Jesus, the Son of God

About 120 times Jesus has been called the Son of God in the Bible. For this reason some believe that first there was God the Father alone and then sometimes after Jesus was born to Him. This was more or less the belief of the Arian religion in the first centuries.

We have two possibilities to consider. One is that Jesus was born of the Father as His Son and the other that Jesus is called the Son as a title.

In the Bible we read, “Ephraim is My firstborn.” Here the word firstborn is used as a title.” Jer. 31:9

Paul calls his converts to the gospel as his children. “In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” 1 Cor. 4:15 “I sent you Timotheus, who is my beloved son.” 1 Cor. 4:17

The same titles have been given to Jesus as to the Father. In Isaiah 9:6 Jesus is called, “The Mighty God” and “the Everlasting Father”. In Revelation 1 :8 Jesus is called “Almighty”.

Isaiah writes further, “Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant.. whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no Saviour.” Isa.43:10-11.

There is only one Saviour, and through Him only can we be saved. “Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4: 12

In Proverbs we read, “Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” Prov 8: 30

Paul writes about Christ: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the fom1 of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the fom1 of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Phil. 2:5-7

The natural son is a servant to his father but in the case of Jesus, He was not a servant naturally but He “took upon Him the form of a servant”, This shows His meekness. Although He was not a servant, He voluntarily became one.

If Jesus would have been born to God or been formed by God the Father, He would have naturally belonged to Him. But we read, “The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way” Prov 8:22 Here we learn that the Father possessed or adopted Jesus to be His Son.

To be called equal. with God must mean in every respect Same as God the Father, Jesus is called to be “from everlasting”.

Because of His meekness He took a lower position to His Father He came to do His Father’s will” He said, “My Father is greater than F For this reason He could say, “Come unto me,.. and learn of Me: for I am meek and lowly in heart”” Matt. 11 :28-29 Because He was so meek and lowly in heaven also, therefore Satan became jealous of Him, when He was exalted by His Father.

“Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent Son of God” In speaking of His pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God. He to whose voice the Jews were then listening had peen with God as one brought up with Him.” Signs of the Times. Aug. 29, 1900

“Jesus declared: ” I am the resurrection and the life.” In Christ is the life, original, unborrowed, underived.” D.A.530 (1898)

Jesus said, “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again:” John 10:17-18

“When Christ was crucified, it was His human nature that died. Deity did not sink and die: that would have been impossible… When the voice of the angel was heard saying, “Thy Father calls Thee”. He Who had said, ‘I lay down My life, that I might take it again. Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” Came forth from the grave to life that was in Himself. Deity did not die. Humanity died.”5 B.C.1113

“Equal with the Father, honored and adored by the angels, in our ‘behalf Christ humbled Himself, and came to this earth to live a life of lowliness and poverty – to be a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” B.C. 1129

“Christ’s position with His Father is one of equality.” 7 BC 905. “One equal with the Father came to pay the price for the souls of man, and bring to them eternal life.” Counsels of Stewardship 226

“In it we may learn what our redemption has cost Him who from the beginning was equal with the Father.” Counsels to Teachers 13

“Christ humbled Himself from the highest authority, from the position of one equal with God, to the lowest place, that of a servant.” Test. Vol.3, p.566.

It would have been natural for a son to obey his father, but in the case of Jesus, being equal with the Father and still obeying Him In all points show the greatness of His humility and meekness. Therefore He Invites us to learn of Him and become humble as He is.

And Paul calls us to have the mind of Jesus. Esteeming others better than ourselves. May the Lord help us to learn the lessons of meekness from Jesus.
AMEN

Timo Martin