Class 4 Who is God the Father?

The doctrine of the Trinity, one of the foundational tenets of Christian theology, describes the nature of God as three distinct persons — the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit — in one divine essence. This concept, while not explicitly named in the Bible, is supported by various scriptural passages that depict the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working in unity, emphasizing their distinct roles yet singular divine nature. The Trinity encapsulates how God relates to us and the world, revealing Himself as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

Within this Trinitarian framework, God the Father plays a pivotal role in defining our relationship with Him, especially in the context of being “born again” into His family. This new birth, a transformation that Jesus explains as being born of “water and the Spirit” (John 3:5), signifies a spiritual rebirth that aligns us with God’s family, making us His children. Two key scriptures help illuminate this transformative process and our subsequent identity in Christ:

1. John 1:12-13 states, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” This passage highlights the transition from not being a part of God’s family to becoming His children through faith in Jesus Christ. It underscores the act of receiving Christ and believing in His name as the criteria for this divine adoption, emphasizing that our status as God’s children is not a result of natural lineage or human effort but of God’s will and spiritual rebirth.

2. Galatians 4:4-7 further explores our new identity in Christ, saying, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” This passage reveals the profound implications of being born again: through Christ’s redemption, we are adopted into God’s family, not as servants but as sons and daughters. The Holy Spirit within us affirms our intimate relationship with God, enabling us to call Him “Abba, Father,” and secures our inheritance as God’s heirs.

Together, these scriptures encapsulate the transformative power of the Gospel. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are reborn into a new spiritual lineage, defining our relationship with God the Father in terms of intimate, familial bonds. As children of God, we inherit the promises of His kingdom and live under the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, reflecting the unity and diversity of the Trinity in our lives. This divine adoption through Christ not only changes our identity but also invites us into a lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus, as we grow in understanding and living out the implications of our sonship.