“Father” is the Christian Word for God

“If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.

For everything that Christ taught, everything that makes the New Testament new, and better than the Old, everything that is distinctively Christian as opposed to merely Jewish, is summed up in the knowledge of the Fatherhood of God. “Father” is the Christian name for God. Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption.”

—J.I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove, IL: 1993), 201-202

HT:  Between Two Worlds

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2 thoughts on ““Father” is the Christian Word for God

  1. everything that makes the New Testament new, and better than the Old, everything that is distinctively Christian as opposed to merely Jewish, is summed up in the knowledge of the Fatherhood of God.

    I think Judaism had [has] this concept.

    But a prayer from Sat. night has stuck with me, so far, 'til now:

    "Almighty and ever-living God, your Spirit made us your children, confident to call you Father. Increase your Spirit within us and bring us to our promised inheritance. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

    So, I like "liturgical," so what.

  2. Robert

    @moonshadow, nothing wrong with Liturgical. That was a great prayer.

    @mzellen, what a great choice for a passage. Packer is a wonderful theologian. He came to my seminary and spoke at chapel. Stupid me slept in that day.

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