God and Father

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 6
All through the life of Christ, He never addressed God as God. We never find Him do so in the Gospels until the cross. It would not have been walking in the power of the relationship which was always unhindered. When on the cross, which was expiation, He does not say, "Father," until, all being over, He commends His spirit to Him, but "My God, My God, why host Thou forsaken Me?" All that was against us was there coming out against Him. The favor of God was hidden from Him. Righteousness w a s coming forth in the execution of judgment for sin. Never was there a moment of the Father's more perfect delight in Him; but if God was dealing according to His nature and being, it must be against sin, and therefore all was against Him, for He was made sin for us.
As soon as He has gone through it, He uses both terms, "Father" and "God." He comes out as having done the work and, when He has wrought the atonement, He can bring us into the blessed fruit of it. Not only are we brought to the Father, but to God, and all that was against us before is for us now. The very same things He is in His nature, that were against the sinner, are for the saint. Christ, risen out of death, and having entered (sin being put away) into the unclouded j o y of G o d His Father's countenance, when He had perfectly glorified Him, says to Mary, "Go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God." John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17).
All that is connected with these names of God and Father flows out to us. We are holy and without blame before Him in love. "I have manifested Thy name," He says of the Father; but now He could reveal God to them. This would have been condemnation except through the cross. This is the effect of expiation on our position before God, besides bringing us into the place of children through adoption.