Session 3:

God, the Father almighty

The Apostles’ CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty,  

creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our

Lord,  who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,  

born of the Virgin Mary,  suffered under Pontius Pilate,  

was crucified, died, and was buried;  he descended to the dead.  

On the third day he rose again;  he ascended into heaven,  

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,  and he will come again to judge the living and

the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit,  the holy catholic church,  the communion of saints,  the forgiveness of sins,  

the resurrection of the body,  and the life everlasting. AMEN.

the Father almighty

• Why do we call God Father?– Simply put, that’s what Jesus did and what he

taught us to do.• Matthew 6:9–  9 “This, then, is how you should

pray:“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be

your name,» Greek “Abba” meaning Dad

• Implies a sense of warmness and respect. Picture a child sitting on his father’s lap.

the Father almighty

• Why do we call God Father?– We are adopted

• John 1:12

– 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

– God is the father of Jesus and our father – He loves us no less than he loves his only begotten

son.

the Father almighty• Jesus used the parable of the Prodigal Son to

teach the disciples about the father-nature of God.

• Luke 15:11-• What do we learn about God from the father

in this parable?– His love endures forever

the Father almighty• Keep in mind...God is not attempting to be like our

earthly fathers, our earthly fathers ought to be like Him!

• Relating to God as a loving, caring, faithful father amazed the disciples because they understood God almost solely as....

the Father almighty What does it mean to be almighty?

• Omnipotent– Psalm 135:6

• Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

– all powerful– to be feared– Can and will do all that he intends

• Unfortunately, this led many to see God as:– Distant– Not approachable– No possibility of a personal relationship

the Father almighty • God’s true nature is reflected in his being both

Father and almighty.– One or the other by themselves is a far less accurate

description of the nature of God.

Rembrandt

Reflection on the hands

• In them mercy becomes flesh; upon them forgiveness and healing come together...I felt drawn to those hands; I have come to know those hands. They have held me from the hour of my conception, they welcomed me at birth, fed me, kept me warm. They have protected me in times of danger, they have waved me goodbye and always welcomed me back. Those hands are God’s hands...They are also the hands of my parents, teachers, friends, all God has given me to remind me of how safely I am held.

• Henri Nouwen

Who’s your daddy?• Romans 8

–  14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

• Those who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus are adopted as sons and daughters, receiving...– Unconditional love– Absolute forgiveness– Total acceptance

• Your adoption is a decision only you can make.

Review• Why do we call God father?• What are some characteristics of the

fatherhood of God?• Why would the disciple be astounded that

Jesus called God “Abba” or Dad?• What does it mean to be “almighty”?• How do we become God’s sons and

daughters?• How is God both Father and almighty?