We Are Children Of God The Father

This fall, we are exploring what the Bible says about who we are as God's people, focusing on the images of Kingdom of God, Family of God and Body of Christ. As God's people, we are members of God's family. This means that God is our Father (Jn. 1:12-13) and has encouraging and life-changing implications. Because God is our Father... We are Not Orphans (John 14:16-18; Rom. 8:14-16) Jesus promised His disciples they would not be left as "orphans," alone and helpless to figure out life. Paul expands on this by declaring that as people given life by God's Spirit, we are " adopted as God's children. As Father, God never leaves us to fend for ourselves, but is actively and graciously present with us. We Are Not Slaves to Fear (Rom. 8:1, 14-16) In context, Paul has been talking about the fear of being condemned by past and present failure. " God does not hold our failures against us, but provides power to change us more and more into the character of Christ. We are Co-heirs with Christ. (Rom. 8:17) The relationship Jesus had with God as Father is the model for the relationship God makes available to us. The full experience of this is yet to come, but until then, the Father walks with " us in the suffering that is part of living in this fallen world.. Discussion/Reflection Questions - What does it mean to you that God is Father? What are the dangers of defining God's Fatherhood on the basis of human fatherhood? - In what ways might you feel "orphaned" in your approach to facing the challenges of life? How does a true understanding of God's Fatherhood speak to this? - In what ways do you feel stuck by past or present failures? How does a true understanding of God's Fatherhood overcome the fear that we are defined by our failures? How does this challenge us to look to God for transformation beyond our failures? - How do you respond to the statement in Rom. 8:17 that as a believer in Jesus, you are a co-heir with Christ? How can this encourage us in the midst of the very real suffering that is part of living in this fallen world?