You received the Spirit of sonship.
And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
—Romans 8:15
The spirit of Old Testament religion was fear—know your place and keep your distance from the holy God.
The Jews were so afraid of God they wouldn’t even speak this name. His name as revealed to Moses (YHWH / Yahweh) was only written, never spoken.
The spirit of New Testament religion is different. God is not distant and dreaded, but close and congenial—a God we approach “with freedom and confidence” (Eph. 3:12).
Without fear we say, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6-7). Abba—an Aramaic word that signifies the warm, intimate relationship of father and child.
As his child, his heir and co-heir with Christ, you have the joyful privilege of affectionately addressing him as your father—Abba, Father.
Loved, chosen, and adopted.
Abba, Father.