Question 120-121

 

Question 120-121


Question 120: Why did Christ command us to address God as "Our Father"?

Answer: At the beginning of the prayer, Christ taught us to believe and revere, like a child, the most fundamental principle of prayer: that God has become our Father through Christ. Just as earthly fathers do not reject their children's requests for earthly things, so God the Father will not reject what we ask for in faith.

In Matthew 3:16-17, “When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. And behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”

Jesus was originally God in the kingdom of God, but he came to this world as the Son of God. Philippians 2:6-8, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross."

Therefore, those who enter into Christ can also call God "Father." The Lord's Prayer is Jesus' prayer to the Father, and believers can create their own prayers to use according to their circumstances. However, those who can call God "Father" are those who believe that they died with Jesus on the cross and were resurrected with Him. Those who did not die with Jesus and do not believe in their present resurrection are not qualified to call God "Father."

 

Question 121: What does the phrase "who is in heaven" mean?

Answer: It means that we should not confuse God's heavenly authority with earthly authority, but that we should expect all our spiritual and physical needs from His almighty power.

Heaven, in Greek, is ton uranon, signifying the kingdom of God (heaven) within the soul. When the Father and Jesus Christ become one in the Holy Spirit, a temple is established within the soul of the saint, and in that temple, God and Jesus Christ reside through the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, to be in heaven is not a spatial concept, but rather signifies being under God's rule.

Matthew 4:7 states, "From that time on, Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'" The kingdom of heaven refers to Jesus Christ. When Jesus came to earth, he established the kingdom of heaven in his flesh. After ascending to heaven, he sat at the right hand of God and established the kingdom of heaven. When he returns and enters the hearts of the saints, the kingdom of heaven is established in their hearts.

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