The subject for this month is—
The Titles and Work of God the Father.
We must testify to the very complete manner in which the subject has been worked out, indeed in many cases much more has been sent than it properly included, and hence we have felt some difficulty in arranging a result which will be thoroughly satisfactory to all.
The subject was intended to be limited to the work of God distinctively as Father; and while there are many passages, especially the Epistles speaking of the work of God where the context clearly indicates that the Father is referred to, still as it is not stated in them to be work of the Father as such, we have not included them.
In order however that the work done, which is not quite within the limits of the subject, may not be confined as to its usefulness to the individual worker, we have added a few of the most striking passages of the description referred to above.
The same remarks apply to the second part of the subject, “The Titles of the Father”; and here we have felt obliged to exclude much that those to whom this portion was allotted have most industriously, and as we are sure, to their own profit, searched out.
THE GOSPELS.
The Work of the Father in relation to Christ.
He loves the Son and has given all things into His hand, John 3
He was glorified in Christ, John 13:31.
To Him sinners come by Christ, 14:6.
He who knows Christ knows the Father, 14:7.
He that has seen Christ has seen the Father, 14: 9.
Christ is in the Father, and the Father is in Him, 14:10, 11.
The Father speaks the words and does the works of Christ, 14:10, 11.
To Him Christ went on leaving the earth, 14:12.
He is glorified in Christ by answering the prayers of believers. 14:13.
To Him Christ prays, 14:16.
He gives the Comforter, 14:16.
He loves those who love Christ, 14:21.
He loves and makes His abode with those who keep the words of Christ, 14:23.
The word of Christ is His word, 14:24.
He sends the Holy Ghost in the name of Christ, 14:26.
He is greater than Christ (as man), 14:28.
He is loved by, and commands Christ, 14:31.
Christ kept His commandments and abides in His love, 15:10.
All things that He has are Christ’s, 16:15.
He loves those who believe that Christ came out from Him, 16:27.
He was with Christ on the earth, 16:32.
He glorifies the Son and the Son glorifies Him, 17:1, 4.
He has given the Son power over all flesh and He has given to the Son those to whom He wills that the Son should give eternal life, 17:2.
The Son had the glory with Him before the world was, 17:5.
He gave men out of the world to the Son, 17:6.
All that He gave the Son was of Himself, 17:7.
All who are Christ’s are His, and all who are His are Christ’s, 17:10.
In answer to the prayer of Christ, He keeps through His own name those whom He has given to Christ, 17:11.
In answer to the prayer of Christ, He keeps His own from the evil of the world; and sanctifies them through the truth, 17:15-17.
He gave glory to the Son as Man, 17:22.
He loved Christ before the foundation of the world, 17:24.
He is known by Christ, 17:25.
The Work of the Father in relation to His people.
The work of the Father in relation to the World of Sinners.
The work of the Father generally.
He feeds and cares for the fowls of the air, 6:26, 10:29.
He gives true bread from heaven, 6:32.
He sends the Comforter, Luke 24:4949And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49), Acts 1:4; 2:334And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (Acts 1:4)
33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (Acts 2:33).
The work of the Father generally.
The Epistles.
From Him come grace and peace, Romans 1:77To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7), and the opening verses of most of the Epistles, except those to individuals where we generally find “grace, mercy, and peace.”
He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ, Ephesians 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3). (Read the whole of Chaps. 1, 2 and 3 for the circle of wondrous blessings conferred upon us by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ).
Of Him every family in heaven and earth is named, Ephesians 3:1515Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3:15). He is above all, and through all, and in all believers, Ephesians 4:66One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:6). He will be glorified in that every creature shall confess Jesus to be the Lord, Philippians 2:1111And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:11).
Passages in which, while the Father is not referred to by name, the context appears to indicate that the Father is meant.
“God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,” Romans 8.3.
The Titles of the Father.