God Our Father
Tim Keller | September 17, 2000
Overview
The biblical God is a complex God the biblical God is a father and a friend and a lover and a king. God is all of these thingsyou cant just choose one or the other. This sermon looks at God as our father. If we understand that God is our father, we know that we are absolutely safe with him and that we will always have a home with him. Once we realize this, we can form a covenant with God and rejoice in his love for us. Looking at this Psalm, we are going to ask two questions: 1) What does it mean that God is a father? 2) How should we respond?
Outline
Psalm 103:1–2, 8–18
The Bible paints a picture of God that is far more complex than a single, easy-to-understand image. It shows us God in different roles, like a father, a friend, a lover, and a king. Each role is important, and we need to recognize and respond to each one. One of the most important roles to understand is God as a father. Understanding and responding to God’s fatherly love is a key part of our faith.
1. What does it mean that God is a father?
The Bible uses metaphors to help us understand three important parts of God’s nature: safety, compassionate anger, and home. God’s compassion is deep and emotional, beyond what we can fully understand. It’s like the love a mother has for her child. His compassionate anger isn’t about punishment, but a response to sin. God is also our ultimate safe place, our home.
2. How should we respond to God as our Father?
To fully experience God’s safety, compassionate anger, and unconditional love, we need to have a special agreement, a likeness, and a relationship with Him. This relationship is the core of what it means for God to be our Father. It provides us with safety, guidance, and a caring, loving environment. When we fully believe in God and accept Him into our lives, a transformation happens. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we become God’s children. This allows us to experience His unconditional love, freedom, peace, and trust in His guidance.
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