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News and views from the German-language region of Europe

March 16, 2012

"Abba, Father"

Filed under Sabbath Thoughts

In his letter to the church at Rome the apostle Paul highlights the special relationship that we have with our heavenly Father via the holy spirit.

"You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15). "Abba" was an Aramaic word meaning "Daddy" and was first used by Jesus Himself in addressing His heavenly Father (Mark 14:36). In other words, we are privileged to have the same relationship to God that Jesus has.

As we prepare for the Passover, let us remember that it is Christ’s shed blood that makes this special relationship possible and our access to the very throne of God the Father. Under the Old Covenant only the high priest could enter the area of the tabernacle known as the Most Holy Place or Holiest of All (Hebrews 9:6-10). The "mercy seat" positioned there represented God’s throne. Leviticus 16 describes the ceremony that took place each year on another of God’s sacred occasions, the Day of Atonement. At that time the high priest took the blood of a goat, representing the future sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and sprinkled it on the mercy seat so the Israelites could be symbolically cleansed of all their sins (verses 15-16).

Because the blood of Jesus Christ removes sin, making us pure before God, we can enjoy direct access to the Father (Hebrews 9:24). Jesus, as our High Priest, entered into the Most Holy Place through His own blood (Hebrews 9:11-12). We can now approach God the Father without hesitation or fear of rejection, but with confidence and assurance (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Hebrews 4:16 speaks of this confidence we can have in approaching God: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to experience this intimate relationship with our Father, our "Abba."

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!

Paul Kieffer's blog with personal insights and news from the German-language region in Europe.

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