As most people know, Yeshua (Jesus) is called “the SON of God” in the Bible. Many people ask the question: “If He is the SON of God, then how can He be GOD like many believers say?” Good question.
Muslims say that God has no son, and yet Psalm 2:1-12 clearly teaches otherwise as does Proverbs 30:4.
Angels are called “sons of God” in Job 2:1 in the Old Testament, and believers are called “sons of God” in the New Testament. Israel is called “My son” in Exodus 4:22 and Hosea 11:1. The Messiah is called God’s “son” in Psalm 2:7 and in Daniel 3:19-25 King Nebuchadnezzar refers to a fourth person in the fiery furnace as God’s “angel” and one “like the son of God.”
In Luke 3:38, the genealogy of Mary is traced all the way back to Adam who is called “the son of God.” However, the words “the son” are not in the original Greek text of that verse.
The MEANING of the phrase “SON OF GOD”
It is NOT the word for a child by birth. The Greek word for “a little born one” is “teknos” which is never used of Jesus. It is NOT the word for a child by age. The Greek word “paidia” is never used when we read “the SON of God.” The Greek word for “SON” in the phrase “SON OF GOD” is the Greek word “huios” which means “an heir” - the one who receives the inheritance.
The MANNER in which others referred to the identity of Jesus
Satan himself says in Matthew 4:1-11 - “If Thou be the Son of God” - the “if” clause in Greek literally means “if and it is son” or “since.” The demons say in Matthew 8:28-29 “What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God?” Also, in Mark 3:11, the unclean spirits says “Thou art the Son of God.” In Luke 4:41, the devils says “Thou art the Christ the Son of God.”
The disciples in Matthew 14:22-33 says “Of a truth Thou art the Son of God.” The Jewish High Priest says at the trial of Jesus in Matthew 26:63-65: “I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God.” The crowds that passed by his cross when He died are quoted in Matthew 27:39-40 as saying, “If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” The chief priests, scribes, and elders said in Matthew 27:41-43: “He said, I am the Son of God.” The centurion on His cross said in Matthew 27:54: “Truly this was the Son of God.” John the Baptist in John 1:34 said of Him: “I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God.” Nathanael, one of the disciples, said in John 1:49: “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel.” Martha said in John 11:27: “I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God.” Simon Peter said in Matthew 16:16: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And the brilliant scholar and rabbi, Saul of Tarsus, preached about the Messiah in various synagogues and said that “He is the Son of God.”
The MESSAGE which we must understand and believe!
It was a PROCLAMATION by the angel Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1:26-35 - “that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” This message of His true identity involves the POWER to raise the dead. John 5:25 says: “the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live.” Jesus Himself said in John 11:4 concerning the sickness of his friend Lazarus: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”
This message is the PREREQUISITE that is necessary in order to avoid eternal condemnation. John 3:18 states: “he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only-begottne Son of God.” It is also the PRIORITY in order for a person to have eternal life! John 20:31 says: “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through His Name.” I John 5:11-13 adds: “that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God.”
This message is also the PURPOSE for being baptized in water. In Acts 8:34-38 we read the Ethiopian eunuch saying to Philip: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
This message tells of the High PRIEST Who will help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 says: “Jesus the Son of God.” He is the PERSON Who destroyed the works of the devil. I John 3:8 - “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
This message speaks of the PROFESSION that guarantees our relationship to God and victory over the world. I John 4:15 says: “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” And, I John 5:5 adds: “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
This message about Jesus being the SON of GOD is the PROOF of the true God! I john 5:20 states clearly: “the Son of God is come…this is the true God; and eternal life.” Hebrews 1:8 quotes the Father speaking about His Son: “But unto the Son, He saith, Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever.”
You may not (at this point) believe the Bible’s teachings about the phrase “the SON of GOD” but make no mistake about it - your eternal destiny is dependent upon what you believe and trust concerning the SON OF GOD!
