Who am I IN CHRIST? [Verses to pray in trying & other times)

I am a part of the True Vine and Christ’s life flows through me John 15:1,5

I am Jesus’ personal witness sent out to tell everybody about Him. Acts 1:8

I am a new person in Christ Jesus. My past is forgiven and everything is new. 2 Cor 5:17

I am at peace with God and he has given me the work of helping others find peace with Him. 2 Cor 5:18, 19

I am a child of God and one with others who are members of His Family. Gal 3:26, 27

I am a child of God and will receive the inheritance which he promised. Gal 4:6, 7

I am God’s building project, His handiwork, created in Christ to do His work. Eph 2:10

I am one of God’s Living Stones, being built-up in Christ as a house for God. 1 Pet 2:5

I am a member of the chosen people, a royal priesthood, a people belonging to God. 1 Pet 2:9, 10

I am a child of God, and I will be Christ’s when He returns. 1 John 3:1, 2

I am not the great “I AM” (Ex 3:14) but by the Grace of God, I am what I am. 1 Cor 15:10

I am now acceptable to God and completely forgiven. I live at peace with Him Rom 5:1

The sinful person I used to be died with Christ, and sin no longer rules my life. Rom 6:1-6

I have received God’s Spirit into my life. I can recognize the blessings He has given me. 1 Cor 2:12

I have been given the mind of Christ. He gives me wisdom to make the right choices. 1 Cor 2:16

I have been bought with a Price, I am not my own; I belong to God. 1 Cor 6:19, 20

I am God’s possession, chosen and secure in Him. I have been given the Holy Spirit as a promise of my inheritance. Eph 1:13, 14

I was chosen in Christ to be holy before the world was created. I am without blame before Him. Eph 1:4

I have been brought out of slavery to sin and forgiven. I have received His generous grace. Eph 1:7, 8

I have been rescued from the dark power of satan’s rule and have been brought into the Kingdom of Christ. Col 1:13

I have been forgiven all my sins and set free. The debt against me has been cancelled. Col 1:14

I am spiritually clean. My old sinful self has lost its power to rule my life. Col 2:11

I died with Christ and I have been raised up with Christ. My new life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ is now my life. Col 3:1-4

Because I am set apart and one with Christ. He is not ashamed to call me His brother or sister. Heb 2:11

I have been given great and valuable promises. God’s nature has become a part of me. 2 Pet 1:4

I believe that ABBA is accurately translated as DADDY.

THE MESSAGE HAS IT:

Romans 8:15 (The Message)

15-17This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!

Young’s literal translation has it:

Romans 8:15 (Young’s Literal Translation)

15for ye did not receive a spirit of bondage again for fear, but ye did receive a spirit of adoption in which we cry, `Abba — Father.’

Today’s New International with footnotes:

Romans 8:15 (Today’s New International Version)
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. [a] And by him we cry, “Abba, [b] Father.”

Footnotes:
Romans 8:15 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
Romans 8:15 Aramaic for Father

Romans 8:15 (Wycliffe New Testament)
15 For ye have not taken again the spirit of servage in dread, but ye have taken the Spirit of adoption of sons, in which we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:15 (Contemporary English Version)
15God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. [a]

Footnotes:
Romans 8:15 our Father: The Greek text uses the Aramaic word “ Abba” (meaning “ father” ), which shows the close relation between the children and their father.

Galatians 4:6

View commentary related to this passage

6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son (A) into our [a] hearts, crying, “ Abba (B) , Father!” (C)

Footnotes:
Galatians 4:6 Other mss read your
Cross references:
Galatians 4:6 : Ac 16:7; Rm 5:5;, 20; 8:9;, 16; 2Co 3:17;
Galatians 4:6 : Mk 14:36; Rm 8:15;
Galatians 4:6 : Mt 5:16; 6:1; 11:27; Jn 8:42;

Romans 8:15 (New Living Translation)

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.[a] Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”[b]

Footnotes:
Romans 8:15 Greek you received a spirit of sonship.
Romans 8:15 Abba is an Aramaic term for “father.”

Romans 8:15 (New American Standard Bible)

15For you (A)have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you (B)have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “(C)Abba! Father!”

Cross references:
Romans 8:15 : 2 Tim 1:7; Heb 2:15
Romans 8:15 : Rom 8:23; Gal 4:5

Even ‘merely’ from THE CONTEXT we can see that

the word picture

is of a son CRYING OUT TO DADDY, PAPA, FATHER.

‘casual familiarity’ ???

Another Scripture speaks of us BOLDLY GOING BEFORE THE THRONE via Christ’s Name and Blood.

NOT as servants or slaves but as SONS, FRIENDS of God, even.

DADDY in this context is not flippant . . . not cheeky . . .

ALMIGHTY FATHER GOD SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

TO DIE

THAT WE MIGHT HAVE RESTORED ***INTIMATE*** RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER.

ALMIGHTY GOD DID THAT.

ALMIGHTY GOD PLACED IN ***HIS*** WORD

the word picture of INTIMACY WITH DADDY, PAPA, FATHER.

It is not the image of

‘Gimme the car keys Daddy-O’

It IS the image of

‘Daddy, I need some lap time.’

I’m convinced that this much is the whole counsel of the whole of Scripture. It is consistent with a handful of Scriptures throughout the New Testament.

Scripture says that the Awed Fear of The Lord is the

BEGINNING

of Wisdom.

I believe the more mature wisdom is to have CHILD-LIKE FAITH, CONFIDENCE AND INIMACY WITH DADDY, PAPA, FATHER ALMIGHTY GOD.

Then you should read and consider some more: Is It Irreverent to Refer to God as "Daddy"? By Louis Rushmore Brother Rushmore, We recently had a visitor who led singing and while commenting on a song about prayer he said we should be thankful to be able to call God daddy. Many in the congregation were very offended by this. I know the elders and the preacher spoke to him about it and the preacher in a very kind way mentioned how we should address God as Father and not by our own terminology. Another member sought to defend the use of daddy by referring to Abba as meaning da da. I looked the word abba up in several lexicons and commentaries and to the last one they all basically said the word in the N.T. means Father. Can you shed some light on this seemingly increasing practice of referring to God as daddy, it seems very irreverent to me yet I certainly want to support my position biblically. Thank you, Roy Williams There are three passages in which the words "Abba Father" appear (Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). Strong's defines "Abba" as Aramaic for "father." Easton's Bible Dictionary says of "Abba": This Syriac or Chaldee word is found three times in the New Testament (Mark 14:36; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6), and in each case is followed by its Greek equivalent, which is translated "father." It is a term expressing warm affection and filial confidence. It has no perfect equivalent in our language. It has passed into European languages as an ecclesiastical term, "abbot." The New Bible Dictionary adds, "It appears that the double phrase was common in the Greek-speaking church, where its use may well have been liturgical." "Daddy," then, would not be a suitable substitute for "Father" or "Abba" when referring to God. Some resources (we believe incorrectly) do define "Abba" as "Daddy." Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary says of Abba: "an Aramaic word which corresponds to our 'Daddy' or 'Papa.'" Some articles on the Internet make the same claim (Hannah; Williams), including an article written by a member of the churches of Christ (Stewart). However, not even all Internet articles resort to "Daddy" for "Abba," and for good reason. "...far from being a colloquialism, is in fact an emphatic form of the word 'father' in Aramean. 'Emphatic' means that abba is the equivalent of O father! in English. The term denotes respect and was widely used by Jews in their prayers" ("Does Abba Mean"). JewishEncyclopedia.com says regarding "Abba": "It was the formula for addressing God most familiar to Jewish saints of the New Testament times" (Kohler). Thayer's Lexicon also says of "Abba, Father," "father, ho pateer, a customary title of God in prayer." Anciently it was the practice of some to meditate for an hour in preparation for uttering a prayer to God, out of reverence for God (Kohler). It seems that God himself demands respect and reverence that goes beyond a flippant "Daddy"! Does God say less in Malachi 1:6? "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?" Vine's definition of "Abba" and comparison to "Father" verifies the reverence with which it was used in the first century when the New Testament was penned. The term "Abba" conveys extreme reverence and could never be equivalent merely to the child's term, "Daddy, when referring to God." abba is an Aramaic word, found in Mark 14:36; Rom 8:15 and Gal 4:6. In the Gemara (a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching of the Jews) it is stated that slaves were forbidden to address the head of the family by this title. It approximates to a personal name, in contrast to "Father," with which it is always joined in the NT. This is probably due to the fact that, abba having practically become a proper name, Greek-speaking Jews added the Greek word pater, "father," from the language they used. Abba is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; "father" expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child. The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia and Fausset's Bible Dictionary concur with Vine's definition of "Abba." Further, Fausset's defines the combined Aramaic and Greek appearances of "father," literally "the father, the father," as an emphatic invocation or prayer to God. The McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia states that the double reference to father in Aramaic and Greek, in part, is for "emphasis and dignity," plus after retaining the Aramaic word for "father" providing Greek readers "father" in Greek in the event they did not understand the Aramaic reference to father. Hence, whatever weight and meaning the Greek for "Father," referring to God, has, the Aramaic word for "Father" has a closely similar meaning. So, unless someone purports to call God "Daddy, Daddy" in the three passages, it is not appropriate to define "Abba" as "Daddy." If someone boldly resounds "Daddy, Daddy" for the dual appearances of the Aramaic and Greek words for "father" in these passages, referring to God, I still object on the grounds of inadequate reverence toward Deity. Like the quotation below indicates, to refer to Almighty God as "Daddy" borders on blasphemy. ABBA A Palestinian Aramaic word that is found in three places in the NT to refer to God. It means "father." It is the address of a child as distinct from a slave and denotes family intimacy. In Mark 14:36 Christ uses abba to address God in His prayer in Gethsemane. In Rom. 8:15 and Gal. 4:6 Christians use the same form of address to God. It is used in such a way that it both emphasizes our nearness to God and inculcates respect. Each time it is used it appears with the word pater, giving us the title Abba Father for God. Christians must never confuse intimacy with God their Father with familiarity and triteness. There is no basis in the NT use of abba to support the almost blasphemous references some make to God as "Dad" or "Daddy." It is surely significant that the Aramaic abba is not translated into Greek as papa but is merely transliterated. (Cairns) Works Cited Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 1994. Cairns, Alan. "Abba." 23 Dec 2004. Dictionary of Theological Terms. . "Does Abba Mean "Daddy"? Online posting. 4 Jun 2004. Theologyweb. 23 Dec 2004. . Easton, M. G. Easton's Bible Dictionary. CD-ROM. Oak Harbor: Logos, 1996. Fausset's Bible Dictionary. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 1998. Hannah, Shively. "Abba, Father." Hannah's Garden. 23 Dec 2004. . International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 1996. Kohler, Kaufmann. "Abba." JewishEncylopedia.com. 23 Dec 2004. . McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2000. Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary. CD-ROM. Nashville: Nelson, 1986. The New Bible Dictionary. CD-ROM. Wheaton: Tyndale, 1962. Stewart, William J. "Abba, Father." Www.LookingIntoJesus.Net. 23 Dec 2004. . Thayer's Greek Lexicon. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2000. Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words. CD-ROM. Nashville: Nelson, 1985. Williams, George R. "Abba, Father." Fathers.com." 23 Dec 2004. .

Then you should read and seriously consider some more about Whom you are addressing, and how He expects to be revered:

Is It Irreverent to Refer to God as "Daddy"? By Louis Rushmore

There are three passages in which the words "Abba Father" appear (Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). Strong's defines "Abba" as Aramaic for "father." Easton's Bible Dictionary says of "Abba":

This Syriac or Chaldee word is found three times in the New Testament (Mark 14:36; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6), and in each case is followed by its Greek equivalent, which is translated "father." It is a term expressing warm affection and filial confidence. It has no perfect equivalent in our language. It has passed into European languages as an ecclesiastical term, "abbot."

The New Bible Dictionary adds, "It appears that the double phrase was common in the Greek-speaking church, where its use may well have been liturgical." "Daddy," then, would not be a suitable substitute for "Father" or "Abba" when referring to God.

Some resources (we believe incorrectly) do define "Abba" as "Daddy." Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary says of Abba: "an Aramaic word which corresponds to our 'Daddy' or 'Papa.'" Some articles on the Internet make the same claim (Hannah; Williams), including an article written by a member of the churches of Christ (Stewart).

However, not even all Internet articles resort to "Daddy" for "Abba," and for good reason. "...far from being a colloquialism, is in fact an emphatic form of the word 'father' in Aramean. 'Emphatic' means that abba is the equivalent of O father! in English. The term denotes respect and was widely used by Jews in their prayers" ("Does Abba Mean"). JewishEncyclopedia.com says regarding "Abba": "It was the formula for addressing God most familiar to Jewish saints of the New Testament times" (Kohler). Thayer's Lexicon also says of "Abba, Father," "father, ho pateer, a customary title of God in prayer."

Anciently it was the practice of some to meditate for an hour in preparation for uttering a prayer to God, out of reverence for God (Kohler). It seems that God himself demands respect and reverence that goes beyond a flippant "Daddy"! Does God say less in Malachi 1:6? "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?"

Vine's definition of "Abba" and comparison to "Father" verifies the reverence with which it was used in the first century when the New Testament was penned. The term "Abba" conveys extreme reverence and could never be equivalent merely to the child's term, "Daddy, when referring to God."

abba is an Aramaic word, found in Mark 14:36; Rom 8:15 and Gal 4:6. In the Gemara (a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching of the Jews) it is stated that slaves were forbidden to address the head of the family by this title. It approximates to a personal name, in contrast to "Father," with which it is always joined in the NT. This is probably due to the fact that, abba having practically become a proper name, Greek-speaking Jews added the Greek word pater, "father," from the language they used. Abba is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; "father" expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia and Fausset's Bible Dictionary concur with Vine's definition of "Abba." Further, Fausset's defines the combined Aramaic and Greek appearances of "father," literally "the father, the father," as an emphatic invocation or prayer to God. The McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia states that the double reference to father in Aramaic and Greek, in part, is for "emphasis and dignity," plus after retaining the Aramaic word for "father" providing Greek readers "father" in Greek in the event they did not understand the Aramaic reference to father. Hence, whatever weight and meaning the Greek for "Father," referring to God, has, the Aramaic word for "Father" has a closely similar meaning. So, unless someone purports to call God "Daddy, Daddy" in the three passages, it is not appropriate to define "Abba" as "Daddy." If someone boldly resounds "Daddy, Daddy" for the dual appearances of the Aramaic and Greek words for "father" in these passages, referring to God, I still object on the grounds of inadequate reverence toward Deity. Like the quotation below indicates, to refer to Almighty God as "Daddy" borders on blasphemy.

ABBA A Palestinian Aramaic word that is found in three places in the NT to refer to God. It means "father." It is the address of a child as distinct from a slave and denotes family intimacy. In Mark 14:36 Christ uses abba to address God in His prayer in Gethsemane. In Rom. 8:15 and Gal. 4:6 Christians use the same form of address to God. It is used in such a way that it both emphasizes our nearness to God and inculcates respect. Each time it is used it appears with the word pater, giving us the title Abba Father for God. Christians must never confuse intimacy with God their Father with familiarity and triteness. There is no basis in the NT use of abba to support the almost blasphemous references some make to God as "Dad" or "Daddy." It is surely significant that the Aramaic abba is not translated into Greek as papa but is merely transliterated. (Cairns)

Works Cited

Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 1994.

Cairns, Alan. "Abba." 23 Dec 2004. Dictionary of Theological Terms. .

"Does Abba Mean "Daddy"? Online posting. 4 Jun 2004. Theologyweb. 23 Dec 2004. .

Easton, M. G. Easton's Bible Dictionary. CD-ROM. Oak Harbor: Logos, 1996.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 1998.

Hannah, Shively. "Abba, Father." Hannah's Garden. 23 Dec 2004. .

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 1996.

Kohler, Kaufmann. "Abba." JewishEncylopedia.com. 23 Dec 2004. .

McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2000.

Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary. CD-ROM. Nashville: Nelson, 1986.

The New Bible Dictionary. CD-ROM. Wheaton: Tyndale, 1962.

Stewart, William J. "Abba, Father." Www.LookingIntoJesus.Net. 23 Dec 2004. .

Thayer's Greek Lexicon. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2000.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words. CD-ROM. Nashville: Nelson, 1985.

Williams, George R. "Abba, Father." Fathers.com." 23 Dec 2004. .

True. True. And likewise.

I don’t think I have the energy to tackle your long post, yet.

I do find that it tends to grieve my spirit, though.

Perhaps as Father Daddy Almighty God was grieved when the Children of Israel refused to

MEET WITH HIM at the TENT OF MEETING and demanded that Moses do it for them because they were afraid to have that DIRECT AND INTIMATE a relationship with ALMIGHTY GOD.

Certainly Almighty God is awesomely Holy, Lofty, Mighty etc. to the Max. And like the time when Christ’s Train filled the Temple . . . when the prophet saw Him High and lifted up . . . we are less than grass with unclean lips.

One does NOT get CLOSE to Almighty God without that perspective . . .

and yet . . .

in some mysterious truly Biblical, kosher, even INSISTED-ON WAY . . .

those who FAIL to CRY ABBA, PAPA, DADDY, FATHER, HOLD ME, ROCK ME, CARRY ME ON YOUR SHOULDERS . . .

ARE MISSING A VERY IMPORTANT BOAT . . . A BOAT THAT CHRIST PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THE TICKET ON.

I was fascinated some years ago . . . I forget when . . . Christianity Today did a survey that included the question of what did MEN first/most want to do when they God to Heaven.

The most FREQUENT answer by far was

TO SIT ON ALMIGHTY FATHER GOD, [DADDY]’S LAP.

That must have tickled God greatly . . . He’s likely still smiling from that one.

Jesse DuPlantis has one of the most vivid accounts of being more or less face to face with Father God of any I’ve read over the years. And he has to eat some special fruit in Heaven to gain the strength to SURVIVE such an encounter. And even then Christ beside Him, IIRC, continually strengthens him in that encounter.

Almighty God IS awesome and fierce to the Max.

AND HE IS LOVE TO THE MAX.

and HE IS THE ONE WHO DESIGNED US FOR INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM . . . AND SENT HIS ONLY SON TO THE CROSS TO RESTORE IT.

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