'Abba' is a term of respectful endearment only children of a beloved Father will use to address him. In Romans chapter 8 only those who are indwelt by God's Holy Spirit can call him 'Abba'. How many people on this site who claim to be Christians can call God both 'Jehovah' (or 'Yahweh') AND 'Abba'? Please answer in the context of Romans chapter 8. Many thanks for your considerations.
2007-03-15 10:06:52 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are many excellent answers, which I appreciate, so this edit is not a criticism. I just want to clarify a bit more. I should have highlighted verses 14-17 of Romans chapter 8 for that is the real issue behind my Q.
Because of those verses, 99.9% of all JWs CANNOT call God "Abba". Perhaps that's why they major on one of God's personal names, Yahweh? I'd value JW responses to that.
Although it's true that "it's not what we call him that matters, but that we listen, practice and preach what he teaches" it's also true that believers are to hallow God's name - to sanctify it - to defend God's good name and reputation. Part of that obligation is fulfilled when those born again by the Holy Spirit demonstrate their status of children adopted into God's family, by expressing loving intimacy with their God and Saviour - "Abba!" This cry of intimacy is sadly lacking with most JWs I know. Is it because they're still outside God's family? Are they back to front on this 'name' point?
2007-03-16 21:54:28 · update #1
I formed this answer last night before reading Sasi's additional comments or the contributions from Jehovah's Witnesses.
Only those who are indwelt by God's Holy Spirit can call him Abba. Verses 9-11 refers to Christians being controlled by the Spirit of God, the spirit of Christ and the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead. Verse 14 and 15 say 'those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God' and 'you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'.
That is what makes us God's children - and heirs (verse 17) 'heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ'. Heirs to what? Why, heirs to a heavenly inheritance!
However, as Romans makes plain, we can only call God 'Abba' if we have received the Holy Spirit. There are millions of people who call God 'Jehovah' but because they are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit, cannot call him Abba. Theirs is not a heavenly hope. They are not in a covenant relationship with the risen Christ and cannot partake of the bread and wine as Jesus commanded his followers to do when he inaugurated the last supper some 2,000 years ago.
Only those who are annointed with the Holy Spirit have his witness bearing witness with their spirit that they are in this unique relationship. Jesus said "This cup means the new covenant, by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf." (Luke 22:20) If you are not in this new covenant then Christ's outpoured blood does not yet cover you.
Acts 2:38 says "Repent, and let each of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE FREE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT." This is the proof that our sins have been forgiven - the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Go back to Romans 8:9 - "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Therefore, those persons who call upon the name of Jehovah but have not received the Holy Spirit, cannot be in this covenant relationship and cannot call God Abba.
Only a very few Jehovah's Witnesses will partake of the bread and wine this year when they hold their annual 'memorial' service to remember the last supper. They are the remaining few of the 144,000, the 'anointed' class who hope to go to heaven. All the rank and file Witnesses are excluded. They can never hope to be joint heirs with Christ. Theirs is a second class, inferior hope, an earthly hope. They have been sold short and do not understand the true gospel.
I do not hate Jehovah's Witnesses. I love them. I used to be one of them. But, in answer to your question, it does not matter one bit if you call God Jehovah if you cannot call him Abba. Thank you for focusing my mind on the significance of the last supper and what Jesus did for us - for ALL of us, not just a select few.
2007-03-17 06:02:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 3⤋
While all humans acknowledging the Fatherhood of God and living accordingly may properly address him as "Father",they do not all enjoy the same intimacy with him.Of the special intimacy enjoyed by spirit begotten Christians(those numbering 144,000 who will share Kingdom rule with Christ),the apostle Paul wrote:"You received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out "Abba,Father!"(Rom.8:15).The term Abba is a endearing form of address.It is the intimate expression that children used for their fathers.Such intimacy is even now enjoyed by those of humankind who have been begotten by God's spirit with a view to becoming spirit sons in the holy heavens,where they will enjoy personal association with the Creator.The use of the word "Abba" indicates the intimacy of their relationship with their Father.
2007-03-16 16:44:14 · answer #2 · answered by lillie 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
you're precise... Jesus in no way mentioned that he replaced into God. He felt himself a prophet, working for the "Father" of the Jewish scriptures that he replaced into rooted in. And it wasn't till the Council at Nicaea (Nicene Creed) that the council desperate that Jesus could be totally human and totally god. So in reality, maximum of Christianity is predicated on the techniques of politicians. How unhappy.
2016-10-02 04:34:05 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Abba is an Aramaic term for “father.” There is nothing wrong calling him father since he is. It just happens that it is not his personal name.
Rom 10:13 - For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”
2007-03-16 21:15:00 · answer #4 · answered by keiichi 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You have nailed it. God says we can call him "Abba" and that means a familiarity. That is an important thing to be able to do. It comes from a relationship with Jesus.
2007-03-18 02:53:26 · answer #5 · answered by Buzz s 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Dear Sasi,
What an excellent question! Schneb and View from a Horse have given excellent answers.
A couple of verses I would like to mention are:
Judges 13:18 (after Manoah and his wife ask the name of the angel of the LORD) He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding."
My question is how could an angel of the LORD have a name beyond understanding and the LORD not? Jws give me a wordy explanation which is not at all scriptural or plausible.
Jeremiah 3:19 - "I myself said, "' How gladly would I treat you like sons, and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.' I though you would call me 'Father' and not turn away from following me. ..."
Ever since I first read that verse I went weak in the knees realizing that the awesome uncreated Creator of the universe, the Author of life wants to be called Father. How could I possibly say no to that?! When He says that He wants to be called Father and the Watchtower Witnesses say I have to call Him Jehovah who am I going to listen to?
And then not just Father, but Abba. I run to Him just like a little child running to his mom or dad. I feel like I am the most blessed person on the face of the earth!
Edit: LineDancer, I think that you are going to be the most amazed of people when you spend ETERNITY writing ALL of the names of the awesome uncreated Creator of the universe!
2007-03-15 12:52:14 · answer #6 · answered by JOYfilled - Romans 8:28 7 · 8⤊ 3⤋
We have been adopted into the kingdom through Jesus and now we have the right to call Him Abba who is our beloved Father. Jehovah, YHWH, Yahweh just means God. You know like Jehovah Jireh, Jireh means provider. Jehovah Jireh- God our Provider, Jehovah Nissi- the God our Banner(victory). God reveals His names unto His people because names back then we who you were. So God revealed His names to let us know who He was and that we are so finite we can't even come up with what to call Him.
2007-03-15 10:17:32 · answer #7 · answered by Putta Rat 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Honey everytime that JW pray we said Abba or Father and also his name, why mot used remember he want that everybody knows his name but the devil don´t so everytime we use it we are against Satan but in the other hand.
2007-03-17 08:16:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
well I was raised Catholic and my teacher's always referred to God as Abba the Father. I just like Abba the music group though - I think they're A OK.
2007-03-15 10:11:29 · answer #9 · answered by Virgo 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Who claims we can't call Him, Abba?
Any one who has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, confessed they are sinners, asked to be forgiven... sincerely mean it... may call God ... Jehovah (Yahweh) and Abba... along with the other names of God.
2007-03-15 10:20:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋