God our Father
Dearly beloved of God, too often people read the Church epistles and overlook the revelation in the first few verses.
II Corinthians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
To whom is this epistle addressed? It is addressed to “the church of God.” The word "church" means called out. We are the called out of God; we are God's church.
The words, “at Corinth” were added. The epistles were encyclical, that is, passed from one church to another. When it went to Corinth, the words “at Corinth” were supplied.
The church of God is God’s church. It is not man’s church; it is God’s church.
What else do the opening verses reveal?
II Corinthians 1:2
Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
To those who are members of the church of God, God is our Father. All the church epistles open with this greeting.
After Jesus’s resurrection and ascension, God made Jesus both Lord and Christ according to Acts 2:36. God seated him in the heavenly realm as Lord over all.
Who is a member of the church of God? Those who have confessed the Lord Jesus with their mouths and have believed in their heart that God raised him from the dead. They shall be saved. [Romans 10:9]
Furthermore, God our Father designates those of the church of God as members of the body of Christ according to Ephesians 1:22 and 23, and He made Christ the head over all things to the church.
All in the church, which is the body of Christ, are the fulness of him that fills all of its members with all that Christ accomplished concerning our redemption and salvation.
All in the church are completely, completely, absolutely complete in Christ Jesus. All in the church are filled with all, so much so that God reveals that we are “as he is.”
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
In this verse it reveals, “Blessed be [is] God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” and in the previous verse it said that He is “God our Father.” We have the same Father!
Furthermore, God blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm! Romans 8:32 reveals that God delivered up His Son for us all and that He freely gives us all things with him.
God is God our Father, and we are His beloved children. We are children of God, and members of His family. We are citizens of heaven and members of the household of God.
Jesus Christ said, "That which is born of the spirit and that which is born of the flesh is flesh." We have been born again of the spirit from God.
We were made alive in Christ Jesus. We are begotten again and are now partakers of the divine nature.
As children of God, we have been begotten again unto a living hope. We are children of God, His heirs, and joint heirs with Christ! Rejoice!
In Christ, we have access to the Father by the spirit we received from Him in the new birth. We are God’s dwelling place by the spirit. We are so privileged to be one of God’s children.
Now we can enter the presence of God and speak freely with Him, spirit to Spirit. We have access to the throne of grace, and we can approach our Father having confidence in Him. He shows us His mercy and we find grace for timely help.
Our Father encourages us to approach Him having confidence in Him. He cares for us. He watches over us, and His ears are open to our prayers.
I John 5:14, 15
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Have confidence in Him; that is His Will for us. He delights in our prayers according to Proverbs 15:8.
God our Father is our God, and He is behind these instructions to us, so we ought to listen to Him, and have confidence that He does listen to our prayers, and He answers them.
God our Father He has made quite a commitment to us! We are privileged children indeed!
The One True and Living God is our Father, and He is able and willing to provide for our every need as we go to Him. We are so privileged to have access to Him.
Give thanks, beloved of God, thank Him for all we have been so freely given in Christ Jesus as His kids.