Abba Quote by Alexander MacLaren
“If faith, then new birth; if new birth, then sonship; if sonship, then "an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ." But if you have not got your foot upon the lowest round of the ladder, you will never come within sight of the blessed face of Him who stands at the top of it, and who looks down to you at this moment, saying to you, "My child, wilt thou not at this time cry unto me, 'Abba, Father?”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: "The Ladder of Faith," 1887, published in The Christian Review
Spiritual ascent requires foundational steps; without basic faith, higher divine communion remains unreachable
In simple terms: You must first have basic faith before higher spiritual experiences
Key Takeaway
Build foundational faith before seeking higher spiritual union
Themes
faith
spiritual growth
humility
progress
divine relationship
Mood
contemplative
reverent
inspirational
Type
theological
motivational
When to use this quote
- prayer
- Bible study
- mentorship
- seeking growth
Key Concepts
theology
spiritual hierarchy
devotional practice
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you recognize your current spiritual foundation?
- How can you strengthen basic faith?
A Different Perspective
Higher spiritual goals are inaccessible without basic belief
![“children of God” only for those who have received Christ as Savior and Lord: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children [tekna] of God” (John 1:12). Sonship is given to those who receive him. No one has it naturally except Jesus Christ.” quote by Timothy J. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ba0/timothy-j-keller-3733_children_children-of-god-only-for-those-who-have_2753302.jpg)
![“There's no reason - not yet, anyway - to believe [Bob] Dylan himself endorses such an attitude; or that he would think of himself as a more profound and worthy recipient than, for instance, any of the brilliant Motown or girl-group lyricists who are more likely to be awarded a Nobel prize for…” quote by David Bennun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4bb/david-bennun-25818_abba_there-s-no-reason-not-yet-anyway-to-beli_130714.jpg)
