The Reason Christians Call God “Father”
Christians today call God “Father” because the Bible teaches that God is our Father. In the Old Testament era, the people of Israel recognized God primarily as the Creator and the Almighty. In the Scriptures, He was most often referred to as the LORD (Yahweh). However, there are also a few instances in the Old Testament where God is described as a Father. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ, who came as the Savior, taught people to address God as “our Father in heaven.”
The term father is usually used within a family, referring to the one who gives life to his children. Therefore, calling God “Father” is not merely an expression of affection—it signifies the profound relationship between God and His people.
Titles for God
The Almighty, the Most High
God is the omnipotent and sovereign Being who created the heavens and the earth by His word,[1] parted the sea,[2] and holds the authority to judge the world.[3][4] On Mount Sinai, He descended in majestic glory—with fire, thick clouds, the trembling of the mountain, and the sound of a mighty trumpet—so that the people were filled with awe and dared not come near.[5]
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
As the Creator of the world and the One who governs nature by His will, God was regarded with awe and reverent fear by the people of Israel during the Old Testament era. In Scripture, He is called the Almighty, God Almighty, and the Most High.[6][7][8]
The Lord (Master)
The Almighty God was acknowledged as the divine Being to whom all creation must submit. Accordingly, in the Old Testament, the relationship between God and the people of Israel is often depicted as that of a Master and His servants.
“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.”
“We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.”
King
Before a human monarchy was established, Israel was a nation directly governed by God.[9] Even after a king was appointed, the people of Israel continued to regard themselves as a nation under God’s rule, believing that they must remain obedient to Him. This understanding is reflected in numerous verses that describe God as the supreme authority and sovereign King.[10]
For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us.
Father
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Although there are a few passages in the Old Testament where God is referred to as “Father,”[11][12][13] it is in the New Testament—particularly in Matthew chapters 5 through 7—that this title becomes prominent. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus referred to God as “our Father in heaven” more than ten times, emphasizing the intimate and personal relationship between God and His people.
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven . . .’ ”
Throughout the Four Gospels, there are numerous instances where Jesus teaches His followers to address God as “Father.”
- “And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9)
- “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.” (Luke 10:21)
- “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)
- “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23)
- Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.” (John 8:54)
- “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.” (John 17:11)
- Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” (John 20:17)
We can also find instances in the New Testament where believers in the early Church called God “Father,” following the teachings of Jesus.[14][15]
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
The Meaning of the Title Father
Existence of Children
The word father refers to a man who has children. We call God “Father” because He has children. The children of God—His sons and daughters—are those who believe in Him and have faith.
“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
The Existence of the Mother
In the general concept of a family, if there are children, it is only natural that there must also be both a father and a mother who gave birth to them. Without a mother, children cannot be born, and even the concept of a father would not exist. The title father inherently presupposes the existence of children as well as the mother who gave them life. Therefore, the reason we call God “Father” implies not only the presence of God’s children but also the existence of God the Mother.
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
The word “above” refers to heaven, and “our” refers to the believers who are to receive salvation. Just as there is a Heavenly Father for the believers, there also exists a Heavenly Mother.
The Relationship Between God and the Saints
The reason we call God Father is that believers are His children. In the Old Testament era, the relationship between God and His people was often described in hierarchical terms—such as Creator and creation, Master and servant, or King and subjects. However, in the New Testament, Jesus referred to God as the Heavenly Father and taught that He is the spiritual Parent who nurtures the souls of humankind. In other words, the relationship between God and His people is that of a parent and child, united in love.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! . . . Dear friends, now we are children of God.
See also
External links
Related videos
- Sermon: God Is Our Father & Mother