My text tonight is Luke 11:13. I want to talk to you about Our Heavenly Father. What a delightful subject! Here in Luke 11:13, our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us that his Father is our Father. He who is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is Our Heavenly Father. As we read the text, do not fail to observe the fact that each of the three Divine Persons is mentioned here. God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is speaking about God the Father sending God the Spirit to his elect.
Luke 11:13 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
We have already seen the clarity with which the Scriptures teach the doctrine of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity, though plainly and unmistakably revealed in the Word of God, is a doctrine far beyond the reach of our puny brains. Precisely because it is such a magnanimous doctrine, it is a doctrine about which confusion abounds. This is nothing new. Throughout the history of the church, heretics have abounded who denied the doctrine of the Trinity. But today those heretics who openly deny or craftily pervert the doctrine of the Trinity are embraced by most as brethren in Christ!
There are some among the papists who would include the virgin Mary (A sinner saved by grace just like we are!) in the Godhead. Mormons and Russellites (Jehovah's Witnesses) deny the eternal Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Others of differing sects of heretics deny the doctrine of the Trinity and teach that the names Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are only varying representations of the one God. And some go so far in their abominations as to teach that when sinners are saved by the grace of God, they themselves become divine!
I have no interest in trying to answer all the questions and objections raised by such heretics against the doctrine of the Trinity. But I do want to help you to know what God has revealed about himself in his Word.
If we would understand anything at all about the distinct works of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we must not fail to recognize that each of the three Divine Persons in the eternal Godhead is a separate, distinct Person from the others. The Father is not the Son or the Spirit. The Son is not the Father or the Spirit. And the Spirit is not the Son or the Father. Each is distinct from the other.
There are some works ascribed to all three of the Divine Persons, because the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are one God. Yet, there are some works ascribed specifically to each of the Divine Persons alone, because each is a distinct Person within the eternal Godhead.
Tonight, I want us to meditate upon, seek to know more fully, and worship God Our Heavenly Father.
Proposition: There are distinct works ascribed to God the Father that cause our hearts to adore him and rejoice to look up to heaven and call him, "Our Heavenly Father."
We commonly speak of the first, second, and third Persons of the Trinity. We call God the Father the first Person, God the Son the second Person, and God the Spirit the third Person. Some ignorantly imagine that to mean that God the Father is the primary Person in the Godhead and that the Son and the Spirit secondary Gods. That is not the case at all. The three Persons of the Holy Trinity are in all things equal to and co-existent with one another. This division (First, Second, and Third Persons) is made simply because our puny brains must have some order in which to think of the infinite God. Now, let me show you fifteen things that God the Father, our heavenly Father, has done, is doing, and shall hereafter do for his chosen.
I. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS THE ETERNAL FATHER OF THE ETERNAL SON.
John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
I will say no more about this great mystery than is plainly revealed in the Word of God. As the Lord Jesus Christ is the only begotten of the Father from everlasting to everlasting, full of grace and truth, so God the Father is the Father of the Son from eternity.
There never was a time when the Son began to be the Son or the Father began to be the Father. Yet, Christ is the eternally begotten Son of the eternally begetting Father.
I know no more about the subject than that; and even that is too profound a mystery for me! I do not pretend to understand it. But I often contemplate it with utter amazement.
II. WE UNDERSTAND AND REJOICE IN THE FACT THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND ALL THAT DWELL THEREIN.
Hebrews 1:1-2 "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds."
The creation of all things is ascribed to God the Father. He is here described as creating the worlds by his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. That does not mean that the Son was the mere instrument by whom the Father created all things, but that the Father and the Son together are the co-efficient cause and Creator of all things.
Hebrews 11:3 "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."
III. OUR HEARTS REJOICE TO KNOW THAT IT IS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WHO DICTATES AND RULES ALL THE AFFAIRS OF PROVIDENCE.
Romans 11:33-36 "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (34) For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? (35) Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? (36) For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."
Isaiah 46:9-11 "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (11) Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it."
Daniel 4:35 "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"
He who is the Captain of the ship of Time, he who sits at the helm of the ship and steers the course of all things, according to the map of his own sovereign purpose, to their appointed destiny is our heavenly Father!
Sometimes we have nothing to fall back on except this. But when a person can fall back on this, "My Father did this!" he needs nothing else to fall back on! With confident hearts, in the face of the most tragic of events, believers can and should say, with old Eli, "It is the LORD; let him do what seemeth him good" (1 Sam. 3:18).
IV. NOT ONLY DOES OUR HEAVENLY FATHER RULE ALL THINGS IN PROVIDENCE, HE DOES IT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GRACE IN SOVEREIGN PREDESTINATI0N.
Do not be afraid of or ashamed of the Bible doctrine of predestination. He who predestinated all things is God, our heavenly Father. He did it from eternity. He did it for our salvation. And he will never alter his purpose or turn away from the thing which he predestined.
Ephesians 1:11 "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"
Romans 8:28-31 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31)can be against us?"
V. GOD'S PURPOSE OF GRACE IN PREDESTINATION, AND HIS EXECUTION OF THAT PURPOSE IN PROVIDENCE IS ACCORDING TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER'S SOVEREIGN CHOICE OF HIS PEOPLE UNTO SALVATION IN CHRIST BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN IN ETERNAL ELECTION.
Ephesians 1:4 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 1:2 "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."
Here again is a display of the distinct Persons within the Godhead. The Father chose us to salvation in the Son and through the sanctification of the Spirit to the obtaining of the glory of Christ.
VI. NOT ONLY DID THE FATHER CHOOSE TO SAVE US, IT WAS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WHO FOUND A WAY TO SAVE US THAT IS ALTOGETHER CONSISTENT WITH AND HONORING TO HIS OWN GLORIOUS HOLINESS, JUSTICE, AND TRUTH.
Love chose us; but justice demanded satisfaction. Mercy resolved to spare us; but truth said, "the soul that sinneth, it shall die." Grace cried, "Forgive!" But holiness insisted, "Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. It must be perfect to be accepted."
Our Heavenly Father, looked on his darling Son (Who was willing to live as a man and die as a Substitute for us.); and the Father himself willing to sacrifice his dear Son for us, looked upon his chosen and said, Eureka!
Job 33:24 "Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom."
Psalms 89:19-29 "Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. (20) I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: (21) With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. (22) The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. (23) And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. (24) But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. (25) I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. (26) He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. (27) Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (28) My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. (29) His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven."
VII. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER ENTERED INTO A COVENANT WITH HIS SON ON OUR BEHALF, FOR THE SAVING OF OUR SOULS.
In Hebrews 13:20, it is called the Everlasting Covenant. Frequently it is called the New Covenant. This covenant was made in eternity, between God the Father and God the Son; but it was made for us.
A. In so far as the benefits and blessings of it to us are concerned, it is an unconditional covenant.
The Lord God said, "I will love them freely... I will be their God; and they shall be my people."
B. This everlasting covenant of grace is a sure covenant, a covenant, a covenant which infallibly secured and guaranteed to God's elect all the blessings of salvation and eternal life in Christ.
Jeremiah 31:3 "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with Iovingkindness have I drawn thee."
Jeremiah 31:31-34 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: (32) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: (33) But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (34) And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
Jeremiah 32:38-40 "And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: (39) And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: (40) And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me."
2 Samuel 23:5 "Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow."
C. The only condition to the covenant and the blessings of grace and salvation promised in it was the obedience of the Son of God as our Substitute unto death
Hebrews 13:20 "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.."
Now listen to me. - There was never the slightest possibility of failure on his part.
VIII. HAVING FOUND A RANSOM FOR OUR SOULS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER GAVE HIS CHOSEN INTO THE HANDS OF HIS SON, AS SHEEP INTO THE HANDS OF A SHEPHERD, AND TRUSTED HIM WITH THE SALVATION OF OUR SOULS AND THE GLORY OF HIS OWN GREAT NAME.
John 6:39 "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."
Ephesians 1:12-13 "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"
If God the Father has trusted his glory to his dear Son as our Substitute and Savior and trusted the salvation of our souls to his hand, how we ought to trust him with our immortal souls and with all that concerns us. If the Father trusted him, he is a trustworthy Savior!
IX. MOREOVER, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS ADOPTED US INTO HIS FAMILY AS THE SONS OF GOD FROM ETERNITY.
1 John 3:1-2 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
Galatians 4:6-7 "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
John Gill wrote, "This is a privilege that exceeds all others; it is more to be a son than to be a saint; angels are saints, but not sons, they are servants; it is more to be a child of God, than to be redeemed, pardoned, and justified; it is great grace to redeem from slavery, to pardon criminals, and justify the ungodly; but it is another and an higher act of grace to make them sons; and which makes them infinitely more honourable, than to be the sons and daughters of the greatest potentate upon earth; yea, gives them an honour which Adam had not in innocence, nor the angels in heaven, who though sons by creation, yet not by adoption."
X. HAVING CHOSEN AND ADOPTED US, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER ACCEPTED IN CHRIST FROM ETERNITY.
Ephesians 1:4-6 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us .... unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
Be sure you do not fail to grasp the teaching of Holy Scripture regarding the matter of our acceptance before God.
A. Our acceptance is in Christ.
B. Our acceptance is from everlasting to everlasting.
C. Our acceptance is absolute and unconditional.
D. Our acceptance means that God the Father, our heavenly Father, looks upon us, in Christ as perfect in him, and has done so from eternity. He declares, "It must be perfect to be accepted!"
XI. BEING "ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED," OUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST FROM ETERNITY AND HAS PROMISED TO BLESS US FOREVER FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.
Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."
The Lord God commanded Aaron, his high priest, to bless his people symbolically (Num. 6:23) because he had sworn from eternity, for Christ's sake, saying,"I will bless them" (Num. 6:27).
XII. IF YOU WANT TO GET SOME IDEA OF JUST HOW GREAT HIS BLESSINGS ARE, GET HOLD OF THIS - OUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS GIVEN HIS OWN DEAR SON FOR US AND TO US!
2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."
Isaiah 49:8 "Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 8:32 "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
1 John 4:9-10 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
A. The Father gave us his Son in promise before the world began.
B. The Father gave us his Son in the fulness of time in the incarnation, to fulfill all righteousness for us.
C. The Father gave us his Son as a sin-atoning Sacrifice and Substitute at Calvary.
D. The Father gave us his Son in regeneration forming his Son in us by the power of his Holy Spirit.
E. The Father will give us his Son in resurrection glory, when he brings us into heaven.
XIII, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVES HIS SPIRIT TO ALL HIS ELECT.
He does not give his Spirit to some of his elect and withhold his Spirit from others. The Father gives the Spirit to all the chosen and to all the Redeemed, according to his covenant promise and upon the basis of Christ's intercession.
Galatians 3:13-14 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;"
John 16:8-15 "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (12) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. (15) All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you."
The Holy Spirit is given to every chosen, redeemed sinner, as a Sanctifier, Convincer, Comforter, Strengthener, Teacher, Enlightener, Illuminator, Guide, and Seal.
XIV. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER GRACIOUSLY AND EFFECTUALLY TEACHES CHOSEN SINNERS, CAUSING US TO COME TO CHRIST FOR SALVATION AND LIFE.
John 6:44-45 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (45) It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."
Titus 2:11-14 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
More than that, our heavenly Father teaches us his will and his way as we seek it for his glory.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
XV. ONCE MORE, IT IS GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WHO KEEPS US IN THE WAY OF LIFE AND GRACE BY HIS OMNIPOTENT, SOVEREIGN POWER.
I Peter 1:5 "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
How I rejoice to know for myself and to preach to you that our final salvation, our perseverance and preservation, depend...
Ecclesiastes 3:14 "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him."
1 Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."
Application:
What a privilege is ours to be the sons and daughters of God Almighty! To lift our hearts to heaven, beholding God upon his throne, and say, "Our Heavenly Father!"
Romans 8:15-17 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
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