least because in Christ life like? I don’t know
we have a mediator who about you, but these truths
satisfies God’s requirements from the Bible help me to
for holiness and who makes see that heaven’s door is
us holy by His sacrifice for always open to me as a
our sins (1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. member of God’s family. The
8:6; 9:15; 12:24). We can Father is eagerly anticipating
now come before Him with my next visit, longing to
a God-sanctioned boldness hear my words of affection,
(Eph. 3:12; Heb. 4:16; to hear of my struggles, to
10:19). hear my expressions of
Isn’t there a danger trust, and to hear the
of taking prayer too requests that show my
lightly? There certainly realization that I depend
is. As we embrace the on Him for everything in
refreshing truth that we life. I hope you too are
have unhindered access to sensing the wonderful
God through Jesus Christ, privilege and opportunity
we must not forget that God we have as God’s children.
is truly awesome. Haddon
Robinson states, “The fact
that we come to a throne
should fill us with awe. But
because it is a throne of
grace, it is approachable. . . .
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F
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raining In Godliness
Whom the Lord loves He maturing. Training takes
corrects, just as a father many forms. It may be
the son in whom He physical: trying to get our
delights (Prov. 3:12). body in shape by eating less
We have had human and exercising more. It may
fathers who corrected be emotional and spiritual:
us, and we paid them learning how to depend
respect. Shall we not on the Lord when tragedy
much more readily be in strikes. Or it may take
subjection to the Father of the form of suffering the
spirits and live? For they consequences of sinful
indeed for a few days choices, and experiencing
chastened us as seemed the Lord’s rebuke: learning
best to them, but He for “the hard way.”
our profit, that we may be As children, we didn’t
partakers of His holiness enjoy the “lessons” our
(Heb. 12:9-11). parents tried to teach us.
Training is a topic that Cleaning our rooms, helping
most of us would rather not with household chores, and
discuss. That’s because we doing our homework were
don’t enjoy the pain that is generally not what we would
necessary for learning and have chosen to do with our
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time. And when we violated How does God

the rules, we didn’t enjoy train His children? As
being sent to our room, we have already illustrated,
getting spanked, being forced discipline can be either
to do extra chores, or getting positive or negative. It can
punished in some other way. be training—instruction in
At the time we received the how to live. Or it can take
discipline, we didn’t have the form of correction—
much appreciation for what punishment for wrongdoing.
we learned. The author of Hebrews
My father had a way refers to both types of
of reminding his four sons discipline. After a lengthy
that he didn’t enjoy having chapter in which he listed
to discipline us. Just before believers whose faith
spanking one of us, he was severely tested by
would say, “This is going difficulties, persecution,
to hurt me more than it and even martyrdom,
will you.” Many times, I’m he began chapter 12 by
sure, we had a hard time reminding his readers
believing that. But now, that we need to follow the
as a father of four children examples of faithfulness
myself, I understand what of the past and to endure
he meant. And it seems I all difficulties as we follow
spend quite a bit of time Christ’s example. Using
thinking through the type athletic imagery, he told us
of discipline to use and the to get in shape spiritually
goal I want to achieve with and not to allow anything
my children. All of this has to slow us down as we “run
helped me to understand a with endurance the race that
little more of what it means is set before us” (v.1).
for God to discipline us. Then the writer pointed to
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Jesus Christ as the ultimate has to take drastic measures

example to follow (vv.2-3). in dealing with His children.
Hebrews 5:8 says this about The New Testament
Christ: “Though He was church in Corinth, for
a Son, yet He learned example, had several
obedience by the things members who needed
which He suffered.” That is correction (1 Cor. 11:17-34).
not to say that Christ was in They had lost touch with
any way sinful. It does say, the reason for observing
however, that through the the Lord’s Supper, and some
suffering He endured, Christ were even getting drunk!
experienced everything that
the Father wanted Him to,
and by that experience The Father’s goal
earned the qualifications
to be the Savior of the world.
is to make us
Jesus Himself learned the like His Son.
high cost of obedience to
the Father.
If Jesus Christ had to As a result of God’s
undergo such training, how discipline, several were
could we ever question why suffering physically and
God allows us to undergo some even died because
training of a similar nature? of their callous attitude.
Hebrews 12 also Why should we
speaks of discipline that be glad that God
is corrective, that which disciplines His
is a result of our sin. children? It demonstrates
Verse 6 states that the Lord His love. Hebrews 12:5
“scourges every son whom quotes Proverbs 3:12 and
He receives.” God sometimes says that as a good human
15
father corrects his children, falling down over his rugged,

God corrects those whom bearded face. . . . I’ll never
He loves. forget the scene. My father
Paul Dwight Moody, son had unknowingly awakened
of evangelist D. L. Moody within me the consciousness
(1837–1899), told how his of the love of God.”
dad reflected the love of the What is the goal of
heavenly Father in discipline. discipline? The Father’s
The incident took place when goal is to make us more like
Paul was 10 years old. His Christ. He doesn’t want to
dad had told him to finish hurt us; He wants to better us.
talking with a visiting friend Hebrews 12:10-11 tells us that
and then go to bed. But, Paul God wants us to be “partakers
wrote, “A little later he came of His holiness” and to
into the room again and saw produce “the peaceable
that I had not obeyed him. fruit of righteousness.” And
Speaking with that directness according to James 1:2-5,
of which he was capable, he the “testing” of our faith
ordered me to bed at once. “produces patience” with the
His brusque tone of voice goal of making us spiritually
was new to me, and I mature.
retreated, frightened and in Pastor Jim Carpenter
tears. But before I had time writes, “Your heavenly
to fall asleep, he was at my Father never makes a
bedside. He explained that mistake in discipline.
he had reprimanded me His timing is perfect,
because I had disobeyed His motives are pure,
him, but this in no way and His methods are never
indicated that he didn’t love destructive. They are always
me. As he knelt to pray with beneficial” (Discipleship
me, I noticed that tears were Journal, Issue 51, p.52).
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Do we believe it? Are “What shall we eat?” or

we convinced that everything “What shall we drink?”
God allows to happen in our or “What shall we wear?”
lives is training of one sort or . . . For your heavenly
another—with the goal of Father knows that you
making us more like Christ? need all these things
It’s true. It is that truth that (Mt. 6:31-32).
puts all of the good and bad What man is there
in life in perspective. With among you who, if his
a goal so grand and noble, son asks for bread, will
nothing in life is too bad to give him a stone? Or if
endure. And if we are willing he asks for a fish, will
to accept that, our attitude he give him a serpent?
then must be, “Lord, If you then, being evil,
whatever it takes, make me know how to give good
like Your Son Jesus Christ.” gifts to your children,
F
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H elp In Times Of Need
A father of the fatherless,
a defender of widows,
how much more will
your Father who is in
is God in His holy heaven give good things
habitation (Ps. 68:5). to those who ask Him!
Do not worry, saying, (Mt. 7:9-11).
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As a dad, I am eager to fish (vv.9-10). Then He

come to my children’s aid. drew a comparison: If we,
It may be a skinned arm or as imperfect and sinful as
leg that needs some cleaning we are, know how to give
up, a bandage, and most what is good to our children,
of all, a little sympathy. how much more will our
It may be some help in absolutely perfect Father
trying to understand a tough give good things to us (v.11).
homework assignment. It Commenting on this
could be help in handling a passage, William Hendriksen
conflict with a fellow student writes, “The heavenly Father
or a neighbor. It could be will not disappoint His
protecting them from a children. This, however,
large, mean-looking dog that does not mean that He will
suddenly showed up in our always give them whatever
front yard. Sometimes it is they ask. It means that He
simply a hug when they are will not give them anything
feeling left out or lonely. that is bad for them. He will
How do we know give ‘good things’ to those
our Father in heaven who ask Him” (The Gospel
will help us in our Of Matthew, Baker Book
times of need? What House, p.363).
kind of Father would He be The Bible assures us that
if He didn’t? Jesus answered we can cast all our cares on
this question in Matthew 7. Him because He cares for us
He said that it’s unthinkable (1 Pet. 5:7). He knows our
that a father would be so needs and He knows how
cruel that he would give a to meet those needs with
stone to a hungry child who wisdom and compassion.
asks for some bread, or a The Old Testament
snake to one who asks for prophet Isaiah provides
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us with an interesting • having wisdom to know

picture of God’s care for His what to say in tough
spiritual children. During a witnessing situations
difficult time when Israel (Mt. 10:18-20).
was being defeated by her • knowing how to pray
enemies and God seemed to (Rom. 8:26).
be far away, the people said, • dealing with suffering
“The Lord has forsaken me, (Rom. 8:18-30).
and my Lord has forgotten • coping with illness (2
me.” But God answered, Cor. 12:7-10; Jas. 5:16).
“Can a woman forget her • resisting temptation
nursing child, and not have (Rom. 6:1-23; 8:12-17;
compassion on the son of 1 Cor. 10:13).
her womb? Surely they may • needing comfort
forget, yet I will not forget (2 Cor. 1:3-7).
you. See, I have inscribed • facing intense pressures
you on the palms of My (2 Cor. 1:8-11).
hands” (Isa. 49:14-16). • resisting Satan
We too can be certain (Eph. 6:10-18; Jas. 4:7).
that the One who gave us • coping with trials
spiritual birth will never (Jas. 1:5).
abandon us nor fail us. • overcoming worry
What kinds of help (1 Pet. 5:7).
do we need? Here are How has God
some examples of the kind demonstrated His
of help we need, and Bible loving care in times
verses (look them up) that past? As we read the
indicate how God will Bible, we find many
supply those needs. examples of God’s help
• receiving basic physical in times of need. He has
needs (Mt. 6:31-32). shown that He is the eager
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provider and protector Ishmael, Joseph, Ruth,

of His children. Daniel, Esther, Paul, and
The nation of Israel, John could testify to God’s
for example, experienced provision and protection.
the love of the Father How has God
throughout their history. demonstrated His
In thinking back to the time loving care to you? The
the Lord brought them out truths we have been talking
of Egypt, Moses said, “The about may mean little to you
Lord your God carried you, if you don’t recognize that
as a father carries his son, God wants to care for you
all the way you went until too. If you are His child
you reached this place” through faith in Christ, He’s
(Dt. 1:31 NIV). already done a lot for you,
and He longs to do more.
The evidence of His
“The Lord your God care may come through the
people He sends into your
carried you, as a life to meet your needs and
father carries his encourage you. It may come
son, all the way through a deep peace in
your heart as you express
you went until you your trust in Him and cast
reached this place.” all your cares on Him (1 Pet.
Moses (Dt. 1:31 NIV) 5:7). It may come through
the supply of your physical
needs or the grace and
The Bible contains strength to endure great
many other examples too difficulty (2 Cor. 12:9; Phil.
numerous to mention here. 4:11). You can be sure that
People like Abraham, Isaac, your Father cares for you.
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F
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E ternal Hope
[I pray] that the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and prepare a place for
you, I will come again
the Father of glory, may and receive you to Myself
give to you the spirit of (Jn. 14:2-3).
wisdom and revelation Hope is what keeps you
. . . ; that you may know and me alive. People who
what is the hope of His lose hope of some sort or
calling, what are the another usually become an
riches of the glory of His enemy of society or a drain
inheritance in the saints upon it. People without
(Eph. 1:17-18). some glimmer of hope
We know that all things lash out or drop out. They
work together for good become suicidal—by their
to those who love God reckless behavior in search
. . . . If God is for us, of a temporary thrill or by
who can be against us? blatant acts of despair that
(Rom. 8:28,31). lead them to try to end it all
In My Father’s house are by jumping, overdosing, or
many mansions; if it were shooting.
not so, I would have told What hope keeps
you. I go to prepare a people going from day
place for you. And if I go to day? The hope of a
21
paycheck? The thought see the futility of their

of what they’re going to thinking and to see that the
do tomorrow or on the only true hope is in Jesus
weekend? A vacation? A Christ (Acts 17:16-34). Paul
six-pack in the refrigerator? had observed idol after idol
A warm relationship? A in the city (v.16)—idols that
promotion? A high school represented false hope. So
diploma? A college degree? he pointed to the Creator
A new baby? A new house? who could be known (v.27).
Retirement? Recognition There is hope in this life and
and reward from family, beyond the grave (v.31). That
co-workers, friends, fellow hope is centered in knowing
churchgoers? Religion and God as He has revealed
the thought of eventual Himself through His Son
reward from God? Jesus Christ, and trusting
At the core of all the Him for forgiveness of sin.
religions of the world is a In a letter to the believers
quest for hope—something in Ephesus, Paul described
that makes sense of the their condition before they
apparent chaos and had learned about Christ and
injustices of life. Men put their trust in Him. He
and women long to know said, “At that time you were
why they exist, where they without Christ, . . . having no
are going, and what makes hope and without God in the
it all worthwhile. Tragically, world” (Eph. 2:12).
so many people are clinging Why do we have
to false hope. reason to hope? We are
The apostle Paul, when part of a family that has a
speaking to a group of loving heavenly Father and
philosophers in first-century a Son who has opened the
Athens, tried to help them door to hope.
22
Paul also told the nothing can separate

Ephesians he was praying us from God’s love
that they would realize just (Rom. 8:35-39).
how great the believers’ • We have confidence
hope is through Christ (1:17- that all the events of
18). He prayed that they life—good and bad—
would get to know God the have a purpose (Rom.
Father better and realize all 8:28) and that God is
that He offers His children. in control (vv.29-39).
Let’s examine a few of the • We have the promise
reasons we have for hope that we can be forgiven
in this life and beyond. of sin and restored to a
What is our basis close relationship with
for hope? the Father if we confess
• We have been given (1 Jn. 1:5-10).
spiritual life and are • We have the guarantee
freed from Satan’s of our Father’s help as
death-grip (Eph. 2:1-7). we live for Him (see
• We have been given section on help).
the inner presence of • We have a Father
the Holy Spirit, who who hears and answers
confirms that we are prayer (see previous
God’s children (Rom. section on prayer).
8:16) and guarantees • We have the
that our adoption is encouragement that
forever (Eph. 1:13-14). comes from belonging
• We have God’s power to a family where each
enabling us to live for is spiritually gifted
Him (2 Cor. 12:9; for the good of others
Eph. 1:19). (Rom. 12:1-8; Eph. 4:1-
• We have assurance that 16; Heb. 10:25).
23
• We have the promise (Eph. 1:11,14,18; Col.

of an abundant, 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:3-4).
meaningful life • Our service for Christ
(Jn. 10:10). and the sacrifices we
• We have God’s Word made for Him will
to guide us and equip be richly rewarded
us for every task (1 Cor. 3:9-15; 9:16-27;
(2 Tim. 3:16-17). Col. 3:24).
What is our hope • We will experience
for eternity? relief from every kind
• We look forward to a of sorrow we knew on
coming resurrection earth (Rev. 21:4).
(Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15). Do you have hope?
• We have a heavenly As we have just seen, we
home waiting for us, have plenty of reasons to be
specially prepared by hopeful about this life and
Christ (Jn. 14:1-6). the life to come. It’s easy to
• We will be with Christ become preoccupied with
Himself (1 Jn. 3:2; 2 troubles that confront us
Cor. 5:6-9; Rev. 21–22). daily. Some of those
• We will be like Christ difficulties may appear
(1 Jn. 3:2)—having a insurmountable. That’s all
new body that is free the more reason we should
from the ravages of sin purposefully and regularly
(2 Cor. 5:1-5). set aside time to review
• We will be reunited these reasons for hope. No
with our believing loved matter how hopeless life
ones (1 Th. 4:13-18). may seem at the moment,
• We will receive an we have reason for hope
inheritance far beyond on earth because we have
our greatest dreams a Father in heaven.
24
F
A
T
H
E
R
R esponsibilities To Fulfill
As obedient children, . . .
be holy in all your
brother (1 Jn. 3:10).
To be God’s child is
conduct, because it is great, and it has many
written, “Be holy, for I benefits that we can feel
am holy.” And if you thrilled to be able to enjoy.
call on the Father, who We’ve spent the major part
without partiality judges of this booklet detailing
according to each one’s many of those privileges.
work, conduct yourselves But there’s another
throughout the time of important and inescapable
your stay here in fear side to this relationship:
(1 Pet. 1:14-17). God’s children have
You shall be perfect, just responsibilities to fulfill.
as your Father in heaven What do we
is perfect (Mt. 5:48). expect from our
In this the children of own children? It’s
God and the children heartbreaking to listen
of the devil are manifest: to a elderly parent talk
Whoever does not about a son or daughter
practice righteousness who finished school and got
is not of God, nor is he a job, then moved out of the
who does not love his house and hardly ever stops
25
by to visit or even telephone desire to help me, not

Mom and Dad. We grieve hurt me.
with the parent of a Now that I am deep
rebellious 17-year-old into parenthood, I have
who seems intent on the perspective from the
playing the party scene other side. And I realize
and turning his back on God how much it must have
and the church. And we’re pleased my parents when
sympathetic with the parents I treated them right (which
of a preschooler who runs I didn’t always do). And
away in a store when they I also realize that the
say, “Come back here!” response I desire most
I don’t know how it from my children is not
was around your house, just obedience but an
but when I was growing expression of love.
up one thing was clear: What does God
Being a child involved want from us? The New
giving as well as taking. Testament contains many
In spite of my stubborn exhortations to exhibit the
tendency to do otherwise, right conduct or develop the
I was expected to treat my proper attitudes. And very
parents with proper respect, often those commands are
to trust their judgment, to within the context of our
listen to them attentively, relationship with God our
to do what they said to do Father and the family of
(such as chores), and to believers. Let’s look at
treat my brothers well. I several examples.
also learned that doing all The Father desires our
those things was a lot more love most of all. What did
enjoyable if I was aware of Jesus say when a legal
my parents’ love and their expert asked Him, “Which is
26
the greatest commandment the mechanics of saying,

in the Law?” (Mt. 22:36 NIV). “I love you,” by mimicking
Jesus replied, “‘Love the Mom and Dad, but on one
Lord your God with all your occasion her words took
heart and with all your soul on special meaning. One
and with all your mind.’ evening while we were
This is the first and greatest playing together, she ran
commandment” (vv.37-38). to me, put her little arms
It’s one thing to go around my neck and said,
through the motions of “I love you, Daddy!” That
obeying out of duty, but it’s moment was precious to
quite another to serve God me. Her words went straight
out of genuine devotion, to my heart because they
telling Him often that were sincere, unrehearsed,
we love Him. Have you and pure.
told your heavenly Father As we think about who
recently that you love Him? our heavenly Father is, how
much He loves us, and all
He does for us, we too will
Have you told your find ourselves running to
Him in prayer and saying,
heavenly Father “I love You, Father!”
recently that you The Father deserves
love Him? honor. At the end of the Old
Testament, the Lord asked
the leaders of His chosen
What this means to people some soul-searching
our heavenly Father was questions: “A son honors
illustrated to me by one of his father, and a servant his
my daughters when she was master. If then I am the
2 years old. She had learned Father, where is My honor?
27
And if I am a Master, where The apostle Paul wrote,

is My reverence?” (Mal. 1:6). “Be imitators of God as
We learned earlier of dear children. And walk
the tremendous privilege in love, as Christ also has
we have to call the almighty loved us and given Himself
Creator by the intimate term for us” (Eph. 5:1-2). We are
Abba. But we must never imitators of God also when
forget who He is—the we are merciful as He is
sovereign Lord of all merciful (Lk. 6:36).
that exists.
To honor the Father
also means to recognize “When a believer
that He is the provider of says,‘I am a son
all that we have and enjoy.
We are to be “always giving of God,’ we should
thanks to God the Father for expect that his life
everything” (Eph. 5:20 NIV). will have at least
The Father wants us
to imitate Him. Pastor and some trace of the
author Erwin Lutzer writes, character of God.”
“If a man says, ‘My father is Erwin Lutzer
Mr. Jones,’ you look at his
face to see if you can see
any resemblance to his The family resemblance is
father. So when a believer seen in our clean break from
says, ‘I am a son of God,’ a godless way of life. We are
we should expect that his life to be clearly different from
will have at least some trace people who are not members
of the character of God” of God’s family. In 1 John we
(You’re Richer Than You read, “This is how we know
Think, Victor Books, p.55). who the children of God are
28
and who the children of the other children of God.

devil are: Anyone who does We may not recognize it
not do what is right is not a or consistently act like it,
child of God” (3:10 NIV). but all who come to God
Although we are “born through faith in Christ are
again” by faith (Jn. 3:3,16), members of the same family:
we demonstrate the reality “We, being many, are
of that faith by acts of one body in Christ, and
obedience to God. James individually members of
said, “Faith by itself, if it one another.”
does not have works, is It must hurt the
dead” (2:17). Jesus taught, Father to see His children
“Whoever does the will of at odds with each other.
My Father in heaven is It hurts me deeply when
My brother and sister and my children fight and
mother” (Mt. 12:50). He I hear a comment like,
also said, “Not everyone “She hates me!” It is
who says to Me, ‘Lord, painful to see them not
Lord,’ shall enter the wanting to help each other.
kingdom of heaven, but How much more it must
he who does the will of My make our Father’s heart
Father in heaven” (7:21). ache to see the kind of
So, our pattern of “warfare” that goes on
behavior, whether obedience among believers.
or disobedience, reveals to As members of a
whose family we belong. spiritual family, we
What responsibilities must put aside our self-
do we have to other centeredness and look
members of the family? out for the interests of one
Romans 12:5 reminds us another. Our responsibilities
that we are closely linked to include:
29
• We are to love one • We are to comfort

another. The all- one another in times
encompassing of need (1 Th. 5:11).
obligation we have
to other children of
God, just as in our
relationship with
“Owe no one
God, is love (Rom. anything except
13:8; 1 Cor. 13; 1 Th. to love one
3:12; 4:9; 1 Pet. 3:8;
4:8; 1 Jn. 3:11,23;
another, for
4:7,11-12; 2 Jn. 1:5). he who loves
• We are to honor another has
one another through
service (Rom. 12:10;
fulfilled the law.”
Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 4:10). Romans 13:8
• We are to be generous
and hospitable (Rom.
12:13; 1 Pet. 4:9). • We are to challenge
• We are to do all we each other to live
can to build up one holy lives (Heb. 3:13;
another spiritually, 10:24-25).
not tear each other • We are to pray for one
down (Rom. 14:13). another (Jas. 5:16).
• We are to teach each Are we fulfilling
other (Rom. 15:14). our responsibilities
• We are to be truthful joyfully? We’ve listed
(Eph. 4:25; Col. 3:9). many obligations that we
• We are to be kind and have to our heavenly Father
forgiving (Eph. 4:32; and to our brothers and
Col. 3:13). sisters in Christ. As we
30
read such a list, we may study, the prayer of

tend to feel like a child who the apostle Paul for the
just received a list of chores children of God in Ephesus
to do on Saturday morning is also my prayer for you:
before he can go play with I keep asking that the
his friends. God of our Lord Jesus
That’s why we need Christ, the glorious
to remind ourselves Father, may give you the
continually of what will Spirit of wisdom and
motivate us to do all revelation, so that you
these things with the right may know Him better
attitude—a recognition that (Eph. 1:17 NIV).
we are family. We are part
of a spiritual family headed
by a loving Father who
out of love for us has “Let us consider
gone to great lengths,
even sacrificing His own
one another in
Son Jesus Christ, to bring order to stir up love
us into His family. and good works,
As we think of all He
has done for us and how
not forsaking the
much He loves us, our assembling of
hearts and lives cannot ourselves together, .
help but respond with the
kind of loving words and
. . but exhorting
actions that will please Him one another.”
and create a closer family Hebrews 10:24-25
among those who also have
been adopted by Him.
As we complete this
31
ARE YOU A and to make it possible to

MEMBER OF become a member of God’s
family.
THE FAMILY?
I
t’s the most important
issue of life: Can you
say that God is your “As many as
Father? Have you become
a child of God by declaring
received Him,
your personal faith in Jesus to them He
as Savior? Your answer gave the right
determines whether all the
joys of knowing God as
to become
Father now and throughout children of God.”
eternity will be yours. John 1:12
Perhaps you’ve read
this booklet with an
uneasy feeling that you
are not a member of the The Father is waiting to
family. Now is a good hear from you. He does not
time to settle the issue. expect flowery words, just
The Father longs a simple expression of
to adopt you, and the childlike faith. Tell Him
procedure is simple. Come that you believe Jesus died
to Him in childlike faith, to pay the penalty for your
accepting His offer of sins. Accept His gift of
forgiveness from your sins, forgiveness (Rom. 6:23)
which have kept you out of and the invitation to be
the family. Jesus lived, died, part of His family forever.
and rose from the grave to If you’ve done that,
show you the Father’s love welcome to the family!
32
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Q0108 God Our Father 2col pp 11/19/08 12:30 PM Page 1

IN SEARCH OF If we had a great and loving

have known My Father also. it to be. Author and

WHAT DOES IT glass slipper. The prince

states that common sinners son, and if a son, then

are burned deeply into my world that is dominated by

and from the power of Satan children of God, to those

person into God’s family, the enslaved to sin (3:22-

My four children know The New Testament was

into the worshiping to address God that way. Yet

God “Father.” It is central We can intimately and

time. And when we violated How does God

Jesus Christ as the ultimate has to take drastic measures

father corrects his children, falling down over his rugged,

Do we believe it? Are “What shall we eat?” or

As a dad, I am eager to fish (vv.9-10). Then He

us with an interesting • having wisdom to know

provider and protector Ishmael, Joseph, Ruth,

paycheck? The thought see the futility of their

Paul also told the nothing can separate

• We have the promise (Eph. 1:11,14,18; Col.

by to visit or even telephone desire to help me, not

the greatest commandment the mechanics of saying,

And if I am a Master, where The apostle Paul wrote,

and who the children of the other children of God.

• We are to love one • We are to comfort

read such a list, we may study, the prayer of

ARE YOU A and to make it possible to

To partner with us in sharing God’s Word, click this link

Many people, making even the smallest of donations,

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