God is the Father of the Saints

By Pastor Jed Raquintan

People see God as the father of all humanity. This is known as universalism. Some religious institutions regard this concept. Even non-religious groups believe the same. Others who do not believe in God are considered children of God. Some, in the name of their false god, use religious fanatics who massacre people through suicide bombings. Others claim the fatherhood of God while invading nations and making them vassals.

Our own local politicians who enjoy public service while pocketing the taxes paid by the citizens still go to their religious worship houses. Within Catholicism, followers fight one another for a bigger share in government corruption. Yet, her own religious leaders do not make any correction towards her rebellious priests and bishops. These are the so called moral molders of our society. Some of them even escaped the clutches of justice for such crimes and immorality of fathering children while still a religious priest.
Others became elderly only in age but not in godly wisdom as they are also seen in gross rebellion. How could a legislator while under trial for crime commit another crime of similar nature and yet demand respect? Liberal Protestants and some born again groups were likewise guilty of these sins. Yet, they also claim the fatherhood of God.

The god of these above mentioned people is not the same as the God of the Holy Scriptures. How do we know this? We shall examine the epistles of Apostle John who lived through the first century seeing all the wickedness of that period. He saw the struggle of the first century church against its false members, its fight with false teachings, and its admonition to the faithful members. The fallacy of the above mentioned universalism is anchored on limited human knowledge. This is a result of rejecting the eternal wisdom of God. The religious leaders, its politician-partners, and its followers are promoting alternatives concocted by their boastful reform without consultation with God’s counsel. They see their wisdom as superior and God’s word as irrelevant.

Thus, they will surely fail and even if they seemingly succeed time will show its weakness and soon destruction. Let us now turn to the eternal counsel of God’s word in 1 John 3:1 which says, 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. Apostle John spoke of seven specific truths regarding the limited fatherhood of God.

First, saved people have fellowship with God the Father, 1Jn.1:3. John declared clearly that he and his readers have fellowship with the Father. They are acceptable to Him. He enjoys their company. They have commonality. They have passed His standards to be acceptable. What is His standard on this matter of fellowship? People must become sons of God (3:1). Without this condition human claim of His fatherhood is weightless and non-sense. This fellowship is not only spiritual but also in other aspect of human endeavor. For one to be rejected into fellowship is demeaning. So people longed to be accepted into such divine fellowship only to be refused because they failed to comply with His revealed (in Scriptures) standards. Are you accepted already into His fellowship? If so, then you must be saved already!

Second, saved people must separate from the world as willed by the Father, 1Jn.2:15-17. The ways of the world is never His plan. The world is currently at war with God. Their ways are not consistent with His ways. Consider the wicked way of that aged bishop and politician. What about the one who is ill with cancer? Nearing death yet still actively sinning! Where is the nationally known “born again brother” now? Some media practitioners are grossly and indirectly promoting wickedness more than the godliness of true saved people whose sacrifices are evident in their ministries. They prefer the evil adventurist more than the quiet yet godly servants of the Lord. I pray that no true believer would ever invest their money and skills in such occupational institutions. So why should we put our hard-earned money into those companies?

Third, saved people must remain true in His sound teaching, 1 Jn.2:22-24. People who reject Christ and refuse His gift of salvation are guilty of denying Him. They belong to the antichrist. They deny the Son of God and consequently the Father. The text also exhorts the saved to remain in the sound teaching of Christ (v.24). We are never to consider departing from it in whole as well as in part. As we see increasing apostasy nowadays, beware of slowly and scientifically sliding from what we heard in the past. Let us not consider departing from any point of doctrines. If we do that then we become liars (v.22, 24). As fundamental Baptists we must be steadfast in our doctrines. Let us not waiver in our position on the preserved word of God (in the King James Version). Preservation is a biblical doctrine. God has kept His word down to the smallest letter both in the original and in existing copies of the original manuscript. See 2 Jn. 9 as warned by the apostle who heard Christ teach this doctrine. Give no listening ear to any argument to the contrary position. Let us crusade this position else we can not preserve it in the coming evil days! Let us give our children and grandchildren a godly model of steadfastness. I pray none of us will succumb to the modern view in this matter.

Fourth, the saved people are called children of God, 1 Jn. 3:1. If we publicly claim this sole sonship of God or limited fatherhood of God then we can expect ridicule and persecution from the world. Why is that? Look at the latter part of the verse therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. So there is the reason of our earned rejection and ridicule from the unsaved people. Hence, do not be surprised by their ungodly attitude. You are more privileged than them. You are sound while they are insane! Verse 2 clearly distinguished the saved as His children while the others are not. The dehumanization of the Filipino rests not in its social corruption and oppression as claimed by social scientists. Rather in the believers’ failure to give the former a chance to get saved and aggravated by man’s rejection of the gospel. Those who reject our biblical programs emanating from the wisdom of God are dehumanizing themselves and others. Are you a child of God already?

Fifth, people get saved as they receive the Savior sent by the Father, 1 Jn.4:14-15. The Lord Jesus Christ left the glories of heaven to become man so He can provide us salvation. The Father planned this design. The Son of God humbly took the challenge. He saved those who came to Him and asked Him for salvation (v.15). Have you done this, dear friends? Delay no more to receive this precious gift of salvation! You can not die without this gift! Some things are evident here. The saved is possessed and indwelt by the Son of God. This is the undeniable mark of our being God’s! Also the saved are in God. God the Father desire everybody to be saved. Yet not all want to be saved. Others will continue in their rejection. Further, we owe God much. So He deserves our total devotion and submission. When the will of any human transgresses God’s will then we must unhesitatingly submit to God’s leadership. Employees must refuse submission to employer. Soldiers must not follow the orders of their officers if its sinful and unlawful. Citizens must refuse submission to lawful authorities who make ungodly demands.

Sixth, saved people receive God’s commandments to be obeyed, 2 Jn. 4. Remember Jesus declared His commands are not burdensome (Mt.11:30) as claimed by others. We ought to believe Christ more than man’s testimony concerning this matter (1 Jn.5:9). He gave us commandments for our benefits. Our obedience will bring blessings. Our disobedience will bring curses in our life, work, and society (Deut. 30:1-20). Religiosity is futile if we are violating His commands. As people become religious and yet rebellious to authority they are guilty of hypocrisy. Such is the mark of not being the child of God. He is not God’s son neither is He his father.

Finally, saved people are taught by the apostle that God our Father is with the other two persons of the Trinity (1 Jn.5:7) working harmoniously together. These three testify together for our benefit. In verse 6, the Spirit testifies to the truth. Likewise, the Son of God testifies to the same task (v.9). These three are engaged in the task of building up the saved. The text is one of the clear evidences in the New Testament teaching the existence of the Trinity and their role in our lives. Beware of those who pontifically say this was not part of the true word of God!

After considering these seven privileges God gave to every saved person, you can express much thanksgiving to God our Father. He bestowed all these unto us. None of these came from us. So we owe Him so much. Let us therefore begin this year with such resolute mind and heart to give Him all the devotion of a saved person. Amen!