God is the Father of all mankind. “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” (Malachi 2:10). “…in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring’” (Acts 17:28; NKJV).
God is a Father to some in a special sense. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13; NKJV). Everyone is created in His image. To become a spiritual child of God is a choice! A choice to be “born of the water and the Sprit” (John 3:5). “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).
God longs to be your Abba, Father. In Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36). Because of Him, we can too. “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Galatians 4:6; NKJV). “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba Father.’” (Romans 8:15; NKJV). Abba is of Aramaic origin (Strong’s). Abba is a word “framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust (Vine’s). Abba speaks to the intimacy of the father/child relationship. Father “expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child” (Vine’s). The Jews never referred to Jehovah with such intimacy. The Jews sought to kill Jesus in John 5:18 because He said “God was His Father.” Those who are “in Christ” have an “Abba, Father” relationship with God! Calling God “Abba, Father” is the privilege of the children God (Ephesians 1:3-6)!
The Abba relationship symbolizes the new relationship Jesus made possible through His death, burial and resurrection. From the Father’s perspective it emphasis His mercy, compassion and love. His personal interest and genuine concern. His Willingness to provide and readiness to protect. From the child’s perspective it emphasis the implicit willingness to love, honor and respect the Father. The awareness of dependency on the Father. The confidence that one has in their Father. The readiness to obey one’s Father.
In brief, the word “Abba,” as it was used by the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, signifies the essence of what it means to have a personal relationship with God. How are you spiritually? Do you have an Abba, Father? Do these terms describe your relationship with Him: Intimacy, closeness, nearness, awareness, adoption, safe, secure, tenderness, warmness, dependence, presence, communion, fellowship, oneness, relationship? They will if you will allow Him to Father you.
Jason Cicero
