Names of God 11. Father
This name for God sneaks up on is because it is taken for granted. In fact as we look at the names of God, we have been Old Testamental purposely avoiding Jesus and focusing on the Old Covenant God using Hebrew names. We have been trying, in other words to focus on God the Father rather than Jesus or the Holy Spirit. It is interesting that Jesus keeps cropping up in these names once again showing the harmony of the trinity. Look at the previous names and their fulfillment in Christ;
Elohim the creator - for in him (Jesus) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him Col.1:16
Jehovah (I AM) -Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they took up stones to throw at him
El Roi -the God who sees - “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathan′a-el answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” John 1:48
Adonai - Lord (the most commonly used name of Jesus) - because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord... Rom.10:9
Jehovah Jireh - "God will provide a lamb" - The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29
Jehovah Rapha - The Healer - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24
Jehovah Nissi - our banner - As Moses lifted up the snake on a pole(Nissi) in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. 15 Then everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”
Jehovah Tsidkenu - our righteousness - God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
Jehovah Mekkodihum - our sanctifier - To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor 1:21
Jehovah Rohi - Our Shepherd - I(Jesus) am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep John 10:11
Now we get to Father, where is that fulfilled in Jesus? Certainly in John, Jesus tells Phillip, "If you have seen me you have seen the Father" and he tells those listening, "I and the Father are one". One of my favorite passages which I will be referring to over the next few weeks is Isa.9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,(Jesus)
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The name for God, Father, was scarce in the Old covenant referred to only around a dozen times in those 39 books and used in the context of God being the Father of Israel - the nation. However when you get to the New Testament it is used 156 times in the gospels alone. This is exclusively the name Jesus uses for Him except one time - on the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Why does Father become the preeminent name for the first person in the trinity - I think for 2 reasons.
First of all because Jesus uses it. Was He God's literal son come down to Earth? Yes, if you are a Mormon but otherwise no. On earth, in His human body, He was conceived by God in Mary so in that sense, He is Jesus' Father. Maybe, though, Jesus uses it in an anthropromorphic way to relate to us humans the closest simile He has for His relationship to the first person of the trinity, God His Father. Thus, if Jesus related to the Father as He did we should also relate to Him as a child relates to his father.
Secondly, and much more in depth, the name Father illustrates the difference between Christianity and Religion. The difference is a relationship. We have a relationship with God. Other religions can't say that. How is that relationship made possible? I think of it in this way. We are orphans living in the orphanage belonging to Satan. We meet Jesus and fall in love with Him. He takes us to His Father and introduces us. The Father says, "Is it true you love my Son?" We answer, "Yes, with all my heart". The Father declares, "I hereby adopt you into My Family." It is adoption by which He becomes our Father. Let me show you two passages that illustrate this.
3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.(orphanage of Satan) 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. Gal. 4:3-7
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ Rom. 8:15-17
What do you know about adoption?
1. Time consuming - anyone who has gone through the process knows it" drags it's feet". How long was God planning our adoption - From the beginning of time up to as Galatians says "when the time had fully come i.e. Christmas
2. Expensive - We tend to think salvation is easy, and yes it is for us, but God had to pay the ultimate price - the death of His Son. Romans 5:8
3. Contested - Every adoption I have been involved in has been contested. When you read the parable of the sower and the seeds you see that the new believer suddenly is attacked by the World, the Flesh, and the Devil battling for our soul.
4. Gives equality with all siblings - suddenly we are all equal. How can there be factions, racism, pecking orders in the Body of Christ. Also, Jesus is our brother!
5. New Names - Quite often people leave the child's first name alone but give a new last name. We become part of the family of the King of all the Earth but retain our own uniqueness and identity.
6. Permanence - As far as I know you can't un-adopt someone. If you are part of God's family, "No one can pluck you out of His hand."
7. Access to the Father - Jesus teaches us," when you pray say Our Father". Who has unlimited access to the President, even in the middle of the night? Only his family. "We can enter boldly into the throne of grace" The veil has been torn from the top to the bottom.
8. Home - every adoption has to prove that the parents have a home and Jesus promises, "I go to prepare a place for you"
9. Safety - DCS inspects all homes before they allow the adoption to go through to insure that the child is safe. " the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them." 1John 5:18
10. Discipline - this is one we probably don't like but you can't spank an unruly child who isn't yours. However, once they are yours, at least in 2014, you still have rights to discipline them and God does that to us when we aren't living up to the name we have been given.
So practically speaking, what can we take away from this? First of all wonder; wonder that the God of the universe would do this for such a worm as I! Secondly, endless Thanksgiving for the grace we have been adopted into. Third, it should effect the way we view non-Christians. We should pity them as orphans who are looking for a home. Don't get mad at them for the way they behave. Try to introduce them to Jesus who leads them into adoption with the Father. Lastly, treat all believers as part of your new family - loving, sharing, caring, deferring, giving, fellowshipping, etc. If we have a Father, we also get His family!
Here are a few songs that talk about the Father
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3UJIzZpiA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnGr6vmfZV4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6jO7xhU_Pw
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