THINGS
GOD 15
THAT ARE OF
The Father.- In this dispensation of grace, however, the most characteristic title of God is `The Father'. From
God, as Father, come the salutations of `grace, mercy and peace' in the epistles, and to God, the Father, the thanks
of the apostle and of the Church ascend.
The title occurs in several forms and in several associations:
(1)
God the Father (1 Thess. 1:1);
(2)
God our Father (Rom. 1:7);
(3)
God, even the Father (1 Cor. 15:24);
(4)
God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
(2 Cor. 1:3);
(5) The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
(Eph. 1:3).
To this series might be added the titles `The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ' (Eph. 3:14), and `The God of our Lord
Jesus Christ' (Eph. 1:17), which fall to be discussed when dealing with the teaching of Paul concerning the Lord
Jesus Christ, with which must also be included such passages as 1 Corinthians 8:6; Romans 11:36; 9:5 and 1:25. At
the moment we are confining ourselves to plain, unambiguous statements.
A further extension in the revelation of God is found in that series of statements where God is said to be the
`God of' something, using the genitive, `of', to indicate God as the Author of the specified blessing.
THE GOD OF PEACE (Rom. 15:33; Phil. 4:9;
1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:20).
THE GOD OF HOPE (Rom. 15:13).
THE GOD OF PATIENCE AND CONSOLATION (Rom. 15:5).
THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT (2 Cor. 1:3). To which may be added
THE FATHER OF MERCIES (2 Cor. 1:3).
These titles have particular reference to the outworking of the purpose of redemption, sometimes looking to the
end of the conflict, sometimes to the things endured by the way.
More frequently, the fact that God is the Author and Originator of all the blessings of the Gospel is set forth by
stating that certain blessings are `of God'.
It lies beyond our understanding to attempt to decide in what order of precedence these things that are said to be
`of God' should appear. We therefore follow the order in which the statements appear in Romans and subsequent
epistles. We do not suggest, however, that there is any spiritual significance attached to this order.
Things that are said to be `of God'
The GOSPEL of God ............................................ (Rom. 1:1).
The WILL of God ................................................ (Rom. 1:10).
The POWER of God ............................................. (Rom. 1:16).
The RIGHTEOUSNESS of God ............................... (Rom. 1:17).
The WRATH of God ............................................ (Rom. 1:18).
The GLORY of God ............................................. (Rom. 1:23).
The TRUTH of God .............................................. (Rom. 1:25).
The GOODNESS of God ........................................ (Rom. 2:4).
The JUDGMENT of God ........................................ (Rom. 2:5).
The NAME of God ............................................... (Rom. 2:24).
The ORACLES of God .......................................... (Rom. 3:2).
The FAITH of God ............................................... (Rom. 3:3).
The LOVE of God ................................................ (Rom. 5:5).