Who, then, is the Father?

"And at that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes'" (Matthew 11:25). God the Father is the supreme ruler of the whole universe. Everything in the heavens and the earth is subject to His authority (I Corinthians 15:27-28). He is spirit (John 4:24) and possesses immortality (I Timothy 6:16). Life is inherent within the Father.

He has a absolutely perfect righteous character, and Jesus expressly told us to become like Him. "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect," said Christ (Matthew 5:48).

Further, God the Father is the source of every blessing. As in Ephesians 1:3-10
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8. Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10.That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
As you can see, the Father is the subject of these verses, and they show how He is generously working out His eternal plan for humankind. He has made know to us "the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself" (verse 9). We suggest study this passage carefully in one or more modern translations.

What one word describes the character of God the Father better than any other?

"and we know and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him" (I John 4:16). "He that loves not knows not God; for God is love" (I John 4:8).

Love is the foundation of the character and law of God. It is the basis of everything that God has revealed to mankind in the Holy Scriptures. Look at what Matthew 22:35-40 says.
35. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38. This is the first and great commandment.
39. And the second is like unto it, Thou shall love your neighbor as thyself.
40. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Eventually God, through His power, will overcome evil, forever banishing it from the coming holy city of God (Revelation 22:27).
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Only love will remain.

Paul called love the greatest Christian attribute (I Corinthians 13:13).
And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
It is the first fruit of God's Spirit that He mentions (Galatians 5:22).
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
It is the bond of perfection, binding everything together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14).
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfect ness.
It is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:10).
Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

This word is used in the Bible to sum up the wonderful character of the Father. GOD IS LOVE.

But, lest we misunderstand, we must define our terms. In some instances the English language is not nearly as precise as the Greek. The word love is a case in point. In English love encompasses at least several attributes and feelings. In some ways it is one of the most abused words in the language. The Greek language, however, is much more specific. It uses at least four words for love, although two are not used in Scripture.

Eros encompasses sexual love, the love that a man and woman should enjoy within the marriage relationship. Storge is limited in its meaning to the love of parents for children (and vice verse) and the normal, familiar love of siblings for each other. Philia is used in the Bible and describes warm and tender feelings between people. It can include physical affection that is decent and appropriate. But the Bible uses none of these three words to describe the Father.

Agape is the term the Bible uses to describe godly love, the love of God. Agape generously embraces concern for the one loved. It depicts unconquerable benevolence and goodwill. It even encompasses love for one's enemies.

God's nature and character are characterized by this kind of love. We can receive this type of love only from God Himself and His Son, Jesus Christ. Upon repentance we can begin to exhibit this kind of love through the Holy Spirit. Our Christian love must be patterned by agape. See what Matthew 5:43-48 says.
43. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47. And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Here we learn that the Father sends His rain on the just and the unjust, makes His sun shine on both good and evil and is kind to the unthankful and evil.

We must learn to think as God wants us to thing and do as He does, to love as the Father loves. In exercising this kind of love, we express the image of God, (reflecting His character), even though we are still human. But we hasten to add that human beings cannot generate this type of love by ourselves. It emanates ultimately only for God. See Romans 5:5 And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

In what major way has the Father expressed this love (agape) for all people?

Living in the world, we are all too aware of the many human problems that afflict every continent, island, region, city and village, even into our homes. But the Father is guided by His wondrous plan, not by the whims, foolish ideas and pervasive sins of mankind.

The Father began to rescue humanity from itself by sending His Son to earth. Jesus Himself said:
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32.

What is the relationship between God and Jesus Christ?

These passages describe a close family relationship. So close is Their relationship that Christ could say,
Jesus saith unto him, have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how say thou then, Show us the Father? John 14:9.
These two Beings share a close and deep bond with each other.
As the Father knows me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:15

[ Home ] [ Up ]

Send mail to Webmaster@ibc-giessen.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2002 The International Baptist Church Giessen
Last modified: January 04, 2006