R.C. Sproul

until a thousand years after Christ that included a direct address of God as Father. Now, he found occasions where God was referred to as the Father, but never used in a direct form of personal address until the tenth century. The other extraordinary part of Jeremias' research was this.

until a thousand years after Christ that included a direct address of God as Father. Now, he found occasions where God was referred to as the Father, but never used in a direct form of personal address until the tenth century. The other extraordinary part of Jeremias' research was this.

that he examined the recorded prayers of Jesus in the New Testament and discovered that every prayer of Jesus recorded in the New Testament except one starts with Jesus addressing God as Father. Now what's the significance of that? Well, Jeremias says that the significance of it was that Jesus as a Jew and as a rabbi Himself was making a departure from tradition here.

that he examined the recorded prayers of Jesus in the New Testament and discovered that every prayer of Jesus recorded in the New Testament except one starts with Jesus addressing God as Father. Now what's the significance of that? Well, Jeremias says that the significance of it was that Jesus as a Jew and as a rabbi Himself was making a departure from tradition here.

And it wasn't just a little departure from tradition, it was a radical departure from tradition, and it was a departure that was met with profound hostility from his contemporaries. When Jesus would refer to God as His Father, His contemporaries, the Pharisees, for example, would become enraged, and they'd say, who do you think you are calling God Father?

And it wasn't just a little departure from tradition, it was a radical departure from tradition, and it was a departure that was met with profound hostility from his contemporaries. When Jesus would refer to God as His Father, His contemporaries, the Pharisees, for example, would become enraged, and they'd say, who do you think you are calling God Father?

You're a man, and they derived a lot more than we would from just looking at these words. You who are a man are making yourself equal with God. because they understood the significance of Jesus by addressing God in this familiar form of personal address that Jesus was indicating a profound sense of intimacy between Himself and God, and that He was being, as it were, the Son of God in a unique way.

You're a man, and they derived a lot more than we would from just looking at these words. You who are a man are making yourself equal with God. because they understood the significance of Jesus by addressing God in this familiar form of personal address that Jesus was indicating a profound sense of intimacy between Himself and God, and that He was being, as it were, the Son of God in a unique way.

Now notice when Jesus says, you want to learn how to pray? When you pray, say, our Father. He's saying, not only am I allowed to address God as Father. But I am now transferring that privilege to you." You realize, don't you, dear friends, that one of the most important doctrines of the New Testament that gives expression to our redemption is the doctrine of adoption.

Now notice when Jesus says, you want to learn how to pray? When you pray, say, our Father. He's saying, not only am I allowed to address God as Father. But I am now transferring that privilege to you." You realize, don't you, dear friends, that one of the most important doctrines of the New Testament that gives expression to our redemption is the doctrine of adoption.

By nature, the Bible says we are children of wrath. God is not our Father naturally. in terms of an intimate, personal, filial relationship. But we are adopted into the family of God in Christ. Christ is the monogenes, the only begotten of the Father, the only Son of the Father, the only one who has the right on earth to address God as Abba Father.

By nature, the Bible says we are children of wrath. God is not our Father naturally. in terms of an intimate, personal, filial relationship. But we are adopted into the family of God in Christ. Christ is the monogenes, the only begotten of the Father, the only Son of the Father, the only one who has the right on earth to address God as Abba Father.

And now he invites his disciples to participate in that personal form of address, that intensely familiar filial relationship. And of course, not only does the Son give us the right and the authority to address God as Father, but the Holy Spirit in His assistance in our prayer life, in His aid to us, intercedes for us and gives to us the right to cry, Abba, Father.

And now he invites his disciples to participate in that personal form of address, that intensely familiar filial relationship. And of course, not only does the Son give us the right and the authority to address God as Father, but the Holy Spirit in His assistance in our prayer life, in His aid to us, intercedes for us and gives to us the right to cry, Abba, Father.

So the point is, this is not something to be taken for granted or taken lightly. Every time we say the Lord's Prayer, every time we open our mouths and say, Our Father, we should be reminded of our adoption. of our being engrafted into Christ and being placed into this personal, intimate, filial relationship with God that is not ours by nature.

So the point is, this is not something to be taken for granted or taken lightly. Every time we say the Lord's Prayer, every time we open our mouths and say, Our Father, we should be reminded of our adoption. of our being engrafted into Christ and being placed into this personal, intimate, filial relationship with God that is not ours by nature.

It has been won for us by the perfect obedience of the Son. who receives an inheritance that has been given and promised to him from the foundation of the world, which inheritance he shares with his brothers and sisters who are in him. And we remember this every time we pray the Lord's Prayer. I know people who struggle with the term of address for God as Father. I've had people say to me,

It has been won for us by the perfect obedience of the Son. who receives an inheritance that has been given and promised to him from the foundation of the world, which inheritance he shares with his brothers and sisters who are in him. And we remember this every time we pray the Lord's Prayer. I know people who struggle with the term of address for God as Father. I've had people say to me,

I can hardly bear to say it because in my experience, my family experience, my father, my earthly father, was a cruel and vicious, insensitive person. He violated me.

I can hardly bear to say it because in my experience, my family experience, my father, my earthly father, was a cruel and vicious, insensitive person. He violated me.