John 20:17; Matthew 6:8-9 (NIV)

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.´"
Matthew 6:8-9, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "This, then, is how you should pray: " ´Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name....´ "

Introduction : A person who has given us a seed of life is called a father. So a father and a son share the common seed of life. No matter how close animals are to human beings, they cannot be called our father. No matter how cute and lovely our pets are, they cannot be our sons and daughters. The reason is that we do not share a common seed of life with animals. The lives of animals and the lives of human beings are originally different.


1. Father God.
    - The fact that we call God our father has tremendous meaning. It means that God has
        given His life to us, and we share a common life with God.
    ○ The way that God has become our father
    1) It is not achieved by believing in a certain religion (Jn 14:6).
    2) It is not achieved by belonging to a particular genealogy
        (e.g. the descendants of Abraham or Jewish people) (Mt 3:8-9).
    3) It is not achieved by human will
    4) It is only achieved when we are born of God (Jn 1:12-13).
    5) We are sharing common life with God (Jn 14:20).
    6) The family of God (Jn 14:23).

2. The children of Father God.
    1) We have a new identity as a new creation (2Co 5:17; Gal 4:6).
    2) Our need for food, clothing, and shelter will be met (Lk 12:29-31).
    3) We will be healed and protected (Ps 91:2-7; Dt 1:31).
    4) God educates us and makes us grow (Dt 8:15-16).
    5) We are made heirs of heaven (Ro 8:16-17; Lk 12:32).

3. God, our father.
    - Not only my father but also our father (Jn 20:17; Mt 6:8-9).
    1) Father God in the relationship between you and me.
        ① Worshipping in the relationship between you and me (Ps 99:9).
        ② Praying in the relationship between you and me (Ne 4:9).
    2) He is where two or three come together in His name (Mt 18:20).
    3) He answers prayer when two or three agree about anything they ask for (Mt 18:19).
    4) The life of love, faith, and obedience (Jn 14:24; Ps 100:3).
    5) We should be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances
        ( 1Th 5:16-18; Ps 100:2, 4).


Conclusion : Orphans are very lonely and sad. Many Christians today live like orphans. We should always be aware that God is with us, and we should trust and depend on God by calling Him our father.