How Is God Our Father?
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” Galatians 1: 3.
This verse comprises the apostle Paul’s salutation to the Galatian church to whom this letter is addressed. It’s similar to the way he began all his letters. But I want to call your attention to how he addresses God in this passage.
How Are We Are God’s Family?
The reason Paul calls God “our Father” in this verse is because of the redemption Christ accomplished for us at the cross.
To read the passage for context, click here.
That’s why after He rose from the grave He said to Mary “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” John 20: 17. Before He had spoken of God as only His father (Mathew 7: 21, John 15: 15.
But after the work of redemption was completed, we were justified by His blood and made acceptable to God. And He became our Father also, and not just Christ’s. Think of it!
God Is Our Father through Christ
Because of the work of Christ on the cross, God is now just as much our Father as Christ’s. We have the same access, the same favor, the same acceptability to Him as Christ. What?! That’s incredible!
We are just as beloved by the Father as Christ. And He wants to have the same intimate, personal relationship with each of us as He does with Christ.
We’ve been brought into the family of God (Ephesians 2: 19). We’ve been adopted as sons (Ephesians 1: 5). We are heirs of the Father with the son (Romans 8: 17).
Jesus Made It Possible
We had to be cleansed and justified and redeemed before God could become “our Father”. Christ accomplished this for us on the cross.
We now belong to Him. We are His precious, beloved sons and daughters! “See what kind of love has been given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” 1 John 3: 1. Thank-you Jesus for making that possible!
To read related posts, see Being Faithful to God When It Hurts or God’s Love Has Nothing to do With Us.