From the Heart of Our Heavenly Father

Father’s Day is a time to remember our fathers and the impact they had on our lives. As I grow older, I realize how much I look like my father, act like my father, even think like my father. It is amazing to think of the impact fathers have on their children. For a few moments, I want to think of the special relationship of one father and son, God the Father and God the Son. I believe there is much that can be learned about being a father and a child as we examine the Bible. These are trying times and we need strength, peace and rest from a father who alone can meet our every need.

I believe Father’s Day is a wonderful time to embrace God as our Heavenly Father. To do so, first, one must know if God is his or her Father. Second, one must take the time learn from the relationship between God the Father and God the Son, Jesus. Third, what can it mean to you and mean to have God as our heavenly Father?

It is good to learn about fatherhood from God since He has always been a father due to the Trinity. The Bible teaches us about the unity of the one true God, Deuteronomy 6:4 declares, Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Also, we learn that there is diversity in the Godhead. Plurality is seen in Genesis 1:26, Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Trinity is evident in Isaiah 48:16, Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there.” And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit. Identity is obvious in 2 Corinthians 13:14, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

There has always been unconditional love within the Godhead as Jesus reveals His relationship to the Father. Consider Matthew 17:5, He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” The Godhead is not bound by creation since Father, Son and Holy Spirit don’t need us to be complete and fulfilled. Yet, a most amazing fact is that God wants us even though He doesn’t need us.

All people are creations of God as noted in Genesis 1:27, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. But, not everyone has God as Heavenly Father, only those who place faith in Jesus Christ alone. Consider the following verses: John 1:12, But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God; Galatians 3:26, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith; and Romans 8:15b-16, . . .you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Let’s take a look at the relationship of Father and Son,

• Love is their bond - John 3:35, The Father loves the Son and has given all things

into his hand.

• Imitation is a sign of love - John 5:19, So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to

you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father

doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

• Obedience is a mark of love - Matthew 26:39, And going a little farther he fell on

his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;

nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

• Protection is a fact of love - Matthew 26:53, Do you think that I cannot appeal to

my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

• Provision is an indicator of love - Luke 22:43, And there appeared to him an angel

from heaven, strengthening him.

So what does that mean for Christians?

• He deeply loves His adopted children - John 16:27, for the Father himself loves

you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

• He has called His adopted children to become like His Son, Romans 8:29, For

those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his

Son...

• He empowers His adopted children to love and obey Him - Hebrews 10:16, This is

the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will

put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds; John 14:16, And I will

ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

• He protects His adopted children - John 10:29, My Father, who has given them to

me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

• He provides for His adopted children - Matthew 6:31-33, Therefore do not be

anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we

wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows

that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,

and all these things will be added to you.

Father’s Day is a wonderful reminder of God’s provision of my earthly father. Also, I am always reminded that my adoption by God was not deserved but an act of His grace. His unconditional love was received when I placed my faith in His only Son, Jesus, Who died on the cross to make payment for my sins. John Stott, theologian and pastor prayed, Heavenly Father . . . all our love is derived from your love . . .I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more.

More seasonal messages may be found under the Topical Studies tab. May we always be mindful of the love of our heavenly Father and reflect His love to those who have not experienced God as Heavenly Father.

He is Risen!

For many, Easter is a time for decorated eggs and chocolate bunnies. Religious holidays always abound with mixed messages which mostly eliminate spiritual truth. We should take care not to diminish the message. It is impossible to overestimate the importance of this season. Easter is full of dramatic events - betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection. Easter should be a time when the powerful message of the Gospel bursts forth from our lips.

All of the events of Easter are tied to the person of Jesus Christ. What we think of Jesus directly impacts what we think of the season. We must acknowledge that Who Jesus is determines what He can do. The person of Christ is foundational to His work. That’s why Jesus’ question to Peter still cries for personal response today, But who do you say that I am?

Consider the words of Jesus from the Gospel of John. There is no more fitting way to enter this special season than by hearing and responding to the Word of God.

• I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he

shall live forever, John 6:51

• I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall

have the light of life, John 8:12

• for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins, John 8:24

• ...before Abraham was born, I am, John 8:58

• I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,

John 11:25

• I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me,

John 14:6

What Jesus did at Easter could not happen unless He is fully God and fully man. His death on a cross was not a mistake but a choice made by God the Father and God the Son. It was a choice to redeem mankind from sin by transferring our sins to Jesus. He declared from the cross, It is finished! The empty tomb proclaims that His message is true. Payment for sin was accepted by the Father and is available to everyone who places faith in Jesus alone.

For Christians, Easter is a time to celebrate our risen Savior. It is a reminder that our sins are forgiven. If you have not placed your faith in the risen Jesus, call out to Him and He will deliver you. Consider the words of Athanasius (3rd c. A.D), Death is destroyed. The cross has triumphed over it. It no longer has any power but is truly dead...Before the Savior came, death was terrible to the saints. Everyone wept for the dead as though they perished. But now that the Savior has risen, death isn't terrible anymore. For everyone who believes in Christ tramples over death...For they know that when they die they aren't destroyed, but actually begin to live. Through the resurrection they become incorruptible.

There is no sweeter name than Jesus and no more special time than Easter. Consider the dying words of D. L. Moody, Earth recedes; Heaven opens for me...,If this is death, it is sweet.

More studies on the person and work of Jesus may be found at www.crimsonministries.org. He is risen. He is risen indeed!

When Times are Tough . . .

We are facing difficult times that are seemingly unrelenting. A worldwide pandemic is followed by a needless war. Times are tough but the hope of every believer is not based on external events but internal assurances. The apostle Peter was facing tough times but took the time to share hope that is as current as today. Let’s take a few moments to consider

1 Peter 2:9-10, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Peter takes the readers of his epistle to important reasons why Christians can not only survive tough times but thrive. First, we have a special relationship to God. The first part of verse 9 list words that identify why we are special to God. They flow freely like a mountain stream: a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession. Take time to comprehend the role we play in the work of God.

• A chosen race: We have been chosen by God as His people. Roger Raymer, The responsibility once solely trusted to the nation of Israel has now, during this Age of Grace, been given to the church.

• A royal priesthood: We sinners who have been saved by grace are a royal priesthood. Thomas Constable, . . . every individual Christian is a priest before God. We function as priests to the extent that we worship, intercede, and minister.

• A holy nation: We as the body of Christ are a holy nation. Warren Wiersbe, We have been set apart to belong exclusively to God. Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), so we obey heaven’s laws and seek to please heaven’s Lord.

• A people for his own possession: We, individually and as the church are God’s possession. Roger Raymer, Christians are a special people because God has preserved them for Himself.

Second, we have a special responsibility. The second part of verse 9 gives reason for our existence in this alien world. Consider the important work God has placed on His children, those who have placed faith in Christ alone.

• That you may proclaim the excellencies of Him: We are to give public praise to who God is and what He has done. Wayne Grudem, To declare God’s excellencies is to speak of all he is and has done.

• Who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: We are to remember and proclaim God’s goodness to us. Peter Davids, . . . the praise is based on what God has done for them.

Despite tough times, Christians can make a difference in this world. God has tasked us with the responsibility to make Himself known to this desperately needy world. We can do it because we have been changed. Consider the amazing statements of verse 10, Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

• Now you are God’s people: We have been made special by God’s grace. Charles Spurgeon, We were not His people; we were sinners of the Gentiles, not the chosen Hebrew race. In times past, we were not worthy to be called a people, but we are now the people of God.

• Now you have received mercy: We have not received what we deserve so we can proclaim undeserved grace to others. Wayne Grudem, All the foregoing privileges are to be traced only to the undeserved favour of God: now you have received mercy.

When times are tough, people need to hear that there is hope. We can make a difference. We are God’s ambassadors to a world whose only hope is Jesus because He alone can take people from despair to hope and from death to life. Let’s commit to sharing whose we are and what has been done for us.

The study of 1 Peter may be found under the Books of the Bible tab. Scot McKnight, In order to appreciate Peter’s perspective on the church of Christ, it is important to grasp what constituted that church: a group of sinful people who had come to Christ for salvation and who were committed to walking in obedience. And that is no different from our churches today.