“The Son of God”

“Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel” (John 1:49)

Introduction

This particular study concerns the “Lord Jesus Christ”, Who is the central theme of Holy Scripture and the central figure of history itself. All history is dated with reference to His birth in either the category of BC or AD. Not only does He make a difference in how we date history, but He also makes a profound difference in how we live our lives and where we spend eternity.  

Christianity is CHRIST for it is in Him that the Christian lives, moves, and has his being. The study of Christ is literally an inexhaustible one and is as eternal as the Person Himself. Therefore, in this short article, we’ll only try to touch upon a few major points. To begin with, we need to notice the difference between the two titles, “Son of Man” (Matt. 24:30-31) and “Son of God” (Matt. 16:16). The title most often used by Jesus in referring to Himself while in the flesh was “Son of Man” (Lk. 19:10). It called attention to the fact that He possessed a real humanity. It was a clear assertion of His Messiahship that has been promised throughout the Old Testament (Dan. 7:13-14). It links His divine origin and sinlessness to the physical likeness of mankind. The term “Son of Man” is used some 69 times in the synoptic Gospels and 12 times in the Gospel of John in reference to Christ. One of the most exalted titles applied to Jesus is “Son of God” which calls attention to His deity. It is for that reason, He was able to overcome Satanic temptation (Matt. 4:3,6) and demand respect even from the demons themselves (Matt. 8:29). It is a title that indicates why He is fully qualified to speak to men concerning the things of God. It is a term that declares His equality and identity with the “Father” (Jh. 5:17-18). 

The Deity of Christ

The deity of Jesus Christ means that He is fully, eternally, and never anything less than “God” (Jh. 1:1-5). The birth of Christ was in Bethlehem, but it was not His origin merely because, as “God”, He never had one. Before Christ ever made His entrance into human history, and even “before the foundation of the world” (Jh. 17:24), Jesus was the “Word” that was “in the beginning”. In the Greek, “Word” is Logos. It’s rightfully capitalized in John’s Gospel because it’s speaking of the Christ Who spoke (Ps. 33:9) this world into existence. To emphasize His deity, He is declared to be the very agent of creation (Jh. 1:3) and the very source of “life” (Jh. 1:4). By the predetermined sovereign council of “God”, the “Word” was appointed as the divine means of revealing Holy God to sinful man. There can be no division or rank of superiority between the Three Persons of the Trinity. All of God is in each one of the three Persons, meaning that Christ is the “Word … and the Word was God”. Jesus “was God” in eternity past, He “was God” in the days of His flesh, and He is and forevermore will be “God” throughout eternity future. 

The Incarnation of Christ

The incarnation of Christ means that He came into this world as a Man in human “flesh” (Jh. 1:14). As the “Word”, God could be heard but not seen, but when the “Word” was made flesh”, God could be both heard and seen. The only way for “God” to ever be seen by mortal man is in the Person of “Jesus Christ” (Jh. 14:9). All physical appearances of God in the Old Testament were actually pre-incarnate appearances of Christ (Gen. 18:1, 32:24-30, Ex. 33:22-23). To the mere mind of man, this matter of the incarnation is a “great … mystery” (I Tim. 3:16). God spent some 4,000 years preparing for the first advent of Christ and then “when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law” (Gal. 4:4). By the incarnation we simply mean that “God” came down from heaven to earth, clothed in the body of a Man. The invisible “God” simply chose to put on a human garment of “flesh” and make Himself visible to sinful man. This Second Person of the Trinity didn’t come FROM the human race, but He can INTO the human race. In the incarnation, we don’t have a God and a man, but ONE PERSON Who is the GodMan, “God” Who made Himself a Man. His coming into the world as the GodMan was for the purpose of saving “his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21) by providing Himself as the Supreme sacrificial “Passover” (I Cor. 5:7) “Lamb” (Jh. 1:29).

The Work of Christ

The death of “Jesus Christ” was necessary in order for God’s just demands regarding man’s redemption to be met (Eph. 1:7). Christ came to provide the only possible bridge between the gap of sinful man and Holy God. Only in “Jesus Christ” can reconciliation between a wicked human race and a righteous God be possible. The way for God to be appeased is not through a system of “works”, but by the experience of “grace” as God’s mercy allows the convicted sinner to exercise God given “faith” (Eph. 2:8-9) in the shed blood (Heb. 9:22) of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of “Jesus Christ” was necessary to fulfill prophecy and complete the work of redemption on the cross (Rom. 4:25). There are several famous grave sights all around the world, but none is equal to the empty garden tomb that Jesus only borrowed for “three days and three nights” (Jh. 2:18-22). In the resurrection of “Jesus Christ”, God’s claims were vindicated, God’s power was demonstrated, and God’s “Son” was elevated. This miraculous event was in keeping with the “sign” of the “prophet Jonah” (Matt. 16:4). Since “sin” and “death” (Rom. 6:23) are identical twins, Jesus could not have conquered “sin” if He had no claim over “death”. Therefore, to prove His deity, He did something no mere mortal man has ever done or can do. He arose from the dead!!! His resurrection guarantees a glorious resurrection for all “born again” (Jh. 3:3) believers (Rom. 10:9-10) at which time, we’ll receive a new “body” (I Cor. 15). The ascension of “Jesus Christ” was necessary in order for Him to “go and prepare a place for” (Jh. 14:3) us and to intercede for us as our “Advocate” (I Jh. 2:1) to the “Father”. God knows the weak feeble “frame” of man and that we are made from the “dust” (Ps. 103:14). Therefore, being the guilty sinners that we are, He provided a Divine Attorney to defend us before the throne of heaven when accused by our “adversary” (I Pet. 5:8), the “devil” (Rev. 12:10). With this being the case, we need someone to plead our case and represent us to God, so provision was made in the crucified and risen Christ (Heb. 4:15-16). 

The Offices of Christ

As a PROPHET, Christ told men what God had to say to them (Jh. 1:18). This aspect of Christ’s office is so called because a “prophet” (Jh. 4:19) was one who spoke to the people on behalf of God. Being “the Word”, this is what Jesus did in presenting Himself in human “flesh”. His “virgin” birth (Isa. 7:10-14, Matt. 1:22-23) is one of the cardinal doctrines of Holy Scripture. If He had not been conceived by the “Holy Spirit” (Lk. 1:35), then He could not have been God. If He wasn’t God in the “flesh”, then He couldn’t have died for our sin because God required a perfect sacrifice (I Pet. 1:19). As a PRIEST, Christ represents believers before God (Heb. 4:14). The office of “priest” was one of divine appointment. Just as the “high priest” in the Old Testament would make atonement for the sins of Israel by animal sacrifice and sprinkling the “blood” on the “mercy seat” (Lev. 16:13), Jesus has made atonement for us with His own “blood” (Heb. 13:20) on the cross. As a result, the “veil of the temple was rent in twain” (Matt. 27:51) and we have direct access to God today through Christ without having to go through an earthly priest. Human priests die, but Christ is a “priest” Who lives forever (Heb. 7:23-24). As a KING, Christ rules over His kingdom of spiritual Israel, reigns today in the hearts of His people, and is destined to come again. The First Coming of Christ is a matter of undeniable historic record and His Second Coming is a matter of Biblical prophecy. The last act in the drama of redemption has yet to reach its final conclusion. There is coming a day when all sin against God will be finally eradicated. The child of God is one who presently submits to the Lordship of Christ and acknowledges Him as King and Sovereign of his life and soul.

IN CLOSING

Foolish skeptics have called Jesus, the illegitimate son of Joseph and Mary. Some accused Him of being “mad” and having “a devil” (Jh. 10:20). During His trial, He was accused of “blasphemy” (Matt. 26:25) and then “stripped … mocked … spit upon … and smote … on the head” (Matt. 27:28-30) before being “crucified” (Jh. 19:18) and jeered at upon the cross (Matt. 27:39-44). However, this One, Who existed before Time, refused to exercise His prerogative of deity, came into this world to die as our sinless Substitute before being exalted into “glory”, is no other than the “Lord … Jesus Christ” (Phil. 2:5-11). Christ has always been the center of hatred and abuse by the hands of evil men. Governments have opposed Him and religious leaders have refused Him. Demons have attacked Him and the Devil has tempted Him, but neither death, hell, nor the grave could win “victory” (I Cor. 15:57) over the “Son of God”. When He comes again, all creation shall “bow” down before Him and acclaim Him as “Lord to the glory of God the Father”.  

Jesus asked the “Pharisees” of His day, “What think ye of Christ” (Matt. 22:4142). That is still a good question that needs to be asked today. Nobody can remain neutral, regardless of how hard they may try, as to the Person of Jesus Christ. To trust Him as Lord and Savior is to enter into a personal relationship with God that is accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. How sad it is to see a world that is lost in sin outside of the saving knowledge of Christ. The commission to the church is to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). May God empower us to be faithful in bearing a witness to the world of THE SON OF GOD!