Session 1.2.1 God, our father

In the Old Testament, the word Father is used in reference to God only 15 times. In the New Testament, it is used over 165 times—in the first four books alone. Why the great increase? Answer: Jesus.

Jesus often called God Father. There’s no surprise here; God is Jesus’ Father. But what should amaze us is that God wants to be our Father, too! Jesus made this clear, and in fact, this is why He came to earth—to extend the invitation and to become the way for each person who would believe in Him to become a child of God.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)

Jesus Christ came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for us, to pay the penalty of our sin. He made it possible for us to be forgiven, to be made righteous, to become children of God. In Christ we are no longer distant from God. Christ offers us the salvation we each so desperately need but could never earn.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)

One of our deepest longings is to be loved, and one of our greatest needs is to give love. Christ is the answer to both. In Him our desire to be loved is met, and our ability to love has been initiated

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

In Christ alone can we become the men and women, husbands and wives, dads and moms that God intends. As we grow up in Christ, becoming more like Him, we are able to share and model His life to others.

If you would like to know more about the way of salvation through Christ, please visit Cru.org/us/en/ how-to-know-God.

Excerpt taken from pages 20-21 of FamilyLife’s Art of Parenting™ Workbook. For more resources like this, visit FamilyLife.com/parenting.