Relationships

God the Father to the Human Race

The human race is made up of believers and unbelievers. God the Father is the God of the entire human race on the basis of creation whether acknowledged or not. All souls belong to God. Jer. 32:27; Ezekiel 18:4; Daniel 5:23.

“"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?"” (Jeremiah 32:27, NASB)

“"Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4, NASB)

“but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways, you have not glorified.” (Daniel 5:23, NASB)

God the Father is the Father of all believers by their faith in Jesus Christ. God the Father is not the father of unbelievers. The father of the unbeliever is Satan. Gal. 3:26; John 20:17; John 8:43-44.

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26, NASB)

“Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"” (John 20:17, NASB)

“"Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:43-44, NASB)

The believer has assurance that they are children of God and nothing can ever remove the child of God from their new position in Christ. Rom. 8:16; Rom. 8:38-39.

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,” (Romans 8:16, NASB)

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, NASB)

No human being has the power to make himself a child of God. This transforming power belongs to God alone and is conditional upon the simple act of faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. John 1:12-13; Gal. 3:26.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13, NASB)

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26, NASB)

Birth into God’s family by faith in the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross makes Him our Father. The unbeliever addresses God the Father as “God” while the believer can call the Sovereign of the universe “Father.” This is a privilege of believers only. Titus 3:5; John 3:5-6; 1 John 3:1-2; 1 Peter 1:23; Rom. 8:15.

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5, NASB)

“Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:5-6, NASB)

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:1-2, NASB)

“for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23, NASB)

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"” (Romans 8:15, NASB)

Because He is our Father, we have the love of the Father and the provision of the Father. John 16:27; Matt. 7:11; Col. 1:12; 1 John 1:5.

“for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” (John 16:27, NASB)

“"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11, NASB)

“giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” (Colossians 1:12, NASB)

“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5, NASB)

The Believer With Jesus Christ

All Church Age believers are placed into permanent union with Jesus Christ at salvation by the Holy Spirit (Baptism of the Holy Spirit). In union with Christ, we share His eternal life and His absolute righteousness (+R). 1 John 5:11-12; 2 Cor. 5:21.

“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (1 John 5:11-12, NASB)

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB)

Church Age believers also share Christ’s Sonship and Heirship. Gal. 3:26; Rom. 8:16-17.

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26, NASB)

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:16-17, NASB)

Church Age believers share our Lord’s election, His destiny, and His sanctification. 1 Peter 1:2; Eph. 1:5; Eph. 1:11; 1 Cor. 1:2.

“according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.” (1 Peter 1:2, NASB)

“He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,” (Ephesians 1:5, NASB)

“also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,” (Ephesians 1:11, NASB)

“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:” (1 Corinthians 1:2, NASB)

Church Age believers share the priesthood and kingship of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:11.

“you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5, NASB)

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:9, NASB)

“for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” (2 Peter 1:11, NASB)

God the Father to the Lord Jesus Christ

In Scripture, the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is used with differing reference and emphasis. “Christ” refers to His deity and “Christ Jesus” emphasizes His deity. “The Lord Jesus Christ” refers to the God-Man-Savior. “Jesus” refers to His humanity and “Jesus Christ” emphasizes His humanity.

There is an acknowledged two-fold relationship between the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalms 2:7; Heb. 1:5; 1 Peter 1:3.

“"I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” (Psalms 2:7, NASB)

“For to which of the angels did He ever say, "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"? And again, "I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"?” (Hebrews 1:5, NASB)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3, NASB)

In Jesus Christ’s deity, there is a Father-Son relationship making Christ Jesus the Son from eternity past. Matt. 16:16; Rom. 15:6; Isaiah 9:6.

“Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."” (Matthew 16:16, NASB)

“so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:6, NASB)

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, NASB)

In Jesus Christ’s humanity, there is a Father-Son relationship and a God-man relationship. Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Heb. 10:7.

“The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35, NASB)

“"THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'"” (Hebrews 10:7, NASB)

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s response to the first person of the Trinity (God the Father) was that He declared that His Father was God the Father and that He was the Son of God who has been with the Father from eternity past. Jesus Christ willingly offered Himself as a substitute for God the Father’s judgment of the sins of the human race. Our Lord became obedient even to death on the Cross. John 1:18; John 1:11; Heb. 9:14; Phil. 2:8.

“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” (John 1:18, NASB)

“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” (John 1:11, NASB)

“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14, NASB)

“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8, NASB)

Jesus Christ to Angels

Prior to the Lord Jesus Christ’s incarnation, He appeared on earth as the Angel of Jehovah. See Category on Christophany or Theophany.

In the pre-ascension period of our Lord’s incarnation, God the Son took on Himself humanity. He took on the form of lower creation - humanity. He became the unique God-Man. Heb. 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8. See category on the Hypostatic Union of Jesus Christ.

“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9, NASB)

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8, NASB)

After the ascension of Jesus Christ, the resurrected Christ, the God-Man is higher than angels. Because as believers, we are heirs of salvation in Christ, we are positionally higher than angels. This is why each believer has a guardian angel. In Hebrews 1:14, “ministering spirits” are guardian angels assigned to each believer. 1 Peter 3:22; Heb. 1:13-14.

“who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.” (1 Peter 3:22, NASB)

“But to which of the angels has He ever said, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14, NASB)

Man to Angels

In the Old Testament, angels were called “sons of God” and believers were called “servants of God.” Job 1:6; Daniel 3:26.

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.” (Job 1:6, NASB)

“Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire.” (Daniel 3:26, NASB)

In the New Testament, because of Positional Truth, believers are called “sons” and angels are called “servants.” Gal. 3:26; Heb. 1:14.

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26, NASB)

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14, NASB)

Man was created lower than angels. Jesus Christ was made lower than angels when He took on the form of humanity so that He might provide salvation for mankind. Heb. 2:7; Heb. 2:9.

“"YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;” (Hebrews 2:7, NASB)

Man was created to resolve the Angelic Conflict by accepting the provision of salvation through the non-meritorious act of faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross for their sins. This greatest act of unconditional love of God the Father toward mankind was to send His only Son to take on the form of humanity in our Lord’s incarnation. The believer’s free will acceptance by faith alone in Christ alone proved that God was fair in sentencing Satan to the Lake of Fire because Satan went negative against God’s provision for him and for all angels.

In the Church Age, satanic activity (demon activity) toward the Church (the Body of Christ) is much more concentrated than in any prior dispensation in history. While believers in the Church Age die at different times, all will get their resurrection bodies at the same time - at the Rapture of the Church. See category on The Rapture of the Church.

Regenerate man, because of their position in Christ, are now positionally higher than angels. Believers in the Church Age have this position in Christ for a reason. Jesus Christ became the heir when He was seated at the right hand of God the Father. It is necessary for the “joint-heirs with Christ” to be superior to angels and still live on this earth.

After the Rapture of the Church and into eternity, all believers in resurrection bodies will be both positionally higher and physically higher than angels. This is because each will have a body exactly like that of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He, in resurrection body, is higher than angels. Phil. 3:21; Heb. 1:13.

“who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:21, NASB)

“But to which of the angels has He ever said, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"?” (Hebrews 1:13, NASB)