Who's Your Daddy?

Ah, the father-child relationship.  Talk about a topic with a boxcar load of baggage.  Our earthly dads impact our view of our heavenly Dad.  

But here in Galatians chapter 4, Paul let's us know that our relationship with Father God is perfect.  It is one of deep intimacy and rich inheritance.  When we come to trust in Jesus, we have no doubt about that loving relationship.

Paul begins by saying, "And because you are sons" (v6).  Don't fly past this.  Once we accept Christ as our Savior, our standing with God changes immediately.  

Our status goes from rebel slave to redeemed son.  We need to understand that if He's saved us, we ARE sons.  It is a statement of fact.  It is a present reality.  

And this is no sexist statement meant to exclude the ladies.  As a matter of fact, it is just the opposite.  In the first century, the eldest son sat on the pole position when it came to status and inheritance.  

The apostle is saying that regardless of whether you are a man or woman, we have the status of the first born son in our relationship with God.  We are sons.

As a result of this new relationship with our heavenly Father, "God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts" (v6).  The Greek verb here is εξαποστελλω/exapostello.  

Hmm.  This is the very same word Paul used back in Gal 4:4, "God sent forth (Gr. εξαποστελλω/exapostello) His Son.”  

It means to send out (εξ-/ex-) as an apostle or hand-picked representative (-αποστελλω/-apostello).  Just as God sent His Son to redeem us, He also sends His Spirit to our hearts.  The Holy Spirit is also God's divinely chosen ambassador to each one of us (1Cor 3:16).

The Spirit's mission is to let us know that we have an intimate relationship with our heavenly Dad.  His assignment is from God is to come "into our hearts, crying, 'Abba!  Father!'" (v6).  Paul uses the Aramaic word “Αββα/Abba.”  

Aramaic is the language Jesus spoke during His earthly ministry.  It was the language of the street in Palestine.  Aramaic was a mixture of Hebrew and the languages of the nations which conquered the Jewish kingdoms, particularly Assyria and Babylon.

While the word "Abba" means father, it certainly means much more.  The best equivalent in English would be Daddy or Poppa.  

Not only did Jesus bring a radical new teaching that God is our heavenly Father, but He took it a step further.  He's addressed God the Father as "Abba" at His darkest hour (Mk 14:36).  

Peterson's paraphrase does a fantastic job of letting us in on a very intimate conversation between a Son and His Dad.  “Papa (Gr. Αββα/Abba), Father, You can--can't you?--get Me out of this" (Mk 14:36 MSG).

Paul lets the Galatians know that as followers of Jesus, God sends His Spirit to each one of us so that we can experience that kind of rich relationship with our heavenly Dad.  

God the Father isn't the stern disciplinarian that is just waiting for us to step out of line.  

God the Father is not a workaholic, absentee parent.  

God the Father is not the silent, disconnected man who doesn't want to be bothered.  

We've let our fallen human fathers influence how we see our perfect heavenly Father.

He's our Abba.  He's our Daddy.  He's our Pop.  He wants to hear from you.  He wants to show you His love.  He wants to spend time with you.  

He corrects us out of His great care for us.  He wants His best for us.  That's what it means when His Spirit cries, "Abba!  Father!"

When it comes to your relationship with God the Father, who's your daddy?  Remember, He's your Abba.

We can't miss the appearance of the Trinity in this verse.  There They are.  Spirit.  Son.  Father.  One God.  Three Persons.  

While there is no explicit definition of the Big Three in the Bible, there are wonderful snapshots like we see here.  It is the perfect relationship.  It is the perfect community.  

In "Mere Christianity," CS Lewis described their association as a dance.  And God's Spirit is inviting each of us to join in and trip the divine fantastic.

Paul sums up this amazing change in our status.  "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God" (v7).  

I'm no longer a slave because Jesus has purchased my freedom from the slave market with His precious blood (Gal 4:5; 1Pet 1:18-19).  

And as a son of my heavenly Dad, I'm now entitled to heavenly inheritance.  "Heir" is the Greek term κληρονομος/kleronomos.  This is someone who receives what is promised or is rightfully theirs.  

And since God is unswervingly faithful, I can take my promised inheritance to the bank.  It's as good as gold.  Or better yet, it's as good as God.  

Paul makes a very similar statement about the role of God's Spirit pointing to the new relationship we have with our heavenly Dad in Romans 8:15-17.  

It's no coincidence that this is the same chapter that's been called the Heavenly Will.  Romans 8 is a breathtaking and mind-blowing essay on the blessings of our relationship with our Abba Daddy through Jesus. 

Again I ask, when it comes to your relationship with God the Father, who's your daddy?  Remember, He's your Abba.

©2012

Jay Jennings