The Unique Aspects of the Father

The Unique Aspects of the Father

The Greatness of the Father
The Father's greatness and supremacy of position is evident in Scripture. This, however, should not be taken to mean that there is an inequality of essence, power, or glory. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equal in these aspects.

1) The Father sent Jesus and placed Him in charge of all things (Isaiah 48:16, et al)
"All things have been committed to me by my Father." (Matthew 11:27)
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matthew 28:18)

2) He is "greater" than Jesus while Jesus was in His 'emptied' state (though co-equal in essence)--John 14:28
*This point is critical to understanding the passages that show the greatness of the Father. Jesus willfully humbled Himself to the Father in taking on human flesh and subordinated Himself to the Father.

In this, the Father is called "The God of Jesus" (Jesus said on the cross: "My God, My God...) And in John 20:17; 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.' "

The Father was the only one that knew when Jesus would return (Mark 13:32). Much debate has occured over this point. Questions arise such as, "Does Jesus know now when He will return?" The Scripture teaches that Jesus' emptied state on earth was volitional and included subordination to the Father. One aspect of this is the voluntary withholding of knowledge of the GodHead from the Son while He was on earth. As a child, Jesus grew in wisdom [Luke 2:52]. But we know that Jesus is the embodiment of wisdom. So it is more than likely that Jesus knows now the time of His coming, but chose not to know while He was on earth.

The Father is the Head of Christ [I Corinthians 11:3]

The Relationship with the Father
3) The Father is desirous of a personal relationship with His children as their Father
Abba, Father (Romans 8:15)--shows personal nature of our relationship
Two Theories on "Abba":
a) Abba means 'Daddy'; one lexicographer advanced this notion, but has retracted it, other scholars now do not see Abba nec as 'Daddy"
b) The Aramaic, Greek combo seen in Mark 14:36 [Jesus in Gethsemane,. Romans 8:15, and Galatians 4:6. So we cry out as Jesus did to the Father...we are sons!

The whole family of heaven derives its name from Him (John 17:11, Ephesians 3:14-15)

"Father" is a special title... see Matthew 23:9; "do not call anyone on earth "father" for you have one Father, and He is in heaven."

The Descriptions of the Father
4) The Father is not flesh, and no one in the flesh has seen Him.
"No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only He has seen the Father." (John 6:46)
"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side has made Him known." (John 1:18)
All the appearances of God in the OT were therefore Jesus. This answers Muslim assertion that no one has seen God, and since people have seen Jesus, He must therefore not be God. But no one has seen the FATHER. Many saw Jesus...God in the flesh.

"God (the Father), the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see." (I Timothy 6:15-16)
"And Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Blessed art thou Simon BarJona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 16:17 KJV)
"God (the Father) is Spirit" (John 4:24)
(This answers Mormon doctrine that the Father has flesh and blood)

The appearance of the Father in Revelation 4:3
**Here The Father is seen by John while he is "in the spirit"

5) Other actions and aspects of the Father
Sent the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 26)

Also known of as the Comforter (2 Corinthians 1)

The Father as the gardener (John 15)

The Father as landowner (parable in Matthew 21:33)

The Father portrayed as the One who is to come (Revelation 1:4[compare with Jesus in Rev. 1:8]); see also Revelation 4:8---Trinitarian overtones! Daniel 7 and Revelation 5

The Father and Jesus in Creation -- see I Corinthians 8:6

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