Son of God

Dr. James Orr says, in speaking of the title Son of God as ascribed to Christ: "This title is one to which there can be no finite comparison or analogy. The oneness with God which it designates is not such reflex influence of the divine thought and character such as man and angels may attain, but identity of essence constituting him not God-like alone, but God.

Others may be children of God in a moral sense; but by this right of elemental nature, none but He. He is herein, the only Son; so little separate, so close to the inner divine life which He expresses, that He is in the bosom of the Father. This language denotes two natures homogeneous, entirely one, and both so essential to the Godhead that neither can be omitted from any truth you speak of it."

If when He called Himself "the Son of God" He did not mean more than that He was a son of God, why then did the high priest accuse Him of blasphemy when He claimed this title (Matt. 26: 61-63)? Does not Mark 12:6—"Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son," indicate a special sonship? The sonship of Christ is human and historical, it is true; but it is more: it is transcendent, unique, solitary. That something unique and solitary lay in this title seems clear from John 5:18—"The Jews sought the more to kill Him....because he....said....also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God."

THE "ONLY BEGOTTEN" LANGUAGE

Borrowed from a bible.org article which can be found here.

The expression “only-begotten” is the Greek word “monogeneis.” This is not simply “begotten,” for that expression can be applied to all believers, those who have been begotten or born again by the Spirit. This is a unique expression for a unique person, the only begotten Son of God. The expression appears in John 1:14, 4:18, 3:16, and 3:18. It would literally mean the “only generated one.” This is the key expression for the doctrine of “the eternal generation of the Son,” meaning, he always was the only begotten Son. The expression does not refer to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, because he is the Son from eternity past.

Perhaps the language can be better understood if contrasted with synonyms. Take the verbs “make,” “create,” and “beget.” The verb “make” is general; one can make dinner, clothes, a house, or any other product. The verb “create” can have the same objects, but usually elevates the act to an art: one creates a masterpiece, or a work of art, or a symphony. While these creations bear the imprint of the creator, they do not share his nature. But “beget” is different. You can only beget a child that has the same nature as you have--a son or a daughter. There is nothing else you can beget (unless you were speaking very figuratively). Your son or your daughter will inherit his or her nature from you; genes, personality; all of it. You can use “make” or “create” for producing a child; but when you use “beget” it only means you produce a child that has your nature.

SON OF GOD SCRIPTURE VERSES

The following scriptures deal specifically with the term "Son Of God."

Matthew 3:17 - "And lo a voice from Heaven saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

Mark 1:11 - "And there came a voice from Heaven saying, Thou are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

Luke 3:33 - "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from Heaven which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."

The three passages above occurred when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan and the Trinity is present. The Spirit is descending on Jesus, The Father speaks from Heaven and declares Jesus is His Son. These passages speak of the verification that Jesus is God's Son and the verification came from God the Father himself as it did in the verse below.

Luke 9:35 - "And there came a voice out of the cloud saying, This is my beloved Son; hear him." This occurred when Christ was transfigured and the disciples were with him. God was speaking to the disciples out of a cloud. I am sure it was because they could not look at him and live.

Matthew 8:29 - "And behold, they cried out saying, what have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Son of God?" (devils that were cast out into pigs)

Mark 3:11 - "And unclean spirits, when they saw him fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God."
Mark 5:7 - "And cried with a loud voice and said; What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not." (This was the demonic who it was said could not be bound but was in the tombs day and night crying and cutting himself with stones).
Luke 4:41 - "And devils also came out of many, crying out and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God, And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak, for they knew that he was Christ."
Luke 8:28 - "When he saw Jesus he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not." (verses 26 and 27 give the background of this demon possessed man). So now we see demons, unclean spirits and devils verifying that they know Jesus is "the Son of God."

JESUS NEVER DENIED THE CLAIMS OF GOD, DEMONS OR MEN IN REGARD TO HIS POSITION AS THE SON OF GOD AS IS EVIDENT THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE STUDY!

Matthew 14:33 - "Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him saying, Of a truth, thou art the Son of God." This was when Peter walked on the water to come to Jesus and after Peter and Jesus entered the ship the disciples "worshiped him." Jesus not only accepted their worship but he never denied his position as the Son of God.
Matthew 16:16 - "And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." This was in answer to Jesus' asking "Who do men say that I am."

Jesus not only accepts the proclamation of Peter but reinforces it by telling him God himself has revealed it to him.
Matthew 27:54 - The testimony of the centurion at Christ's crucifixion - "Truly this was the Son of God." This from an unbeliever is strong testimony!
Mark 1:1 - "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." (Right from the beginning of his gospel Mark makes this proclamation)!
John 6:69 - "And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the Living God." - (Peter's confession when people were deserting Jesus).
John 11:27 - "She said unto him; yea Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God which should come into the world." (This is Martha speaking when her brother died and Jesus came to raise him from the dead).
John 20:31 - "But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus Christ is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name." (This is John's testimony to the veracity of Jesus being the Son of God).

The testimonies above are of people who walked with Jesus and knew him on a personal level. They had seen his miracles in many places and sat under his teaching. There was no question in their mind as to who he was.

John 9:35-38 - "Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and when he had found him he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he Lord, that I might believe on him. And Jesus said unto him, THOU HAST BOTH SEEN HIM AND IT IS HE THAT TALKETH WITH THEE. And he said, Lord, I believe, and he worshiped him." (There are those who say that Jesus never said he was the Son of God, but these verses prove otherwise). The man simply said, I believe and then he worshiped Jesus and he was not rebuked and Jesus did not deny what he said.

John 10:36 - "Say ye of him whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest because I said I am the Son of God?" Here is an open confession that Jesus told the Jews he was speaking to that he is the Son of God. Some say that he never said that as I said above.

John 19:7 - "The Jews answered him, we have a law and by our law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of God." Here are the enemies of Jesus Christ repeating the claim that Jesus made himself the Son of God. (Obviously they understood what he was saying). If he was only saying that he was one of many sons of God it would not have been a big deal because all the Jewish people believed they were God's children or sons and daughters. NO! This verse is saying that the Jews knew he was proclaiming an exclusive position as THE SON OF GOD, not one of many sons of God.

Here we have the testimony of Jesus Christ himself and of others who speak of his own testimony of who he is including the testimonies of his enemies. Obviously Jesus did make the claim that he was the exclusive Son of God!

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (SEE ONLY BEGOTTEN ABOVE FOR A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THESE WORDS). The word "only" means just what it says. It means there is no other like him and that he is exclusive see the exclusive Christ here.

While almost everyone knows the verse above there are many who don't know the verses that follow and they are very relevant because they explain why some choose to reject Christ and who he is and what he represents and what he can do for them. Here are the following verses of this well know scripture:

John 3:17-21 - "For God . He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation; that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil, neither cometh to the light, lest their deeds should be reproved. But he that doth truth that his deeds may be manifested that they are wrought in God." So here we see some very important things expressed in these verses.

1. God didn't send Jesus to condemn people.

2. God did send Jesus so that people would be saved through him.

3. Those who believe in the finished work of Christ are not condemned.

4. Those who refuse to believe in the finished word of Christ are condemned already.

5. The condemnation is because the light (Jesus) came into the world but men loved darkness (sin and Satan) rather than the light.

6. People who reject Jesus Christ do so because they hate the light and love their sin and don't want to be corrected or reproved.

7. People who know they are sinful and are sorry for their sin come to the light (Jesus) for salvation so their future works are guided by God.

Salvation is a free gift. There is nothing any of us can do to earn it. It is a very generous gift because we are all sinners and headed for damnation that will never cease without the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. When a gift is presented to someone they can either refuse to take it or take it and thank the person for the gift. This gift is not a mere earthly gift but an invitation to receive eternal life in joy with the Lord Jesus Christ forever.

Dear reader; What will you do with this message? Will you turn from the mercy God extends to undeserving sinners and die in your sins and face God's wrath rather than his love and free salvation? Will you come to God sorry for your sins and seek his forgiveness and inherit the precious gift that God offers to you freely? Eternity is ahead. We don't know when we will exchange time for eternity and we are not promised even one more second of life let alone days, weeks, months or years. It is wise to be prepared before time, but some carelessly throw away the greatest gift offered to mankind. It is my earnest prayer that you will consider this Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God and that you would repent of your sins and receive salvation in exchange for your sin. Real life begins on the other side of salvation. Apart from that we are just existing and have no hope beyond this life.

Son of God

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