2012
Learning the Way of God More Perfectly
King James Bible 1611

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Specific
Contrasts in Scriptures
- Not Contradictions -

36.

Heavenly Father
Matthew 6:14
Spiritual Father
Romans 4:11
The title of Heavenly father, which has been used in the past by Mormons is quickly becoming a common and popular phrase by more and more Christians in their reference to God.

The heavenly father certainly is not as described by the Mormons as 'once a man' and having spirit children in heaven to send down to earth, etc.

However, we see by rightly divided Scriptures, it is a term used only by the Jews, and of course...

...the Jews are his people.

  • Deuteronomy 7:6 - For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
  • I Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
  • Romans 11:28 - As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Thus, He would be called their Heavenly Father:
Matthew 6:14 - For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Matthew 6:26 - Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Matthew 6:32 - (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Matthew 15:13 - But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

Matthew 18:35 - So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Luke 11:13 - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Our father?  Indirectly, yes, but not our heavenly father - but instead He is our Spiritual Father through Abraham and our faith.

The father of them that believe!
Romans 4:11 - And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

The father of the uncircumcision!
Romans 4:12 - And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Abraham - the father of us all!
Romans 4:16 - Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Abraham, a father of many nations!
Romans 4:17-18 - (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Father / The Father, etc.
There are too many references to list, but Paul calls him as should we, 'the Father,' or 'Father' - or even with a small 'f' - 'father.'

But to call him our "Heavenly Father" is to once again, use an incorrect term - a term that is not true concerning Christians today.

Because of our faith and trust in Christ, the Father becomes our spiritual father, not our heavenly Father.  That term still belongs to the Jews.