Some people picture God the Father as stern and far away, waiting to punish. The Bible paints a very different picture. When God told Moses His name, He described Himself as “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6).
The Father is the Creator and the Source of every good thing (James 1:17). He is also just: He does not ignore sin, because sin destroys the people He loves. His answer to sin was the greatest gift ever given: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
If you want to know what the Father is like, look at Jesus. Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). The kindness of Jesus to children, to the sick and to sinners is the kindness of the Father. That is why Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father which art in heaven” (Matthew 6:9).
Key Bible verses
- Exodus 34:6-7Merciful and gracious, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth.
- John 3:16God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.
- John 14:9He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.
- Matthew 6:9Our Father which art in heaven.
- James 1:17Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights.
- Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
- 1 John 4:8God is love.
Tap a reference to read it in the Bible.
Think about it
- How did you picture God the Father when you were young? Has that changed?
- Which story about Jesus shows you most clearly what the Father is like?
- What does it mean to you to call God “Father” in prayer?
