Knowing God as Father

J.I.Packer wrote,"What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father." 

Jesus said,"No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him"(Matthew 11:27). 

Packer taught,"Sonship to God is not, therefore, a universal status into which everyone comes by natural birth, but a supernatural gift which one receives through receiving Jesus."

Dr. Packer was right! Being a Christian is knowing God as Father. God's grace enables us to repent of our sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30; 16:31). The Holy Spirit comes into our lives to know God as our Father. 

"You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God"(Romans 8:15-16).

Jesus Christ came into this world that all believers may know God as Father. Trusting Christ gives us a relationship with God as our Father. Believers are children of God the Father through faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. 

Confession of Faith

Salvation comes to us through the resurrection of Jesus our Lord. "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved"(Romans 10:9). Jesus is proven to be Lord through his resurrection. He becomes your Lord, as you believe and confess him as Lord. Our confession of faith says, "Jesus is Lord."

Jesus risen from the dead is the singular most important doctrine in the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:17). The salvation of every believer rests upon the resurrection of Christ. It's the miracle you must believe to be saved. Confessing Jesus as Lord is the earliest confession of the Christian faith. It focuses upon the resurrection of Jesus as our confession of faith.

If your faith is in Jesus our Lord, then the Holy Spirit convinced you (John 16:7-11). The Holy Spirit illumines your mind and brings you to repentance, a change of mind, concerning the resurrection of Christ. Then and only then, you will truly confess that Jesus is Lord, because you know the truth personally. "No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3).

The word saved means to be delivered from the condemnation and judgment of your sins. Also, it means to be delivered from the wages of sin which is death (Romans 6:23). To be saved is to receive eternal life through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. If Jesus is your Lord, your are saved.

Whom God Will Save

God will save sinners."For all have sinned"(Romans 3:23). As we look to God's mercy at the cross of Jesus, we find mercy to take away all our sins."The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin"(1 John 1:7). God's mercy saves every believer in God's Son. Jesus was raised from the dead to prove every believer's justification from all sin. 

God will save sinners at the cross. Jesus suffered and died for sinners like you and me. Justice demands eternal judgment for all who have sinned. Justice was served at the cross, when Jesus paid the full price for our sins. 

God will save sinners who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Justice was served for sinners in Christ crucified,"according to His mercy He saved us"(Titus 3:5). Justice says,"Because you are guilty of breaking God's law, you deserve eternal judgment." Mercy says,"You are guilty, but Jesus took your judgment at the cross." Justice was served on our behalf, that we may receive mercy. 

God will save sinners in Christ alone,"who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised for our justification"(Romans 4:25). Those who reject God's mercy in Christ receive justice, which is just condemnation. However, there is no condemnation for those who receive God's mercy in Christ (John 3:17; Romans 8:1).