The Father

Galatians 4:4-7

“You sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father. If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.” - J.I. Packer

Article III

We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit who is good, righteous, and just. He is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He reigns with providential care over His universe and infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass according to his sovereign will.

Article III

He saves all who come to Him through Jesus Christ from sin and death.

Life Group Discussion Questions

  1. How has your relationship with your earthly father prepared you to understand and embrace God as Father? How do you feel about being an adopted son of God?

  2. Is adoption something you experience as well as understand? How can you meditate on the Son’s work more, and ask the Spirit to work on your affections more?

  3. When are you most in danger of living as an orphan (“displaying orphan tendencies”), not a son? In what areas of your life are you most susceptible to this danger?

  4. How can we battle our orphan tendencies?

Proposed Statement of Faith

We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit who is good, righteous, and just. He is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He reigns with providential care over His universe and infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass according to his sovereign will. He saves all who come to Him through Jesus Christ from sin and death. He desires worship and obedience from the saints, and He hears and answers their prayers. He deals mercifully in the affairs of men, yet He demonstrates wrath towards unrepentant sinners.

Main Text: Galatians 4:4-7

Other Key Texts: Matthew 6:9; Luke 10:21-22; 1 Peter 1:3

For Further Study: Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child

“If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.” - J.I. Packer