God, Our Father

 

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4”4-7 ESV).

 

The Apostles’ Creed is a declaration of the things we believe. The first declaration of belief is that God is our Father. There is more to this than just that, however. Sometimes people say, “We are all God’s children.” And it’s true that God made us all. That’s why we call God our Father. But it’s important to clarify what it means to be God’s children. First, Jesus, who is the second person of the Trinity, is God’s “one and only Son” (cf. John 1:14; 3:16). This underscores Jesus’ unique relationship with God the Father. But through Jesus, and by belief in God’s power to save us through him, we too are God’s children (cf. John 1:12-13). As the apostle Paul explains in Galatians 4, “God sent his Son”—that is, Jesus—to save us because we were cut off from God. We were separated from God because of our sin. But now, through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we can be adopted as God’s children. And we can enjoy all the rights and privileges of belonging to God the Father as his heirs.

 

Confessing “I believe in God the Father” should flood our hearts with praise and thanksgiving as we remember this. God, in his great mercy, has forgiven all our sins and made us his children. This should also give us great comfort. Surely God, who did not spare his only Son, will spare nothing to watch over and keep us, his children.

 

Then we also understand our opportunity to love the people around us and call them to trust in God as their Father too. It is a great way to begin declaring the things we believe. I hope you are encouraged to follow this sequence in your life.