"28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." - Romans 8
" 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." - Ephesians 2
Of course, we are also slaves of Christ, so one needs some perspective - but if you deny that God has chosen to make us family, then you deny the Word of God. No one is snatching at equality with God, but son, father, abba, brother - those are terms God has invited us to use.
***Of course, we are also slaves of Christ, so one needs some perspective - but if you deny that God has chosen to make us family, then you deny the Word of God. No one is snatching at equality with God, but son, father, abba, brother - those are terms God has invited us to use.***
Sure, we can use these terms in order to provide us with a framework that we can use for our beliefs. The Bible is full of metaphors and similes and other techniques in order to have us understand and remember. Icons are similar - they are memory aids. The Creeds are similar as well.