Beth-El Baptist Church

08/08/2010

Greg Tomlinson


What is meant by Jesus being called “The Son of God”?


In the New Testament, Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of God” or to God as “My Father” 54 times (15 in Matthew, 5 in Luke, 36 in John). Add to these the references by the disciples (7), by Satan and demons (8), by the Jews (5), by gentiles (2) and then in Acts to Revelation (18) and the concept of Jesus as being “the Son of God” is of major importance. To some, this indicates that Jesus is simply a humanized servant of God, the Christ or Messiah, who is God-like in His obedience but not in His essence. To others, Jesus as “the Son of God” is a direct affirmation of His deity.


  1. What are some Old Testament uses of the idea behind “Son of God”?

Daniel 3:23-26 Exodus 4:22-23

1 Chronicles 17:7-14; 28:1-10 Psalm 2:1-9

Ezekiel 21:9-11 Hosea 11:1-4


The identification of someone being the “son of God” is used as an indication of someone in some unique physiological state that separates him from all other people. What the physiological state is, can only be assumed. It is used to designate the special relationship between God and the nation of Israel. It is a designation of the rightful, eternal King of Israel. It is a designation of the current reigning king of the nation of Israel.


  1. What is the immediate context of some of the “Son of God” or “my Father” usages?

John 1:11-18 cmp Genesis 1:24-27 cmp Hebrews 2:14-18 cmp Isaiah 48:10-12

Psalm 2:1-9 Matthew 4:1-11; 8:28-29; 27:39-44; 27:50-54

Mark 3:11-12; 15:37-39 Luke 1:31-38; Luke 4:3-13; 4:40-41; 8:26-31

John 3:16-21; 5:25-29; 11:1-4 Acts 8:37-39

Romans 1:1-5


One key idea to note is that Jesus is acknowledged as being “the only begotten” of God the Father. Further note that the scriptures make it clear that one “kind” always bears or begets that which is of the same kind. Also note that the angels and humanity are of distinct kinds so that the two cannot be mixed. Since Jesus bears the “glory of the Father” and that God does not give His glory to another, in order for Jesus to be “begotten” of God and to bear His glory, Jesus MUST be God. When Satan and the Demons identify Jesus as being the Son of God, it is in the context of being one who has the greatest authority, who can accomplish whatever He desires. Since Jesus is the “only begotten Son of God”, He is the only way to avoid eternal condemnation.


  1. Did the Jews of Jesus' day understand anything in particular with Jesus being the “Son of God”?

John 8:51-59; 10:27-39 Matthew 14:30-33

Luke 22:66-71 John 1:29-37; 9:30-38; 11:25-27; 19:7-8

John 1:49 cmp 1 Samuel 8:7 Acts 9:19-23


When the Jews identified Jesus as being the “Son of God”, they thought it to be blasphemous and deserving of death because they believed it to be a direct identification with being God, the only God, the God of the Old Testament – YHWH. Upon hearing that Jesus is the Son of God, some of the disciples began to follow Him. Others worshiped Jesus. Being the Son of God means that Jesus is the rightful King of Israel, He is the Christ, the Messiah. The rightful King of Israel is God as is pointed out to Samuel who anointed Saul and David to be king.


  1. What are we to believe concerning Jesus as the “Son of God”?

John 20:26-31 Galatians 2:20

1 John 4:15-16; 5:5, 9-15


Believing that Jesus is the Son of God, means that only through Jesus can salvation – eternal life – become a reality. It is Jesus as the Son of God who gave His life for the believers so that they can escape the ravages of eternal condemnation.