I thought for sure my children’s first words would be “momma.” After all, they spent much of their day with me. I fed them, played with them, and cared for them. But their first word was not “momma.” “Dada” would have also been a likely choice, since they looked forward to their father’s return from work each day, smiling at the sound of his voice. But their first word was not “dada” either. My eldest’s first word was “clock” and my youngest’s was “ball.” These words turned out to be fitting once their personalities and interests blossomed.
But when they did finally call out to us by name, it meant the world to us. That’s because calling us “momma” and “dada” signified their connection to us. It voiced the truth of who we are to them—they belong to us, and we belong to them. Our sons soon learned to call for us when they were hungry or hurt or in need. They turned to us for help because we are their parents.
In Matthew 6 when the disciples ask Jesus how to pray, he tells them to begin like this, “Our Father in heaven.” What does it mean to call God our Father? Why is he our Father? And how is he a Father to us?
Not Just a Title or Metaphor
The Bible uses a number of different metaphors and titles to describe God. The psalmist refers to God as his rock and strong tower. We know God is not literally a rock or tower; the psalmist uses those words to help us understand that God is one to whom we can turn for help and safety. The Bible also describes God as a shepherd, one who leads his flock (Ps. 23). We know God is not out on a high hill somewhere, staff in hand, herding sheep from one pasture to another; rather, this metaphor helps us understand how we can be like wandering and helpless sheep who need a shepherd to lead and guide us. Another common name for God is Father. It’s used hundreds of times in Scripture, mostly in the New Testament where Jesus refers to God as both his and our Father.
But is the name “Father” merely a title or a metaphor? Is it used just to help us understand something of what God is like since we’re familiar with fathers in our own life? Or does it signify something more?
Theology professor, D. Blair Smith wrote that God as Father is not just a metaphor; it’s his name. God is our Father; it is who he is to us. It signifies that we are in relationship with him. We belong to him and he to us. It’s a privilege given to us in our adoption as his children: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Before time began, God chose us to be his children through the work of the Son on the cross for our sins (Eph. 1:4-5). And what a glorious privilege it is!
This means the goal of redemption was our sonship. We don’t see people in the Old Testament referring to God as Father because man’s sin made it impossible to be God’s children. But everything changed with the incarnation of Christ. It’s through the work of Christ on our behalf that we are welcomed into the family of God. R.C. Sproul once said, “The only way we ever have the right to call God ‘Father,’ to cry “Abba” in his presence, is because we have been adopted. And the biblical message of sonship and daughterhood in the body of Christ is rooted and grounded in this concept of adoption—that only Christ is the natural son of God. And only if you are in Christ do you become a member of the household of God.”
This is why we call God our Father. Because he is.
A Father Who Parents Us
From a human perspective, we have some idea of what a father is. Whether we had a good relationship with our human father or not, we likely know what a father does in parenting his children. We know fathers love their children. We know they provide for them. We know they teach, train, and discipline them. But unlike our earthly fathers, in God, we have a Father who parents us perfectly.
Our God is a consistent Father who never changes. We can always expect the same from him: he’s always kind, just, true, loving, merciful, and faithful. He never tells us one thing and then does the opposite. He never makes promises and then fails to keep them. We can trust that everything he says is true and will come to pass. He will never leave us or forsake us; his love is unconditional and eternal.
Just as we keep our children from running out into the street, our Father sets rules for us that are for our good. He disciplines us to teach and train us in the way of righteousness. The author to the Hebrews noted: “[We] have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness” (Heb. 12:9–10).
Our Father is also a great provider. In fact, another name for God is Jehovah Jireh, which means “The Lord will provide.” He provides us with food, shelter, work, and rest. He meets our needs for community and family. He hears us when we cry out to him and answers our prayers. He met our greatest need—salvation from sin—by providing his very own Son to die in our place.
What does it mean that God is our Father? It’s his name. It’s who he is to us. And it’s a precious name, one only his adopted children can call him. Have you called out to your Father today?