One God and Father of All

I.               Introduction

A.  When you think of the term father, what comes to mind?

B.  Background

1.    One God

a.    One God is a foregone conclusion for those who had grown up in Judaism, but not so for the converts from paganism.[1]

b.    Paul is also declaring that God is the Father of all His children. There are no “secret” family members.

2.    God is depicted as a father in the OT, but only sparingly

a.    Psalm 68:5

b.    Isaiah 64:8

c.    Malachi 2:10

3.    God and Father phrase is found 12 times in the NT

a.    Many times in reference to the Father’s relationship to Jesus as His Son

b.    Two of those occasions are in Ephesians 1:3; 4:6

c.    Jesus refers to God as Father over 165 times in the Gospel accounts

4.    What is important for us to understand about God the Father?

II.            God and Father of All

A.  (Father)

1.    Depicting God as the Father of all of us is important because it speaks of the God desires with His people.

a.    Jesus reveals this to us in John 17:20-23.

b.    God’s true desire is that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

2.    Some here today may not have had the best earthly father. God seeks to be everything (and more) that your earthly father never was.

3.    Christian men need to remember that you are your child’s first impression of what God the Father looks like.

4.    God truly desires for you to know Him because you find guidance for life through knowing Him.

B.  (of all)

1.    In one sense, God is the father of all mankind, for He is the One who created humankind.

a.    God cares for all of His people, not just select groups.

b.    Ephesians 3:14-15

2.    Paul is not referencing creation. He is referencing that God is the Father of those who are of the new .

a.    Ephesians 2:15

b.    Ephesians 4:22-24

3.    Knowing God the Father means you understand that there is always a place where you belong and can be accepted even though you are imperfect.

C.  (over, through, and in all)

1.    God is not an father. God cares about you.

2.    Notice the language at the end of this phrase:

a.    Over all- speaks of God’s

b.    Through all- God is in the lives of His people

c.    In all- God is with His people[2]

3.    When God is in every part of your life, He has the to every part of your life.

III.         Conclusion

A.  God the Father

B.  Invitation