Post
by 3Resurrections » Sun Mar 10, 2019 9:39 am
Hi Singalphile,
I like this verse in Romans 4:16-17 that gives us a little insight into how God can be called "Father" at creation, prior to having The Word become His Son at the incarnation. Speaking of the heirs of faith, it says, "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to that which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee (past tense) a father of many nations,) like unto Him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and CALLETH THOSE THINGS WHICH BE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE." This is similar to the point darinhouston is making.
Here we have the example of God already calling Abraham a "father of many nations" when his son Isaac, through whom those nations of faith would later be identified, had not even been conceived yet. Just exactly like God, who could also be called the Father of us all, both Jews and Gentiles, even before the foundation of the world (because the names of His children were written down in the Book of Life even before the world's creation - Rev. 13:8).
I beg leave to differ with you Singalphile, that "the titles are not quite so important". Names and titles are given great import in scripture. Personally, my entire paradigm of eschatology is built upon the name of the "First-begotten" for Christ. The true definition of this name and when it was first given to Christ is how I refute the Full- Preterist position that teaches we do NOT receive a resurrection of our physical bodies, made incorruptible.
If we fail to realize that the title of the "First-begotten" was given to Christ on the very day He arose from the dead and ascended to the Father early that morning, to stand in God's presence in His glorified human form (the VERY FIRST ever to do so of all mankind - no exceptions), then we can't understand that the "many sons" brought unto glory as "fellow heirs" with Christ are promised to share every aspect of that same experience to complete their entire salvation inheritance.
It isn't good enough just to get our resurrected, glorified bodies above ground (as was the case with those like Lazarus or the Matthew 27:52-53 saints). No, our salvation "package" is incomplete until we stand FACE-TO-FACE WITH OUR CREATOR FATHER in those resurrected, glorified body forms of a perfected spirit, soul, AND body. This face-to-face perfected reality was what even Moses longed for most of all. "Show me thy glory", he begged. This is what the Full-Preterist denies, because they disregard the full physical significance of that exclusive "FIRST-begotten" title for Christ. "Many sons" followed after, but Jesus Christ the "FIRST-fruits" was made the "FIRST-born" on that day of the "FIRST resurrection", when He "opened the matrix" for all His siblings to follow later on in AD 70's resurrection, as well as a third resurrection for us in the future. So pleeez don't call it "just semantics". There is major doctrine hanging on this one title, at least.
You also mentioned that if God is called a "Father" before (or at least AT) creation, that this implies the necessity of having a "mother" of sorts to complete the picture. So, if Adam and the angels were all called "sons of God", then you are asking who would be the "mother" of these? I would say the Holy Spirit could be considered the "mother-figure" in the context of "Let US make man in OUR own image..." This was a 3-way communicated thought among the eternal being of The Father, The Word, and The Spirit of God going on here in Genesis. "The LORD our God, the LORD is ONE..." (using the word "echad", which means one in unity, not one in numerical value, since there is supposed to be another Hebrew word for expressing that numerical concept, I am told).
God the Father gives us the main impression of being the originator of actions who provides protective strength; qualities we associate with a human father. God the Spirit gives us the main impression of comfort and sensitivity (such as the ability to be grieved); qualities we associate with the tenderness of a human mother's comfort. God the Word gives us the main impression of communication - an ambassador sent from the Father to multiply the knowledge about the Godhead among mankind, who is outside of the inner circle of the divine Trinity. With the incarnation of The Word who then became the Son, and especially when He became the "First-begotten" on resurrection day when He became our permanent high priest, God established a bridge between that inner circle and fallen man that made it possible for the saints' final, face-to-face union with the Godhead in the resurrection.
Frankly, I think God has a particular fondness for the number "3".
Three dimensions of height, width, and depth to give the perspective of space.
Two or three gathered together in His name, with Him being in their midst.
A three-fold cord not quickly broken.
Three roles of prophet, priest, and king to express wholeness of power.
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty" - expressed 3 times, to represent the ultimate perfection of the Trinity.
Father, mother, and children, to make a cohesive family unit.
Three promises of blessing to Abraham, with the last, 3rd promise brought by three messengers, to confirm its absolute certainty.
Body, soul, and spirit preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord, to express our complete salvation experience.
Peter, James, and John in the inner circle of disciples.
The mouth of two, or preferably three witnesses to establish a truthful witness.
Three required OT feasts to celebrate - Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
And, shall we also say - three resurrection events for the saints to eternal life, occurring at those three set feast times of the year, in AD 33, AD 70, and AD 3033 respectively.
I like the number "3" also, as you can probably tell.
Last edited by
3Resurrections on Sun Mar 10, 2019 2:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.