A. We can relate to God as our good and loving Father. God is our Creator, Lord Master, Judge, Provider, Teacher, etc., but most intimately, He is our Father! It is because of all of those other things that we are so amazed that He is our Father.
B. Because God is our Father, we can know that He loves us with a special love that He does not have for all people.
- 1 John 3:1.
- Why is God’s love so great? Not everyone is a child of God, so what implications does this verse have?
- 1 John 4:10.
- God did not send His Son to propitiate the sins of all people, no, He sent His Son to propitiate the sins of those He loves.
- Ephesians 1:4-5.
- We are predestined “in love.” Now we know that not all are predestined for not all are saved, therefore we conclude that God has a special love for His elect that He doesn’t have for other people.
- We would be appalled if a father told his son that he didn’t love him any more than all the other children in the neighbor. We would not call him a good, loving father.
- We are not fit for God’s family, but He has chosen to adopt us and exalt us with His perfect Son, Jesus Christ.
- When one adopts, they don’t become passive after the papers are signed. No, they win the love of their new child by overwhelming that child with their love for him.
C. Because God is our Father, He understands us (Ps 103:13-14).
D. Because God is our Father He will take care of us (Mt 6:32).
E. God, as our Father, gives us good gifts (Mt 7:11).
F. The greatest gift is our salvation and the inheritance that awaits us (Ro 8:17; Ga 4:7; 1 Pe 1:4; Re 2:26-27; 3:21).