“Father of…” (Part 1 of 2)

    While I was studying for our previous “God of…” series, I came across a few verses that described God as “Father of…” and wanted to share them with you.

Father, from the Greek ‘pater’ (Strong’s #3962), it is used of our heavenly Father, He is our originator, our Creator, and as we purify ourselves we come to resemble Him more and more (1 John 3:1-3), as we learn to walk just as His Son, Jesus, walked (1 John 2:1-6).

    These “Father of…” descriptions are only found in the New Testament:

• ·         Ephesians 1:17 – “...the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory…”
• ·         Ephesians 4:6 – “…one God and Father of all…”
• ·         Hebrews 12:9 – “…the Father of spirits…”
• ·         James 1:17 – “…the Father of lights…”

    Let’s dig into the first two passages this week and find what these descriptions mean!

“Father of glory” (Please read Ephesians 1:15-19)

    In Paul’s prayer he desires that God, the Father of glory, will give the Ephesian brethren the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, that they would understand and know the hope of God’s calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the exceeding greatness of His power toward those who believe, that all this may be according to the working of His mighty power.

‘glory’ in this passage comes from the Greek ‘doxa’ (Strong’s #1391) which simply means opinion, but always in the New Testament it means a good opinion, what brings about a good opinion. When speaking of God the Father of glory it expresses His infinite worth, the very majesty that is God; that is an essential part of His nature.

    Being blessed by Him with every spiritual blessing (read the whole of Ephesians 1) should bring about and increase our good opinion of Him: that God, the Father, is all goodness, all mercy, all grace, all compassion, all generosity, all might, and all majesty (Jude 25).

“Father of all” (Please read Ephesians 4:1-6)

    The very foundation of our faith, the things we all must agree on to “maintain the unity of the Spirit” is found in Ephesians 4:4-6. There is one body (Christ’s body, the church, Ephesians 1:22-23), one Spirit (the Holy Spirit of God), one hope of your calling (eternal life with God, Colossians 1:5, 2 Peter 3:11-13, Philippians 3:12-16), one Lord (Jesus Christ, Acts 2:36), one faith (Jude 3), one baptism (for remission of sins, Acts 2:38; 22:16), one God and Father of all (of all Christians: Ephesians 5:1-21, 1 John 3:1-3, 1 Peter 1:13-21), who is above all (Genesis 1:1, Psalm 97:9, 1 Corinthians 11:13), through all (Romans 1:19-20; 11:36), and in you all (1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 John 4:12-16).

    God is over all of this, all of us, it was His plan before time began (Ephesians 1:4) to grant all these benefits to His creation; He begot the plan and begot us. He desires that His creation will seek Him (Acts 17:26-27), follow His plan (Romans 8:28; 12:1-2, 9-21), so we may one day see our Father as He is, for we shall be like Him (1 John 3:1-3).

    Our God is our Father, the eternal Father of all who believe and obey (Isaiah 62:2, Acts 11:26). Do we run to Him, talk to Him, and seek comfort and guidance from Him as our Father (Hebrews 4:16, Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)?

     He will not leave us nor forsake us. He loves us and blesses us abundantly every day (Psalm 68:19). He is the very Father of glory – everything that is good, perfect, and glorious is found in Him and comes from Him (James 1:17-18) – do we give Him the proper glory He deserves (Ephesians 3:20-21, Revelation 4:11)? Do we proclaim His praises as we should (1 Peter 2:9)?

    Let’s think on these things, and determine to seek God our Father each and every day and glorify Him throughout our lives!

You can do it! So can I!!