Some Names Of God (Part 2)

by J. Rodgers, Toronto, Canada | Category: Some Names Of God | Feb 1986

The basic thoughts expressed regarding the knowledge of God and His progressive revelation in the Old Testament can be equally applied to this dispensation. Many people believe that there is a God and accept that "in Him we live and move and have our being", as Paul said to the Athenians. He also remarked that even certain of their own poets had said, "For we are also his offspring". This is what was earlier termed knowing God as the God of the human family.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

Faith in Christ brings us into a personal relationship with God as our God, and obedience to His word brings us into a community which is named, "a people for God's own possession" (1 Pet. 2:9) the people of God. As the people of God, forming the house of God, we know Him as the God of the house of God to whom worship is offered (see Heb. 3:6; 1 Pet. 2:5). To know Him as the God and Father of Him who is over the house takes us to the highest title by which God is named, and is the basis for many believing that the highest of names should be the manner of our approach in the highest of services - worship.

There are four occurrences of the name, or title, in the exact wording which appears in the heading of this section. The first is in Rom. 15:6, "That with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ". Unity in divine service is a necessity and at no time is this more important than in our Godward service. Thus the spiritual house (1 Pet. 2) offers up spiritual sacrifices, not as individuals but as a holy priesthood.

Possibly one of the greatest needs in Christian experience is comfort. It is needed in bereavement, affliction, depression, or loneliness. The Psalmist embraces these in the words, "the valley of the shadow of death" and the

deepest of needs is ministered to from the highest authority, "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforteth us" (2 Cor. 1:3).

In writing to the Ephesian saints the apostle Paul stated, "Blessed be the God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). Only God can impart spiritual blessings and, as expected, they come in the fulness of God, unlimited - every blessing.

The apostle Peter completes the triple presentation of what flows from God to us in the words, "... the God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ, who ... begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Pet. 1:3). Despite any uncertainties on our part this has been sealed by God the Father through the resurrection of Christ: "The Lord is risen indeed" was the expression of renewed hope in those who had lost hope and is the assurance for us of eternal security and "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away".

What we give to "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" is found in one verse, but three verses are employed to outline what He gives to us, a testimony to the fact that what we receive far outweighs what

we give. Our willing response should be to glorify Him and we have the opportunity of doing so through worship.

Under the Old Covenant God legislated for various burnt offerings; the continual burnt offering (Num. 28:3,4); every sabbath (28:9,10), every month (28:11-15), the Feast of the Passover (28:19-23), the Feast of Trumpets (29:1,2), the Feast of Tabernacles (29:12-38), at Pentecost (Lev. 23:15,16), etc. These were all obligatory offerings but the individual spoken of in Lev. 1 brought an oblation (a gift, present, a free-will offering) unto the Lord. We can mentally picture the man, his heart almost bursting with love and gratitude to the Lord, bringing his offering from the herd, or if poverty necessitated it, turtledoves or pigeons. His joy was in offering as he was able. What a wealth of delight that must have given to God! As the Lord's people we have the liberty and opportunity of giving to God and this should not be by commandment but be love-motivated "that we may, in some small degree, return Thy love again".

As we join to bless the God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ we do so in the spirit of the Psalmist,

Bless the Lord, 0 my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

(Psalm 103.1)

Praise ye the LORD. 0 give thanks unto the LORD: for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever (Ps. 106:1).

J. Rodgers, Toronto, Canada | Feb 1986
Some Names Of God