In what sense is God a Father?
(1) By creation; it is he that has made us: 'We are also his
offspring.' Acts 17: 28. 'Have we not all one Father?' Malachi 2: 10. Has
not one God created us? But there is little comfort in this; for God is
Father in the same way to the devils by creation; but He that made them
will not save them.
(2) God is a Father by election, having chosen a certain number to be
his children, upon whom he will entail heaven. 'He has chosen us in Him.' Ephesians 1: 4.
(3) God is a Father by special grace. He consecrates the elect by his
Spirit, and infuses a supernatural principle of holiness, therefore
they are said to be 'born of God.' I John 3: 9. Such only as are
sanctified can say, 'Our Father who is in heaven.'
What is the difference between God being the Father of Christ, and the Father of the elect?
He is the Father of Christ in a more glorious and transcendent
manner. Christ has the primogeniture; He is the eldest Son, a Son by
eternal generation; 'I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
or ever the earth was.' Proverbs 8: 23. 'Who shall declare his generation?'
Isaiah 53: 8. Christ is a Son to the Father, as he is of the same nature
with the Father, having all the incommunicable properties of the Godhead
belonging to him; but we are sons of God by adoption and grace, 'That
we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4: 5.
What is that which makes God our Father?
Faith. 'You are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.' Galatians
3: 26. An unbeliever may call God his Creator, and his Judge, but not
his Father. Faith legitimizes us, and makes us of the blood-royal of
heaven. 'You are the children of God by faith.' Baptism makes us church
members, but faith makes us children. Without faith the devil can show
as good a coat of arms as we can.
How does faith make God to be our Father?
As it is a uniting grace. By faith we have coalition and union with
Christ, and so the kindred comes in; being united to Christ, the natural
Son, we become adopted sons. God is the Father of Christ; faith makes
us Christ's brethren, and so God comes to be our Father. Hebrews 2: 11.
Question: What promises are yours as an adopted son or daughter of God the Father? What blessings are yours?
God Is The Best Father
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