OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"  (1 John 3:1 NIV)

To be called a “child of God” is not a title we earn through merit or moral achievement -- it’s a gift of grace. It’s the result of God’s lavish love, poured out through His Son Jesus Christ, who made a way for us to be adopted into His family. John 1:12-13 says, “To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

This identity is not symbolic -- it’s spiritual reality. We are not merely followers or servants; we are sons and daughters of the King. That changes everything.

In a world that often leaves us feeling isolated or unseen, God offers belonging. As His children, we are known, loved, and never alone. We are engraved on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16), the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8), and heirs of His promises (Romans 8:17). Being a child of God means we have a place at His table, a voice in His presence, and a purpose in His kingdom.

Children often reflect their parents and as children of God, we are called to reflect His character. That means living lives marked by love, grace, truth, and holiness. It’s not about perfection, but transformation. The Spirit within us shapes us to look more like Jesus, day by day.

Galatians 4:6 reminds us, “And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’” This intimate cry – “Abba” -- is the heartbeat of our identity. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™

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ABBA, FATHER

The ability of love to speak to the deepest places of our hearts never goes away. Have you ever noticed how people in love sometimes speak to each other in baby talk? It is immensely intimate and private -- and it’s off-putting to a third party. If you do it, I wouldn’t want to hear it. But we do it because it is the tenderest language we know.

Jesus’ prayer life demonstrated this intimacy, because He called God “Abba,” an Aramaic word much like “Dada” or “Momma.” (Jesus spoke in Aramaic, and some portions of the New Testament are written in Aramaic rather than Greek.)  “Abba” was a Jewish child’s first word, because it was so easy to say. Somehow when Jesus was with God, the tender love that an adult offers to a child to give strength is what He received from His Father. It rewired His nervous system.

It does not stop there, for Jesus told His followers that they could have this same experience. This is why Paul wrote that by the Spirit we too can say, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). This is what happens when we are praying in the flow.

God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children (Romans 8:16). 

-- John Ortberg in “The Me I Want to Be”

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THE HEART OF ABBA

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).”  (Matthew 1:22-23)

Is there anyone in our midst who pretends to understand the awesome love in the heart of the Abba [Father] of Jesus that inspired, motivated, and brought about Christmas?...

God entered into our world not with the crushing impact of unbearable glory, but in the way of weakness, vulnerability, and need. On a wintry night in an obscure cave, the infant Jesus was a humble, naked, helpless God who allowed us to get close to Him. 

-- Brennan Manning in “Reflections for Ragamuffins”

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A RIDE LIKE NO OTHER

Jesus said, “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”  (John 12:27-28 NIV)

Serious reflection on the Scripture references for Palm Sunday remind us that Jesus did not take a leisurely ride to town along a path strewn with palm branches. That first Palm Sunday saw the final ride on the high road of principle, obedience, and faith that would lead to the death of Jesus. The disciples may have wished otherwise, but deep in their hearts they must have known that this ride was like no other Jesus had taken and would bring the end of the life they knew as His followers.

We can be sure that Jesus knew that the shouts of “Hosanna” would give way to the cry of “Crucify.” He knew because He was fully human and was well acquainted with the temptation to follow the path of political correctness and the easiest way out. He also knew the shouts would change from “Hosanna” to “Crucify” because He was fully divine and could see clearly that His journey of incarnation was near the end. The coming humiliation and execution were now undeniable. His desire to be faithful was so overwhelmingly strong that He rode on in confidence and ultimate trust in God whom He knew intimately as Abba. There was no looking back with the question, “What if?” His focus remained on God and God’s will as He moved forward, propelled and sustained by His deep faith in God’s goodness and love. 

-- Norman Shawchuck and Rueben P. Job in “A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God” 

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GOD’S FAVORITE NAME

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  (Galatians 4:4-6 NRSV)

Of all His names, Father is God’s favorite. We know He loves this name most because this is the one He used most. While on earth, Jesus called God “Father” over two hundred times. In His first recorded words Jesus explained, “Didn’t you know that I must be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). In His final triumphant prayer He proclaims, “Father, I give You My life” (Luke 23:46). In the Gospel of John alone, Jesus repeats this name 156 times. God loves to be called Father. After all, didn’t Jesus teach us to begin our prayer with the phrase, “Our Abba”?

"Abba” was, to Jesus, an everyday word, and remains so to Israel’s children even today. It is an affectionate, family word. The equivalent would be Poppa, Daddy or Dad. It is right for you to call God your Creator; indeed He is. You speak truth when you call Him your Master; indeed He is. It is appropriate for you to call Him your King, Lord and Sovereign God. But if you want to touch His heart, call Him by the name He loves to hear. Call Him “Abba.” Call Him your “Father.” 

-- Max Lucado

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ABBA, FATHER

“Because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”  (Galatians 4:6 NRSV)

Calling God “Abba” is rooted in Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane: “And He said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I want, but what You will.’”  (Mark 14:36 NKJV)

Abba was an ordinary family word of Jesus’ day. It conveyed intimacy, tenderness, dependence, and complete lack of fear and anxiety. Modern English equivalents would be Daddy or Papa.

No Jew would have dreamed of using this very intimate term to address God. However, Jesus always used this word in His prayers (Aramaic abba or its Greek equivalent pater), with the exception of His cry from the cross.

And Jesus instructed His disciples to use this word in their prayers as well. We are empowered to speak to God just as a small child speaks to his father.

-- David Jeremiah, quoted in “His Passion: Christ’s Journey to the Resurrection”


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ABBA, FATHER

“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, ‘Abba, Father.’ For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:15-16 NLT)

The ability of love to speak to the deepest places of our hearts never goes away. Have you ever noticed how people in love sometimes speak to each other in baby talk? It is immensely intimate and private – and it’s off-putting to a third party. If you do it, I wouldn’t want to hear it. But we do it because it is the tenderest language we know.

Jesus’ prayer life demonstrated this intimacy, because He called God “Abba,” an Aramaic word much like “Dada” or “Momma.” (Jesus spoke in Aramaic, and some portions of the New Testament are written in Aramaic rather than Greek.)  “Abba” was a Jewish child’s first word, because it was so easy to say. Somehow when Jesus was with God, the tender love that an adult offers to a child to give strength is what He received from His Father. It rewired His nervous system.

It does not stop there, for Jesus told His followers that they could have this same experience. This is why Paul wrote that by the Spirit we too can say, “Abba, Father.” This is what happens when we are praying…

God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children. (Romans 8:16 The Message)

-- John Ortberg in “The Me I Want to Be”

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THE FATHER'S GREAT LOVE

There is a place for emotion in spiritual experience.  The Holy Spirit's… ministry is not limited to illuminating our minds and teaching us about Christ.  He also pours God's love into our hearts.  Similarly, He bears witness with our spirit that we are God's children, for He causes us to say "Abba, Father" and to exclaim with gratitude, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1)

-- John Stott in The Contemporary Christian

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ABBA, FATHER

And Jesus said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36 NKJV)

Jesus used the term abba (which means father or "daddy" in his Aramaic mother tongue), as an address in His prayers to God.  There are no other examples of this usage in contemporary Judaism, but Jesus always addressed God in this way.  The others perhaps regarded it as child's talk, a form of expression too disrespectful to be so used.  But for Jesus, abba expressed the filial intimacy He felt toward His Father.  As the divine Son of the Father, Jesus enjoyed a unique relationship with Him, and His mission in the world consisted in opening up the blessings of sonship to those who believe.

-- Clark H. Pinnock in Reason Enough


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