Bilquis Sheikh, a Pakistani, wrote about her conversion to Christianity in the book I Dared to Call Him Father. The title caught my attention. Dared to call Him Father? We usually take it for granted that we can address God as “Father.” We hardly realize what a great privilege it is anymore! Jesus introduced something completely revolutionary when He told us to call God, “Our Father in heaven” (v.9). Considering how dangerous it was for Jesus to call God “My Father” (John 5:17-18), perhaps Bilquis Sheikh was right. We can’t take it for granted that we may call God “Abba, Father.”
While on earth, Jesus spoke with God with evident familiarity and intimacy, calling God “Father” more than 200 times. Jesus never called God by any other name until—while on the cross, bearing the sins of the world and forsaken by His Father—He cried out in anguish: “My God, my God” (Matthew 27:46). But once His act of ultimate sacrifice was nearing completion, Jesus reverted to calling God “Father.” His final, triumphant words were: “Father, I entrust My spirit into Your hands!” (Luke 23:46).
Because of the cross, we now have the privilege and the right to call God “Abba, Father,” for we “are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26; see also John 1:12). God is our Father, for He has adopted us (Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:4-5). We dare to call Him “Father” because we have received “the full rights of sons” (Galatians 4:4-7 NIV) through the gift of the Holy Spirit, “the Spirit of sonship” (Romans 8:14-17 NIV). A nonbeliever will never be able to call God “Abba, Father.”
Our Father in heaven (v.9) is a name of endearment. God is our “Abba Father” who deeply loves us His children.
More:
We call him, “Abba, Father.” For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children (Romans 8:15-17).
Next:
What did it cost Jesus to allow you to call God “Abba, Father”? Pray to your “Father in heaven” and praise Him for the intimate relationship you can enjoy with Him.
bethanyF on July 11, 2010 at 8:08 am
It cost Jesus His life.
maryanneb47 on July 11, 2010 at 4:30 pm
I call Him Father because He wants us too. He wants us to come to Him and live with Him because He told us that He went to heaven to prepare a place for us. Isn’t that what a Father does for His children?
r. panahon on July 11, 2010 at 5:19 pm
I thanked God for giving me such privilege…… Thank you my God,my Father!
Tyla808 on July 12, 2010 at 7:29 pm
God has many names, each of them representing His authority and his character role within that authority for example: Adonai, El Shaddai, El Olam, etc. but I like to look at Abba “Father” being the all-encompassing name, the “umbrella” name if you will that all the other names sit under or within…um, in a sense.
The essence or characteristics/skills/strength, power/authority a father has is to be head of the house (Lord of his home), provider, healer, a shepherd, etc. and I think this is way the distinction was made within the Holy Trinity that the name “Father” is a purposeful, distinct name to call God.
It is true…we were not necessarily born with the right to call God our Father but it has been the sacrificial privilege given to us by Jesus that we can share with him, be brothers and sisters, joint heirs, partakers, workers of the Kingdom of God. Although not our natural, earthly birthright I am grateful for Father God’s love so great that He did not want for even one of us to perish…a fatherly love that allowed me to be born-again, HALLELUJAH!