♦ RELATIONSHIP. God our Father desires a perfect Father-child relationship because people are the only aspect of His creation “created in His image”.
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule…God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them… Genesis 1: 26-28a
“Is this the way you repay the LORD, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?” Deuteronomy 32: 6
Jesus continued to teach this relational aspect of God as Father throughout His teaching time on earth.
“Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5: 16
The Apostle Paul described the familial relationships between the Father, Son, and those of us born again in Christ. We are joint heirs!
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8: 14-17
♦ REDEEMER. God the Son – Jesus, our Savior and Lord (Christ = Messiah or Anointed One) said He came to call sinners to repentance and save us from our sins. That is His perfect work of redemption. Redeem means to “buy back”. We sold ourselves to sin and Satan. To be restored to God, we must first be redeemed. The only One Who can do that is Jesus Christ Whose perfect life made His atoning blood sufficient to pay the price.
“…for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit….and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1: 20-21
“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4: 17
(Jesus said) “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5: 32
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— Galatians 3: 13
“You know (Jesus) appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.” 1John 3: 5
♦ REFORMER. God the Holy Spirit –His work in our lives is reforming us to make us look, live, and love more like Jesus.
“the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” John 14: 26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me: John 15: 26
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” John 16: 13
The Holy Spirit alone can give us the power we need to be reformed and transformed as Paul described it.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12: 2
For Christ’s sake,
