D. M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, "I don't like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example." Stearns replied, "If I presented Christ in that way, would you be willing to follow Him?" "I certainly would," said the stranger without hesitation. "All right then," said the preacher, "let's take the first step. He did no sin. Can you claim that for yourself?" The man looked confused and somewhat surprised. "Why, no," he said. "I acknowledge that I do sin." Stearns replied, "Then your greatest need is to have a Savior, not an example!
The basic truth of the Christian faith is the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Let us face the facts about this Christian claim.
First, there are supernatural declarations about the sonship of Jesus Christ. The angel proclaimed to Mary that the holy One who will be born from her will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus Christ when he was baptized by John the baptist and God the Father spoke from heaven, and proclaimed that Jesus Christ is His Son, with whom He is well pleased (Luke 3:21-22). Even the devil himself challenged Jesus Christ as the Son of God during his attempts of temptations (Luke 4:3, 9). The demons that Jesus Christ rebuked are wailing in recognition that He is the Son of God (Luke 4:41). Even Jesus Christ Himself know Himself as the Son of God in His parables (Luke 20:9-19) and during His trial before the elders (Luke 22:70).
There are also personal revelations about the sonship of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures. John the Baptist testified that Jesus Christ is God’s Chosen One (John 1:34). His disciples worshipped Him, claiming that indeed, He is the Son of God (Matthew 14:33). Simon Peter called Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15-17). Paul claimed that God has revealed His Son, Jesus Christ, to him so he may preach Jesus Christ among the Gentiles (Galatians 1:16). John the Beloved wrote the he indeed knows that Jesus Christ is both the true God and the Son of God (1 John 5:20).
The knowledge of the sonship of Jesus Christ is also made true through the perception of faith. For whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony, and whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son (1 John 5:10). The Scriptures were written so that people may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing people may have life in His name (John 20:31:). And anyone who refuses Jesus Christ actually refuses both the testimonies of Him and the gift of eternal life (John 5:39-40). Ultimately, the blessings come to those who have not seen Jesus Christ yet believed in Him (John 20:27-29).
Jesus Christ is God’s unique Son.
Jesus Christ is not only God’s Son, He is God’s unique son. John 3:16 proclaims that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son. God did not create any other Son or send any Son other than Jesus Christ Himself. Although it is true that the believers are also called sons of God by divine adoption (Galatians 3:26-27; Galatians 4:4-5; John 1:12-13). Yet there is only One begotten Son of God, and that is Jesus Christ. He is God’s unique Son. According to J. Rodman Williams, author of Renewal Theology, there is therefore a transcendence about Jesus Christ that goes beyond the highest of earthly designation. That means to say that we can place Jesus only on a level beyond this world. Jesus Christ is no ordinary human because He is the Son of God.
John 3:16 describe the manner by which God designated Jesus’ role in the world. This Scripture proclaim this very truth, that “He gave” His only begotten Son. It is plain to see that God can not give what He did not have. Jesus Christ therefore is the only Son from the Father. Jesus Christ is specifically, the pre-existing Son of God (John 1:3) and His personal bearer of His character and will (Hebrews 1:1-2). Hence, the Son of God, Jesus, who is also the Word in the Scripture (John 1:1), existed before all creation. This pre-existence of Jesus Christ should also be understood as eternal Exodus 3;14; John 8:58). There was never a time that Jesus Christ was not.
Jesus Christ as the Son of God is equal to the Father. His sonship, hence, does not imply subordination. Jesus Christ Himself called God His Father, making Himself equal with God (John 5:18; Philippians 2:6). Throughout the ministry of Jesus, this equality of Jesus Christ with the Father is apparent (John 5:21; John 6:40; John 6:44; John 6:54). Even so, the equality of Jesus with God the Father is illustrated in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).
Jesus Christ as the Son of God is distinct from God the Father. John 1:1 strongly suggests a separate entity. Even while Jesus Christ existed with the Father from the very beginning (John 17:5; Revelations 22:13), Jesus Christ was separate entity from the Father (Luke 23:46). Therefore, the Son was eternally with the Father in His own uniqueness, distinctness, and personhood.
A preacher once met a member of a cult who challenged his views about the deity of Christ. "You say that Jesus Christ is coequal with the eternal Father, but He cannot be, for no son is ever as old as the one who has begotten him." The minister thought for a moment and then replied, "You yourself have just called God the eternal Father. Have you ever thought that statement through? Don't you realize that God can only be the eternal Father if He has an eternal Son? If you would rethink your position in the light of the Scriptures, you would see that eternal Fatherhood demands eternal Sonship!"
Jesus Christ was Chosen to fulfill God’s plan.
God the Father personally spoke from Heaven and proclaimed that Jesus Christ is His chosen (Luke 9:35). He was God’s elect and chosen one. The Old Testament records that God also called the nation of Israel as His chosen one (Exodus 4:22-23; Deuteronomy 7:6). God has chosen Israel out of many nations.
As God called the nation of Israel as His son for a special purpose, He called Jesus Christ His chosen one to fulfill His wonderful plan. This wonderful plan is simply to fulfill His great love for Israel (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). God chose Israel because He loves Israel. God also expects Israel to love Him and be obedient to Him. Jesus Christ was chosen to stand between the people that He loves and the justice of the holiness that He possesses. Thus, Jesus Christ lives and dies as a lamb of sacrifice for the payment of sin of God’s people.
Consider that Jesus Christ will be born on Earth not to live as a frail human but to live a holy life as the Son of God (Luke 1:35). There is a special purpose, a divine plan for Jesus Christ’s life of holiness. A blameless, sinless, selfless sacrifice is needed to pay the penalty of sins (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:22). God the Father knows that only His Son Jesus, His beloved One, His chosen One can obey Him to the point of death (Philippians 2:8).
As Israel whom God the Father loves so much and chooses to be a holy nation failed Him, God knows that His Son Jesus Christ will not fail Him. God wants His plan for salvation to be fulfilled for all humanity. God chose His very own Son to fulfill that plan.
Jesus Christ is the personal embodiment of God.
John 1:1 did not only proclaim that the Word was with God, but it also emphasized that the Word was God Himself.
There are three biblical evidences that bear witness to the deity of Jesus Christ.
Firstly, Jesus Christ’s words and actions bear witness to His being God. Jesus Christ pronounced forgiveness of sins in many instances (Mark 2:5; John 8:10-11: 10; Mark 2:9): Jesus controlled the forces of nature (Matthew 14: 31, 33; Matthew 14: 18-21). Jesus Christ Himself declared that He is not only the Son of God, he is God Himself (John 10:30, 33).
Secondly, the titles given to Jesus Christ are evidences of His being divine. John the Baptist referred to Jesus Christ as Lord in Matthew 3:3 in reference to Isaiah 40:3. Simon Peter called Jesus Christ as Lord (Luke 5:8). Andrew called Jesus Christ as the Messiah (John 1:41). The Samaritan believers claimed that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world (John 4:42). Simon Peter called Jesus Christ the Holy One of God (John 6:69). Even the impure spirit recognized Jesus Christ as the Holy One of God (Mark 1:24). Billy Sunday, in a sermon, "Wonderful," quoted in The Real Billy Sunday the following reason why Jesus Christ has so many names: “There are two hundred and fifty-six (256) names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express”.
Thirdly, NT scriptures directly identify Jesus Christ as God Himself. Other than John 1:1, we can also find evidences that Jesus Christ is God (John 1:18; John 20:28; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:5-7). Colossians 2:9 says in Christ the fullness of God is represented, thus he is fully divine. Jesus Christ is described in Titus 2:13 as our great God and Savior.
To believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God is the foundation of Christian faith. This belief is far more than a matter of affirmation of the mind. Duane Litfin, in "Serving a Glorified Christ," from Preaching Today, wrote about John MacArthur's encounter with a man who went around California talking about how Jesus regularly appeared to him. One time he was telling John that Jesus had appeared to him that morning while he was shaving. John MacArthur asked, "What did you do?" He said, "I just kept on shaving." And John said, "Then that wasn't Jesus."
Not all who affirm that Jesus Christ is God has faith. Even the Enemy and the demons affirm that Jesus Christ is God. Recognizing Jesus Christ as the Son of God is a matter of recognition and trust of the heart. In fact, believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God brings about a change in our lives.
