Happy Father’s Day! God as Father? - Is this a man-made concept?

Happy Father’s Day!

God as Father?

God as Father?

- Is this a man-made concept?

God as Father?

- Is this a man-made concept?- God gives himself this name

Exodus 4:21-2221 The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son,

God as Father?


Isaiah 1:22 Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth!

For the LORD has spoken:"I reared children and brought them up,

but they have rebelled against me.”

God as Father?


Matthew 6:7-137And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask

him. 9"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom

come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but

deliver us from the evil one.’”

God as Father?


- This is tied to God’s role as creator

Isaiah 64:8Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the

potter; we are all the work of your hand.

God as Father?


- This is tied to God’s role as creator

Deuteronomy 32:6Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people?

Is he not your Father, your Creator,who made you and formed you?

God as Father?

- Is this a truly beneficial concept?

God as Father?


- God’s definitions are always the best

Isaiah 55:8-9 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways

my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God as Father?



Romans 11:33-34 33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of

God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

34"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

God as Father?



- God’s fatherhood ≠ human fatherhood

Christ reveals God as FatherJohn 1:9-14, 17-189The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth… 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Christ reveals God as Father

John 14:5-105Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

The Parable of Two Sons–

A glimpse into the

heart of Father God

Luke 15–The parable of two sons

11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in

that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods

that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired

men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have

sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So

he got up and went to his father.

Edmund P. ClowneyPreaching Christ in All of Scripture“Sharing the Father’s Welcome”

Edmund P. ClowneySharing the Father’s Welcome

It would be a rude demand in any society; it was especially harsh in view of the Old Testament laws of inheritance…But the father does what his younger son asks. He divides his estate. The young man finds himself holding title to at least a third, perhaps half, of his father’s living. He gathers it all together. That is, he converts it into cash, so that he can put it in a bag and pull the string around it.Now he has what he has always wanted. He can go where he wants and do what he wants.He does.- Edmund P. Clowney, Preaching Christ in all of Scripture, p. 60.


11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in

that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods

that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired

men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have

sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So

he got up and went to his father.


The prodigal’s repentance is not glamorized in the parable. Itbegan not in the depths of his heart but in the pit of his stomach. Hewatched the pigs crunch the dry carob pods that he fed them. Hismeager earnings could not provide him with daily bread, especiallyat famine prices. Perhaps he could manage carob pods. They were,after all, edible. How hungry he was! What meals he used to enjoy!

His mind went back, not to the luxurious banquets that had cost himhis inheritance, but to the dinners in his father’s house. His father’shouse! “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, andhere I am starving to death!” (Luke 15:17, NIV).Yes, he had said it aloud. It was true. He had been a fool, and awicked fool at that…


…He had to go home. He had to face his father again. What could he say? “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men” (Luke 15:18-19, NIV).

His father would take him in and give him employment andfood. He was sure of it. He had no right to claim the old relationship,but he could see again his father’s face.- Edmund P. Clowney, Preaching Christ in all of Scripture, p. 61.


"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms

around him and kissed him. 21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive

again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.


So full and free is the forgiveness of the father that he will haveno delay in restoring to his son the symbols of his status. The bestrobe is a symbol of honor; the signet ring bears the father’s seal; evensandals carry meaning—servants went barefoot. And then the feast!What a welcome!

Where is the father’s prudence? Didn’t the younger son disgracehis name? What has the man been doing? What of those rumors?What does he expect now, more money?

No, the father does not arraign his son with questions; he welcomeshim in the triumph of joy. His son was dead, and is alive; waslost, and is found. The father’s joy is kindled by the fire of his love.- Edmund P. Clowney, Preaching Christ in all of Scripture, p. 63.

The Heart of God the Father

Isaiah 1:2-32 Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth!

For the LORD has spoken:"I reared children and brought them up,

but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but

Israel does not know, my people do not understand."


Hosea 11:1-41 "When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me.

They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. 3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms;

but they did not realize it was I who healed them. 4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted

the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.

Timothy KellerThe Prodigal God

Timothy KellerThe Prodigal God

The word “prodigal” does not mean “wayward” but, according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, “recklessly spendthrift.” It means to spend until you have nothing left. This term is therefore as appropriate for describing the father in the story as his younger son. The father’s welcome to the repentant son was literally reckless, because he refused to “reckon” or count his sin against him or demand repayment.- Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God, Introduction [xiv-xv].

The Father’s love for you is

Reckless!


25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf

because he has him back safe and sound.' 28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and

pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate

with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with

me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again;

he was lost and is found.' "


The father’s rebuke is gentle…

The tenderness is there. Did it mean nothing to the older son thathe was ever with the father? Was his relation with his father really thatof a slave? Did he begrudge a fatted calf when the whole inheritancewas his? Did he care nothing that his brother was not dead but alive?

Yes, the rebuke is tender, but the demand is clear. If he is indeeda true son of the father, he must come in to the feast. He cannotremain there in the outer darkness, burning with anger and jealous rage.- Edmund P. Clowney, Preaching Christ in all of Scripture, p. 63.


Hebrews 12:7-117Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, 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! 10Our 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. 11No 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.

My recent walk with the Father…

The Father’s love for you is

Fierce!


- Both sons reject their father.



- Both sons wander far from him.



- Both sons wander far from him.

- The Father, driven by a fierce, reckless love, pursues them both.

But does God the Father really love like that?

David Bazan:

What am I afraid of? Who did I betray? In what medieval kingdom does justice work that way?If you knew what would happen And you made us just the same Then you my Lord can take the blame


“You see, no matter what, in spite of everything, God would love his children–with a Never Stopping,

Never giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.”


Jeremiah 31:20Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still

remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him," declares the LORD.


Jeremiah 31:31-3331 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I

will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though

I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.


Jeremiah 31:31-3333 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put

my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,"

declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."


John 1:10-1310He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.


Romans 8:31-3431What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

What is the fierce, reckless love of Father God calling you to?


- Have you wandered far from Him, seemingly beyond all hope of restoration?



- Is not His love greater and stronger than anything you could ever do or think?




- Are you bristling under the Father’s loving discipline, unwilling to accept all that He has for you?




- Are you bristling under the Father’s loving discipline, unwilling to accept all that He has for you?

- Is not your loving Father, who has your best in mind, worthy of your trust?

Happy Father’s Day! God as Father? - Is this a man-made concept?

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