Question 120

Why hath Christ commanded us to address God thus: Our Father?

That immediately, in the very beginning of our prayer, he might excite in us a child-like reverence for, and confidence in God, which are the foundation of our prayer (Luke 11;11); namely, that God is become our Father in Christ (John 1;12), and will much less deny us what we ask of him in true faith, than our parents refuse us earthly things (Matt. 7;11).

John 1;12.—But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name.— Eph. 1;5.—Gal. 4;6.

Scripture references for paragraph 1

Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.

Psalms 103:13
13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

Isaiah 49:15
15“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!

Isaiah 49:16
16Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.

Luke 11:11
11What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

John 1:12
12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—

Matthew 7:11
11So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Ephesians 1:5
5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Galatians 4:6
6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

Source and edition

Heidelberg Catechism. RCA English, E. R. Good & Bro., Tiffin, 1879. RCA English, E. R. Good & Bro., Tiffin, 1879

Public Domain (historic text); CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikisource transcription). Source transcription.

Transcription licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.

Berean Blue opens December 1, 2026 for Bible reading, study, and research. View this work in the app preview.