Know 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 your 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 your life to know God as your 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. 

Change Your Mind

God commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Charles Spurgeon explained, "To repent is to change your mind about sin and Christ and all the great things of God." He went on to say, "The person who truly repents is never satisfied with his or her repentance. We can no more repent perfectly than we can live perfectly."

When you repent, there is a change of mind about sin and Christ. You knew that you were a sinner who had fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). You knew that only the Lord Jesus Christ could save you from the curse of sin and the power of sin. Repentance is turning from the sin of unbelief to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).

Christians are not perfect people in this life. We are still tempted and sin from time to time. Therefore, when you repent, you confess your sins to God. Then, you find fresh cleansing from your sins, through the blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9).

Spurgeon said, "To repent is to change your mind." As you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through Bible study, your mind is changed by receiving more truth from the word of God. That is one reason Spurgeon taught that "we can no more repent perfectly than we can live perfectly." You receive more understanding in "all the great things of God."

The Gospel Is Christ

The word gospel simply means good news. It's the good news of God to all nations, about the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). It's good news because Christ died on the cross to save us from the judgment of our sins. It's good news because God gives us eternal life, through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is risen from the dead to give believers everlasting life (Romans 6:23).

The gospel of Jesus Christ is sufficient for all. Yes, all are sincerely invited to Christ. Most assuredly, the gift of eternal life in Christ is certain for all who repent and believe. Therefore, the gospel must be preached to all nations and people without exception (Matthew 28:18-20).

If the gospel of Christ is for all, why are all not saved? Jesus answered the question. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). All people will simply not come to Christ, but many are certain to come to Him. All who do so will never be turned away (John 6:37).

The gospel for all people certainly doesn't imply that anyone is saved without responding to the gospel. It does mean that the death of Jesus Christ for our sins effectively saves all who believe. Christ risen from the dead saves all who call upon him (Romans 10:9-13). Therefore, the gospel of Jesus Christ must be preached to all nations and people (Mark 16:15). 

Christ the Only Way

John MacArthur said, "Salvation from eternal condemnation is by faith alone (sola fide), and Christ alone (solus Christus) saves. Apart from Christ, there is no hope for anyone."

What MacArthur wrote is based upon clear Bible teaching. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to God the Father.

Jesus Christ is the only true way to God the Father. He said, "I am . . . the truth." He is the truth according to the Scripture. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth of Christ in our hearts. The Holy Spirit enables you to believe and confess the truth (1 Corinthians 12:3). 

Jesus Christ is the only living way to God the Father. He said, "I am . . . the life." The resurrection of Jesus from the grave on the third day proves that He is the living way. The power of the Holy Spirit raised Him from the grave (Romans 1:4).

Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except through me." Others may say, "There are many ways to God." Choose the words of Jesus our risen Lord over other opinions. Jesus is the only one who died for our sins. Jesus claimed that He would rise from the dead. He proved His words true. 

How We See God

Jesus said, "God is Spirit ..." (John 4:24). That means we cannot see God with our eyes, because he is invisible to us. However, we can see God and walk with him by faith. 

Moses was an example of faith that sees God who is invisible. "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27). He fulfilled his destiny, because of faith that endured, seeing him who is invisible. 

We see the invisible God like we see the wind move. We see what the wind is doing and where it is moving. So faith is able to see what God is doing and where he is moving. Faith sees "that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men" (Daniel 4:17). Faith sees the Most High God ruling and reigning in life. Faith enables us to see what God is doing in our lives.

Faith sees not by natural vision through our eyes, but with understanding from the word of God (Romans 10:17). We walk with God daily by faith. We remember that faith is "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). We are walking by faith, "as seeing him who is invisible."

Those who have faith in God see him ruling over all. "For of him and through him and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever" (Romans 11:36). Faith sees God according to the truth of the word of God. Believers see God at work in all things to his glory forever.