Lesson 24. What do we mean when we say that we believe in God the Father?

Lesson 24

What do we mean when we say that we believe in God

the Father?

When we believe (or have faith) in God, it means that three things are true of us.

What are they?John 17:1-3

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and

prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that

your Son may glorify you. For you granted him

authority over all people that he might give eternal life to

all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ,

whom you have sent.”

know

Believe . . . means

I Godthe true

I

I

are all true

that

Bible as

only the

When we believe (or have faith) in God, it means that three things are true of us.

What are they?1 Thessalonians 2:13

And we also thank God continually because,

when you received the word of God, which you

heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of

God, which is at work in you who believe.

know

Believe . . . means

I Godthe true

I

I

are all true

that

Bible as

accept

God’s Word

only the

When we believe (or have faith) in God, it means that three things are true of us.

What are they?

Matthew 8:5-13

know

Believe . . . means

I Godthe true

I

I

are all true

that

Bible as

accept

God’s Word

only the

Matthew 8:5-13When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him,

asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” Jesus said to him, “I will

go and heal him.” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word,

and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant,

‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will

take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant

was healed at that very hour.

When we believe (or have faith) in God, it means that three things are true of us.

What are they?

know

Believe . . . means

Godthe true

I

I

are all true

that

Bible as

accept

promises

trust

God’s Word

only the

God’s

Matthew 8:5-13

I

Key Point #1

The three things that are true of us if we believe (have faith in God) are that we

know God, accept the Bible, and trust all his promises.

Evaluate…

When asked whether they believe in God, many people are

quite willing to say, “Well, I know there is a God.”

Agree or Disagree?

Because faith means accepting the Bible as God’s Word, God

wants us to work hard to convince people that this is true.

An older friend of yours is running out of money to support his family; a younger friend of

yours is losing her health to sickness. What promises of God can you give to these friends of

yours for them to trust?

What do we mean when we confess that we believe in God “the Father”?

Malachi 2:10

Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why

do we profane the covenant of our

fathers by breaking faith with one

another?

Believe . . . meanscreated

he is the Father of

he made us his

ushe

What do we mean when we confess that we believe in God “the Father”?

Galatians 3:26

You are all sons of God

through faith in Christ Jesus…

Believe . . . meanscreated

he is the Father of

he made us his

ushe

faith

sons and daughters

What do we mean when we confess that we believe in God “the Father”?

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.’”

Believe . . . meanscreated

he is the Father of

he made us his

ushe

faith

sons and daughters

Jesus

Key Point #2

We call God the Father because he created us and because he is our Father

through faith in Jesus

Evaluate…

Because the true God created us all, every person is my brother or sister – whether Mormon or Muslim, whether heathen or

Christian.

Suppose that ten years from now you are married but have no children. So you and your

spouse are considering adoption. What advantages would this have for you? For the child?

Lesson 24

When I say that I believe in God the Father, I am saying that I know the true God as my Father whose

promises I can trust.

Vocabulary…

“faith”

knowledge, acceptance and trust