Week Three

Everlasting Father

“And He will be called, Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

Introduction

As believers we differentiate between God the Father and God the Son. But in this prophecy from Isaiah, He refers to Jesus as the Everlasting Father. Mind boggling isn’t it?  Where does God the Father stop and God the Son start? There is no nice neat way to explain the trinity. It is a truth we hold to based on scriptural evidence by faith. Though Jesus Christ was separate from God the Father He claimed, “I and my Father are one.”  (John 10:30)

As we examine the implications of Jesus being The Everlasting Father in this week’s Bible study, prepare to be both amazed and blessed. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and how He can meet your individual needs for an Everlasting Father.

Jesus – Everlasting Father

Though Jesus came to earth as a baby He existed from all eternity. He was present at the creation of the world. He took part in crafting the oceans, forming the clouds, and spinning the planets in motion. He designed every flower, plant and tree and breathed life into every living creature. He fashioned your bone structure, calculated the number of hairs on your head, and planned exactly how every cell in your body would interact with every other cell.  His creative powers had no limit.

Genesis 1:26 –   Why do you think God used the term “us” here?  What evidence does this give to us that God is three persons?

When God first introduced Himself to Moses at the burning bush He called Himself, “I Am.” (Exodus 3:14) This name for God speaks to that fact that God is self-existent.  He transcends the past, present and the future. He is from all eternity – He is everlasting.

John 8:58-59   – Why do you think the Jewish leaders were so angry with Jesus after hearing His claim that He was I Am? By using the term “I Am” Jesus was claiming to be eternal, timeless and unchanging.  In what way does this claim of affirm that Jesus Christ is God?

Colossians 1:15-20  – How does this passage affirm the deity of Christ?  Read the passage out loud and then write down all the reasons you find in this passage to praise Jesus.

When we realize the full authority that Jesus possessed from the foundation of the earth it is even more amazing that He chose to come to earth as a baby.

Read Philippians 2:6-11. What specific choices did Jesus make when coming to earth as a baby?

The second part of this title (Everlasting Father) speaks to the fatherhood of God.   It’s amazing that God wants us to consider Him our Father. When Jesus addressed God in His prayers He introduced us to a new term for God, Abba.  At the time of Jesus, it would be considered scandalous to address God with such a term of intimacy. Jewish children used this term to address their earthly fathers. It would be the equivalent of a small child saying, “Daddy” in today’s culture.   When Jesus used this term for God He introduced us to a whole new understanding of God’s love. God loves us as a Father tenderly loves His child.

Romans 8:14-16 –  What do these verses teach us about how we are to approach God?

John 1:12 – How would your view of yourself be different if you considered yourself as a beloved child of God?

For Individual Reflection

Compare the love of your earthly Father with the love of your Abba Father.   How did your earthly father influence your understanding of the love of your heavenly Father?

How would your prayer life change if you addressed God as, Abba?

How does studying Jesus as the Everlasting Father impact your desire to worship Him?

For Discussion – answer one of the questions below.

• How has this study impacted your understanding of the deity of Jesus Christ?
• Is it easy or hard for you to think of God as your Father? What has been the greatest contributing factor to this?
• How would your self-esteem change if you lived with a continual assurance of your identity as Abba’s beloved child?