Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Tonight’s Study, Session 3: God the Father
Introduction: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, One God existing in three eternal persons. The full truth of the Trinity is beyond our reach intellectually, but we accept it by faith because it is taught in the Bible.
According to the Bible, there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6). And this God eternally exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Each person of the Trinity is coequal and coeternal – no One is inferior to another (John 1:1-2). They are of the same essence and share the same nature.
Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
1 Corinthians 8:6 – yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
Matthew 28:19 – Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
John 1:1-2 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
God the Father
God the Father is the first person of the Trinity and serves as its functional head. He is an infinite, personal Spirit (John 4:24) and has been identified as “Father” from eternity past, both to His Son (John 3:16-17) and to His chosen people (Exodus 4:22-23; 1 Corinthians 1:3).
John 4:24 – God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 3:16-17 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Exodus 4:22-23 – Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. So, I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.”
1 Corinthians 1:3 – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Even though God the Father is not superior in essence or being to the Son or the Holy Spirit, He does serve as the functional head of the Trinity. God the Father is the one who directs the will of both God the Son and God the Spirit, both of whom voluntarily submit to Him on a functional level to accomplish the will of God (John 14:24-26).
John 14:24-26 – He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
As the functional head of the Trinity, God the Father can be understood as the author of all acts of God. God the Father is the one created the heavens and the earth, and He did this through God the Son by the power of God the Spirit (Genesis 1:1-2; Colossians 1:16). He is the source for all other divine acts including election, calling, salvation, sanctification, glorification, and more (Romans 11:36).
Genesis 1:1-2 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Colossians 1:16 – For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Romans 11:36 – For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Through His life and ministry, Jesus regularly taught His followers who God the Father is and what He is like. The Gospel narratives, then, give us the clearest picture of who God the Father is. We are told that God is a Father who deeply loves His children (John 16:27); that He is to be prayed to (Matthew 6:6); that He is the source of salvation for all who come through Jesus (John 14:6); and that He has a will to be sought after (John 6:38).
John 16:27 – for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
Matthew 6:6 – But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 6:38 – For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Practical Applications of knowing God the Father
1.Prayer and Communication:
- Intimacy: Approach God with the familiarity of a child to a loving parent, not just a distant deity.
- Openness: Freely share needs, fears, and joys, knowing He listens (The Lord’s Prayer is a template).
- Confidence: Trust He gives good gifts, even if not always what we expect, as He knows best.
2.Identity and Security:
- Belonging: We are heirs, adopted into His family, not a slave, granting unlimited access and security.
- Unconditional Love: Rest in His permanent, perfect love, just as He loves Jesus.
- Strength: Draw strength from Him to stand firm and act courageously in a world opposed to God.
- Living and Conduct:
- Glorify God: Live in a way that reflects His character and glory, just like Jesus did.
- Obedience: Do all things in relationship to His will, understanding His discipline as loving correction.
- Overcoming Challenges:
- Comfort in Pain: Find solace in His understanding and unconditional love during weariness, hurt, or inadequacy.
- Purpose: Recognize His plan as the path to abundant life, not just temporary fixes.
Ways We Cultivate Our Relationship with God the Father:
- Read Scripture Daily: Ask God to open your heart to understand Him.
- Worship and Fellowship: Faithfully attend church and build Christ–centered
- Quiet Time: Spend undistracted time alone with God in prayer.
- Seek Guidance: Talk to your pastor or other mature Christians when you need help.
- Reflect on Jesus: Knowing Jesus means knowing the Father.
Conclusion: As we wrap up our examination of God the Father, let’s look at one of the most extraordinary and revealing encounters with God the Father in Scripture. The story is found in 1 Kings 19. The Old Testament prophet Elijah was depressed because he thought he was about to be martyred for obeying God. To boost Elijah’s spirit, God told him to grab a front-row seat on Mount Horeb because He, God the Father, was going to pass by. In person.
While Elijah watched, a powerful wind tore across the mountain and shattered the rocks all around him. But God wasn’t in the wind. Then a devastating earthquake shook the mountain to its core. But God wasn’t in the earthquake.
Following that, a raging fire consumed everything in its path. But God wasn’t in the fire. In the wake of the fire’s roar, after perhaps the most awesome parade of natural phenomena ever witnessed, Elijah heard a gentle whisper. In 1 Kings 19:13, we read, “When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle.” Why? Because God was in the whisper.
God’s presence is as big, bold, and dramatic as the most powerful forces on earth – and as intensely personal as a whisper. The better we get to know God the Father, the louder that whisper will become in our lives.
Next Week, Session 4: Core Belief #3 – God the Son