To all the fathers out there, Happy Father’s Day!
In the Bible, what is said about God often makes use of what theologians have traditionally called anthropomorphic language; that is, language that speaks of God in human terms. For example, we might talk about “the eyes of the Lord” or “the long arm of the Lord.” Other places in Scripture where God actually appeared in human or earthly form are called “theophanies;” that is, temporary appearances that did not belong to the nature or the true essence of God (e.g. the burning bush). Old Testament Scholar Bruce Waltke gives the following alternative perspective on anthropomorphic language, showing God’s kindness and desire for us to know Him:
“It is often said that the Bible represents God anthropomorphically (i.e., as a human being). More accurately, a human being is theomorphic, made like God so that God can communicate himself to people [italics mine]. He gave people ears to show that he hears the cry of the afflicted and eyes to show that he sees the plight of the pitiful (Ps. 94:9).”[1]
Taking Waltke’s point further and for our purposes, God gave us parents who provide, nurture, and guide to help us better appreciate how God provides for, nurtures, and guides us. In other words, God created us to be like him in many ways—especially those areas related to biological family relationships—so that we would get to know him. Indeed, God designed these theomorphic ways in us to give us a glimpse of who he is. He then gave us his Word, the Bible, to guide our way further.
And here’s a great passage that does just that– guides us deeper into God’s heart for us in Christ:
“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”[2]
In this beautiful passage, notice the unbelievably, precious, positional statement (in bold above). It’s sandwiched right between the underlined themes of perfecting or maturing in love (see the underlined words), and not being afraid of judgment and punishment (see the italicized words). What central, bolded, positional statement “because as he is so also are we in the world” mean?
It means that in Christ, our standing with God is secure. Because we are viewed positionally in him, “we enjoy the same privileged place with the Father” as Jesus did when he was on earth![3] Eugene Peterson’s translation in The Message nails it: “Our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s.”
Friend, do you believe that? If you did, just think how strong you’d be!
We close with the final point that the father heart of God was central to John’s understanding in verses 16-18 above. The immediate context underscores this: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God [the Father] sent his only son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). The apostle Paul amplifies John’s thought by pointing out “that God” (again, the Father) was “in Christ . . . reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Cor 5:19). No wonder that John exclaims in the middle of his letter, “What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are” (1 John 3:1a MSG).
***Please take a moment to let the powerful truths of this passage in 1 John sink in. Without question, these few verses—maybe more than in any other place in the Bible—clearly teach that the essence of God is holy love and that what you believe about the sacrifice of Christ and the Father’s heart toward you will largely determine whether you live in confidence or fear (again, see these words italicized and contrasted above).
The picture above was taken on Feb. 17, 2022, and is of my son, Tim, and his two children, Iris and Caedmon.
[1] Bruce K. Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001), 65.
[2] 1 John 4:16-18, ESV.
[3] Gary Burge, NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, Zondervan).