The Father Himself Loveth You (John 16:16-33)

by R.B. Fullarton, Innerleithen, Scotland | Category: In The Shadow Of Calvary | Nov 1986

Apart from and before all created existence is the infinite and holy fellowship of the three Persons of the Godhead. Although one God, indivisible in essence, Father, Son and Spirit are distinguishable in personality and distinctive in functions within the Godhead. There is a relationship of infinite love and joy between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Eternal Love and the Triune God

"The Father loves Me" (John 10:17 RSV). The Son of God was the worthy and adequate object of the Father's love when on earth and the One for whose glory the Spirit labours now. The Father's love and delight in the Son, however, was not confined to His life on earth, it existed before the foundation of the world (John 17:24). The Father is the source of all blessing for us, the Son has brought the blessing to us and the Holy Spirit makes good the blessing in us. The Father's love is the fount of all His giving, a love that lavishes its fulness upon its object.

God is self-sufficient. But His eternal love must find expression. "God is love" (1 John 4:8); love is not an attribute, but His very nature. It is described in Ephesians 2:4 as "His great love", unchanging, unending, incomprehensible. One beautiful implication of the unity of divine Persons is the existence of the sublimest fellowship of infinite love without a shadow of incompatibility, the most exquisite accord and most perfect unity and oneness of mind. Heaven is resplendent with the expression of this concept of highest fellowship. But eternal love embraces and draws others into that circle of sweetest communion - "God of all the families of Israel ... with lovingkindness have I drawn thee" (Jer. 31:1,3).

So, "the FATHER LOVES YOU" comes to us as disciples in a warmth of love which may bring ceaseless enjoyment as we ponder its eternal wealth and vast purposes of blessing. The apostle John refers to the Father's love as being of a singular quality. What belongs to heaven is totally different from anything associated with the world's concept of love - "what manner of (Gk. potapos - what sort or kind) love the Father hath bestowed..." (1 John 3:1). This love produces astonishment, admiration, and above all, adoration in its beneficiaries. It exceeds all other love in its magnitude (Eph. 2:4); it defies explanation (3:19) and description (1 John 3:1). Its contemplation leads the believer in the Lord Jesus to sever himself from likeness to the world and become conformed to the likeness of the Son of God. Divine love was the moving force in redemption's plan; love that is more than sentiment, it reveals itself in action.

The Title of "Father"

The opening sentence of Hebrews chapter 1 tells us that God has fully and finally spoken in One who is Son, inferring the corresponding revelation of God the FATHER. This was the title constantly on the lips of the Lord Jesus. Six times in John 17 the Lord mentions "Father" in prayer, so in manifesting God's Name (v.6) there is no doubt what that Name is. "Show us the Father" said Philip; all that a child of God needs is to know God as "the Father" with all that this title implies. The God of the Bible is no nameless, faceless force, only to be feared and placated. He delights to express His infinity in terms which the Spirit-enlightened person can understand and glorify His Name. He is faithful, capable, strong, forgiving, tender and compassionate. The heaven of heavens cannot contain Him yet He is pleased to take up loving abode with those who know the Son.

The distinctive title of God in the New Testament is "Father" (Gk. pater). Old Testament variations of this usage are seen in such scriptures

as Isaiah 63:16 in the nation of Israel's seeking forgiveness and restoration "Thou, 0 LORD, art our Father". At the time of Malachi the priests who, with national pride, referred to Jehovah as Father, in reality had been despising His Name by their conduct. The Name of God represents His identity, authority, personality, character, rank, majesty, power and excellence.

Abba, Father

A careful reading of the contexts where the words "ABBA, FATHER" are found - Mark 14:36; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6 - show that this expression is not a "babycry" but the name given to the Father by a mature son. "Father" itself implies family relationship, but while in infancy there is delight in the simplicity of the bond, in maturing years the title conveys the thought of sonship with true values and corresponding responsibilities. "Abba" is Aramaic, a word associated with the older Hebrew word "AB" meaning "Father". The root of the noun comprises two Hebrew characters - ALEPH (first, preeminent) and BETH (in, inside, particularly of a house). The thought is that of filial obedience. The Father has life in Himself, sustains and tutors His own, making every provision for their welfare. He meets every need. In the Lord's form of address in Mark 14 there is the recognition of need, acknowledgment of the Father's power and submission to His Father's will. No rhetoric can rise to the appeal of the heart-expression "Abba, Father".

The relationship between God as Father and His children is spiritual, established by grace on His part and the response of faith on theirs. By faith in the Son of God we know God as Father in the affectionate intimacy of His family "circle" (John 1:12).

Sons of God

In speaking to God as "Father" the Spirit of God confirms to our human spirit the truth of family-ship - we are children of God (Rom. 8:15, 16). Grandiose forms of addressing God are superfluous. His delight is to hear His children call Him "Father". He hears no more than what the heart speaks. Through faith in Christ Jesus we are sons of God, sons of a heavenly Father (Gal. 3:26; Mat. 6:6). In the latter verse the emphasis is on the child's trust and dependence; in the former, the status given through the operation of the faith-principle. The Sonship of the Lord Jesus is absolutely unique and independent of those who exercise faith. He is the only-begotten Son. He is "The Son", we are "sons". "Because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts" (Gal. 4:6). Although the Lord taught the disciples to pray "Our Father", He never used this expression. The Sonship of Christ is His own unique glory as co-equal, co-existent and coeternal with the Father, dwelling in the perfect intimacy of the Godhead and, above all, as being the supreme object of the Father's love. Time never was, nor can be, when the Son is other than the joy of the Father's heart and the light of the Father's face. The Son has met with complete response every desire of the heart of His God.

The spontaneous invocation of God as "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" is evidenced by obedience (1 Pet. 1:3). That is a token of the indwelling Spirit's power in the life of the saint who gives acknowledgment of Jesus as his Lord. The evidence of love is obedience; to withhold obedience is a practical denial of the lordship and authority of Christ. True love in the disciple's heart yields glad obedience which is not slavish observance to a rigid law to which penalties are attached. In Scripture the title '~sons of God" so often conveys and emphasizes the high dignity of fellowship with God through obedience to His will, rather than simply the possession of the divine life by new birth. In John 4:23 the Lord Jesus speaks of those who "worship the Father". This is worship based on a relationship of obedience and love to God as "The Father" in "spirit and truth"; such does "the Father" seek to be His worshippers.

By receiving Christ we become children of God (John 1:12); by obedience to Christ and in fellowship with Him the Father receives us as sons and daughters (2 Cor. 6:15, 17, 18). The Father's heart responds to every circumstance of His people, the faintest throb of the saints' hearts finds a counterpart in that great, divine heart of love. Love in the heart of a weak friend mocks by its futility to help; love in the Father's heart imparts power, joy and peace.

Providential Care of Fatherhood

The Lord appealed in Mat. 7:9-11 to the natural care of imperfect fatherhood as an argument for confidence in the greater, perfect care of a heavenly Father. Natural love in a father, while sincere, is never perfect; moreover, human wisdom is limited, and what appears to be beneficial in the natural realm might turn out to be harmful. The Father's love is measured by His love for the Son. It is the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord from which no power on earth or heaven can separate us (Rom. 8:39).

Knowing the Father's love is no guarantee of immunity from difficulties and trials. A natural father knows it is not in the best interests of his child to shelter him from every difficulty and disappointment. There is a learning process through difficulties and problems that gives fitness for adult life -

The chief concern of our Father is the development of Christlikeness in character which helps in understanding much that would otherwise be inexplicable in spiritual experience. He desires fitness and capability for this life in which there is training for responsibilities and privileges in the life to come. The Lord Jesus, as in all else, gave the perfect example of confidence in His Father when, from a human standpoint, all had seemed to go awry - "...so it was well pleasing in Thy sight" (Mat. 11:20-26).

Praise our God who willed it thus,

Praise His Son who died for us,

Praise the Father for the Son,

Who so vast a work hath done.

R.B. Fullarton, Innerleithen, Scotland | Nov 1986
In The Shadow Of Calvary