Lesson 24: We Believe in God the Father. What would you mean if you said to a pilot, I trust you?...

Lesson 24: We Lesson 24: We Believe in God the Believe in God the

FatherFather

What would you mean What would you mean if you said to a pilot, “I if you said to a pilot, “I

trust you”?trust you”?

Who are some people Who are some people you trust? Why? Who you trust? Why? Who are some you don’t?are some you don’t?

Why?Why?

Another word for “trust” is Another word for “trust” is BELIEVE.BELIEVE.

This lesson is about trusting This lesson is about trusting or believing in God…or believing in God…

So, what do we mean when we

say we believe in God the Father?

Let’s take a look…

Aim: What do we mean when Aim: What do we mean when we say that we believe in we say that we believe in

God the Father?God the Father?1) When we believe (or have faith) in God, it

means that three things are true of

us. What are they?

John 17:1-3

Believing (having faith) means that we know the

true God.

Many people have many Many people have many gods – buddha, wooden gods – buddha, wooden

figures, allah, siva, figures, allah, siva, ganesha, vishnu -ganesha, vishnu -

But none of those people But none of those people really believe in the true really believe in the true God, our heavenly Father God, our heavenly Father

since these gods are since these gods are figments of their figments of their

imagination.imagination.

Aim: What do we mean when Aim: What do we mean when we say that we believe in we say that we believe in

God the Father?God the Father?

1 Thessalonians 2:13

Believing (having faith) means that we accept only the Bible as God’s

Word.

Many religions have many Many religions have many “sacred” scriptures – many “sacred” scriptures – many

of which claim that the of which claim that the Bible is part of God’s Word Bible is part of God’s Word

too.too.

There is only one sacred There is only one sacred Scripture however, and Scripture however, and those who hold to works those who hold to works which are contrary to the which are contrary to the Bible cannot claim to truly Bible cannot claim to truly

believe in the Bible.believe in the Bible.

Aim: What do we mean when Aim: What do we mean when we say that we believe in we say that we believe in

God the Father?God the Father?

Matthew 8:15-13

To believe (have faith) is to trust that God’s

promises are all true.

Though they were as Though they were as good as “dead” as far as good as “dead” as far as

having children…having children…

Abraham believed God Abraham believed God could keep his promise to could keep his promise to bring forth a child from bring forth a child from them and for them. He them and for them. He

believed the impossible. believed the impossible. That’s true faith.That’s true faith.

Though we were as good Though we were as good as “dead” as far as as “dead” as far as

temporal or eternal life… temporal or eternal life…

We too believe, like We too believe, like Abraham, that our Father Abraham, that our Father

will do the impossible will do the impossible through Jesus Christ and through Jesus Christ and bring us back from the bring us back from the dead to live with him dead to live with him

forever.forever.

Key Point 1: The three things Key Point 1: The three things that are true of us if we that are true of us if we

believe (have faith in God) believe (have faith in God) are that we know God, are that we know God,

accept the Bible, and trust accept the Bible, and trust all his promises. all his promises.

Evaluate: When asked Evaluate: When asked whether they believe in whether they believe in God, many people are God, many people are quite willing to say, quite willing to say,

“Well, I know there is a “Well, I know there is a God.”God.”

Agree or Disagree: Agree or Disagree: Because faith means Because faith means

accepting the Bible as accepting the Bible as God’s Word, God wants God’s Word, God wants

us to us to work hard to work hard to

convince people that convince people that this is true.this is true.

Your friend’s dad just Your friend’s dad just lost his job. Your other lost his job. Your other close friend has been ill close friend has been ill

for quite some time. for quite some time. Which promises of God Which promises of God

can you share with can you share with them?them?

Aim: What do we mean when Aim: What do we mean when we say that we believe in we say that we believe in

God the Father?God the Father?2 What do we

mean when we confess that we believe in God “the Father”?

Malachi 2:10

We call God the Father because he created us.

We call them Mom and Dad We call them Mom and Dad – Mother and Father – – Mother and Father – because we came from because we came from

them and they care for us them and they care for us so much.so much.

At least, the good ones do.At least, the good ones do.

How much more doesn’t How much more doesn’t God deserve the title of God deserve the title of

Father then!Father then!

Aim: What do we mean when Aim: What do we mean when we say that we believe in we say that we believe in

God the Father?God the Father?

Galatians 3:26

God is also our Father through our faith in Jesus.

(sons and daughters, faith)

Adopted children can feel Adopted children can feel all the more special all the more special

because their parents went because their parents went to great lengths to adopt to great lengths to adopt

them…them…

God also went through a God also went through a special “adoption special “adoption

procedure” to have us as procedure” to have us as his children. It actually his children. It actually cost him the blood of his cost him the blood of his

only Son! What love!only Son! What love!

Aim: What do we mean when Aim: What do we mean when we say that we believe in we say that we believe in

God the Father?God the Father?

John 20:17

God is also the Father of Jesus.

At Jesus’ baptism, the At Jesus’ baptism, the Father said, “You are my Father said, “You are my

Son, whom I love.”Son, whom I love.”

Key Point 2: We call God the Key Point 2: We call God the Father because he created Father because he created us and because he is our us and because he is our Father through faith in Father through faith in

Jesus. Jesus.

Evaluate: Mormon, Muslim, Evaluate: Mormon, Muslim, or heathen – all are created or heathen – all are created

by God so I can call them by God so I can call them my brothers and sisters.my brothers and sisters.

In a sense it’s true, but In a sense it’s true, but usually we use that speech usually we use that speech

for those who are one in for those who are one in the faith.the faith.

Suppose ten years from Suppose ten years from now you’re married but now you’re married but have no children. What have no children. What advantages are there in advantages are there in

adopting?adopting?

For both you and the child, For both you and the child, especially in light of the especially in light of the

Father adopting us…Father adopting us…

Aim Answered:Aim Answered: When I say When I say that I believe in God the that I believe in God the Father, I am saying that I Father, I am saying that I know the true God as my know the true God as my Father whose promises I Father whose promises I

can trust.can trust.