Our Father

Erik Nelson

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We are supposed to refer to the first person of the Trinity as Father. Is that just a title of respect, or are their ways in which He is like a human father in His dealing with man?
1 Corinthians 8:6
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
 
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Hammster

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1 Corinthians 8:6
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
Okay. How do you see that this addresses the OP?
 
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Erik Nelson

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ViaCrucis

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We are supposed to refer to the first person of the Trinity as Father. Is that just a title of respect, or are their ways in which He is like a human father in His dealing with man?

He is first and foremost the Father of Jesus Christ. He is "Father" because Jesus calls Him this, because Jesus is the Son begotten of the Father before all ages.

We have come to known Jesus' Father as our Father by grace, as adopted children, as joint-heirs with Christ.

It's not mere title, but neither is His divine paternity chiefly about His relationship to creation--it's about His eternal relationship to His Son, our Lord Jesus; to whom we have been united by grace by the Holy Spirit.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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ViaCrucis

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Here is what the scriptures say.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Who shall be called the everlasting Father? The Son.

Scripture also says the name of Jesus is above every other name.
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

This is a passage that is often misunderstood.

As applied to the Messiah (our Lord Jesus) this passage is about Christ's royalty as the King. He is called "everlasting father" not because He's His own Father, but because as the King He is a father to His people. The idea that kings are fathers of the nation is a very old and common motif. Jesus is a father by His being the Great King. He is not the Father, He's the Son of the Father. When our Lord prayed and spoke to His Father He was not talking to Himself, but to Another, the One from whom He has His eternal origin as the Son.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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Ing Bee

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Okay. So just a title?

A relational description, a reminder of the origin, basis, and present reality of the New Life.

I would think that the emphasis in the NT writings on "Father" language points to (among other things):
  1. Our adoption into the family of God (Titus 3:3-7)
  2. ... which based on being immersed in the Son (Romans 6:1-11)
  3. ... who is beloved of the Father and represents the Father (John 5:20)
  4. ... as do we now, so others can be reconciled to God. (2 Cor. 5:20)
 
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derpytia

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We are supposed to refer to the first person of the Trinity as Father. Is that just a title of respect, or are their ways in which He is like a human father in His dealing with man?

Scripture tells us that God does indeed discipline us and that when He does so he is treating us like sons. It also says in Deuteronomy that God disciplines us like a parent does to their son. Even before Jesus paid for our sins on the cross, God assumed a parental role over all who love Him. He can be Lord of all and Father at the same time. Worshipping Him and calling on Him like a child does to their father are not mutually exclusive :)
 
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RaymondG

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Getting a little more theological, is He universally the Father? Or just the Father to believers?
Yes He is the Father of us all.......but especially to them that believe. For they are able to benefit from the knowledge of this relationship. It is like one having a bank account with 1 million in it....but yet struggling through life because they are unaware of it's existence.....
 
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Hammster

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Yes He is the Father of us all.......but especially to them that believe. For they are able to benefit from the knowledge of this relationship. It is like one having a bank account with 1 million in it....but yet struggling through life because they are unaware of it's existence.....
In what way is He a Father to unbelievers?
 
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RaymondG

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Can those who are His children ever stop being His children?
Once a paternity test is taken and it is proven....there is no undoing this knowledge..... Yet, this has little bearing on the relationship the children will have with their father...
 
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Hammster

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Once a paternity test is taken and it is proven....there is no undoing this knowledge..... Yet, this has little bearing on the relationship the children will have with their father...
Okay. How does this relate to the question?
 
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A_Thinker

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That would make them His creation. Does it make them His children?
Everything is His creation. Not everything is created in His image.

Ephesians 4:6 says that God is the Father of all ... even as Eve is the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20)

Would you consider that the designation "Father" has varying shades of meaning ?
 
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Hammster

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Everything is His creation. Not everything is created in His image.

Ephesians 4:6 says that God is the Father of all ... even as Eve is the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20)

Would you consider that the designation "Father" has varying shades of meaning ?
You took that verse out of context, so your meaning doesn’t apply. And you still haven’t answered my question.
 
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Hammster

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The same way He is to those that believe. It loves the prodigal just as much as the one who never leaves.
I’m a believer, and I was given to Christ by the Father. As such, I’m also sitting at the right hand of the Father. Does that also apply to the unbeliever?
 
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RaymondG

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Okay. How does this relate to the question?
Once one discovers God is their father, it cannot be undiscovered, or undone......you are set free with the truth.

I’m a believer, and I was given to Christ by the Father. As such, I’m also sitting at the right hand of the Father. Does that also apply to the unbeliever?

The same applies for all......One comes to the knowledge of Christ.....it is a transformations that happens by the renewing of your mind. It is a journey to the end by remembering the beginning... You will only become what you are, and go where you have been and already are. But it doesnt stop at belief....one must know. Know that mystery......"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory"

"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?"

" what does this(above) have to do with the Question," you ask? Im not sure....but i guess someone needed to hear it.
 
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