Abba Father

And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. Mark 14:36 (KJV)

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:15-17 (KJV)

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6 (KJV)

These verses tell us God is Abba Father. Abba is an Aramaic word, the language spoken in the time of Jesus, that means Father or My Father. Jesus used the term Abba to speak of God, referring to Him as Father. it is a term of endearment that speaks of intimacy and devotion. Abba could also be translated as Daddy, Papa, beloved Father. When combined with the Greek word for Father, Pater, it expresses intimacy, closeness, and heartfelt warmth and love. In Romans 8:15, the word Father speaks of a nourisher, protector, upholder, and originator of family.

I like to say, “Abba Father, Daddy God.” God became our heavenly Father when we accepted His Son Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. God becomes our nourisher, protector, upholder, and the originator of our family. As Jesus, the Son, called God Abba Father, we have become sons and also call Him Abba Father according to Galatians 4:6. In the verse prior to that one, Galatians 4:5, it says that we can receive the adoption of sons, or sonship. We have sonship with the Father the same as Jesus does. God loves us like He loves Jesus (John 17:23). We call God Abba Father, the same as Jesus does, because we are all family now.

We no longer have to feel like we are fatherless or orphans. When we were saved, God became our heavenly Father Who loves us, knows us, accepts us, and provides for us in Christ. We have received the Spirit of adoption, providing sonship to us. We can now cry Abba Father, calling God our Daddy, our Papa. Holy Spirit lets us know we are children of God the Father. As children, we are also heirs of God, joint, or co-equal, heirs with Jesus Christ. We have the same inheritance as Christ because of what Jesus did for us at the cross.

In thse last days, God is pouring out the Spirit of adoption whereby we are united with our heavenly Father. As Malachi 4:6 says, God is turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. This includes our heavenly Father.

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1:17 (KJV)

God uses prophets, his people, and the Holy Spirit to reunite people with their heavenly Father, bringing them into God’s family, so they too can call Him Abba Father.