Almighty God your Father

{This is the fourth part of a twelve part series attempting to answer the question "Who is Jesus?". The song "I AM" by Mark Schultz is utilized in this series as a reference point, and the lyrics can be found in the "I AM series" post found earlier.}

Almighty God your Father

The word father is not applied to all men, but to those who have a child or children of their own. In the same way, when God is referred to as Father, it implies that he has a child or children of his own. God is Father in two different but connected ways. First, his one and only son is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the only Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. In a second way, believers become sons of God. We start our lives born of men and women, conceived by men and women, but can later become sons of God. How is this; it is through faith in Jesus Christ.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 3:25-4:7)

Before Jesus came into the world, we were slaves to sin, slaves to the Law, which made nothing perfect, but simply made us aware of our own sin. Through Jesus Christ, we have been set free from sin and have become heirs to the kingdom of God as though we were also God's sons. Indeed, remember the passage from yesterday:

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13)

So, how does one become born of God? What are the requirements of this confusing second birth? This question has been posed by many, but see what Jesus himself told Nicodemus.

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:3-5)

What does it mean to be born of water and the Spirit? These things represent baptism.

John (the Baptist) answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of those sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Luke 3:16)

John the Baptist was a man called by God to prepare the way for Jesus. Before Jesus's ministry began, John the Baptist encouraged people to repent of their sins and as a symbol of that repentance, to be baptized in water. John the Baptist was also the person who baptized Jesus Christ before he started his ministry. The "one more powerful than I" was Jesus, who as we learned yesterday, gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to believers.

Thus, to one who puts their faith in Jesus Christ and repents of their sins and receives God's baptism, that person can become an heir to Heaven.

What then, shall we think of baptism? Is it required? There is Biblical evidence that proves contrary. Jesus, on the cross, tells a criminal who is being crucified that because of his repentance, he will meet Jesus in paradise that day. This man was not baptized, but Jesus himself said that he would enter heaven. So, baptism is not a requirement of believers, but it should be viewed as something of a privilege. Believers should not feel that they have to be baptized, but that they get to be baptized.

With God as our Father, what can we then expect? Free reign to sin as our sins are forgiven? Absolutely not! We are still to live our lives in a way that honors our Father. What good father would allow his children to do whatever they wanted and live without rules? Our Father in turn, will correct us and improve us through discipline.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11)

What shall we think of discipline? It is a gift from God. That does not mean it will be easy or that we will always respond appropriately, but that if we are able to recognize it for what it is, then little by little we become more holy and confident before God.

So, not only is God the father of Jesus Christ, but of us too! I said up above that God is Father in two separate but connected ways. Jesus Christ is his only begotten Son, but through faith in him, even though we were not originally born of God but of man, we are able to become God's sons and daughters.