Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Jesus, Son of God

The description of Jesus as “God the Son”, which is taught in most denominations of Christendom, is to be found nowhere in God's word, the Bible. Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, begotten of the virgin Mary by the power of God, and therefore without the intervention of any man. He was, at the age of 30, or thereabouts, anointed with that same power (styled the Holy Spirit) "without measure” (i.e., without limit) at his baptism in the River Jordan (see John 1:32; 3:34). Announcing the birth of Jesus, the angel told Mary:

“The angel said... Fear not Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the son of the highest.....Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:30-35

Could language be plainer?

The need for Jesus

The name Jesus means Saviour. There was need for a saviour because of the state into which the human race had been brought by SIN. Adam and Eve had transgressed God's commandment and placed a barrier between themselves and God, who cannot tolerate deliberate disobedience in any shape or form. They were sentenced to return to the ground from whence they had been created - a sentence which defiled and became a physical law of their being and was transmitted to all their posterity. This is what the apostle Paul spoke of in Romans 5.

“Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; so death passed upon all men; for that all have sinned” Romans 5:12

In his infinite mercy God conceived a plan of restoration which, without setting aside His just and necessary law that sin brings death, should eventually rescue the human race from destruction, and people the earth with sinless immortal beings. Hence we read of the consequence of sin but the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 6:23

“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

The need foreseen

God initiated His plan by making promises of a “seed of a woman”, who should destroy sin where it is to be found - in human nature. These promises were made first to Adam and then to Abraham, and later to David, king of Israel (see Genesis 3:15; 22:18; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 and compare with Matthew 1:1). This last reference shows that these promises find their fulfilment in Jesus Christ whom God raised up in the line of Abraham and David, condemned to die because of sin. But Jesus, by perfect obedience (in contrast to Adam), obtained a title to resurrection.

Jesus overcame sin

Although himself bearing sinful human nature, he was obedient even unto death on the cross and so destroyed the law of condemnation for himself and, by God's grace, for all who should believe and obey him. Jesus himself spoke of this as the following quotation reveals.

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16

This everlasting life is to be bestowed on those of Christ's followers who will be judged faithful at his return to the earth “in power and great glory”.

“...the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick (living) and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom". 2 Timothy 4:1 see also Acts 1:9-11

Jesus the future King

You may have noticed when we used the reference in Luke 1 earlier, we omitted verses 32-33. The angel, speaking to the virgin Mary also said,

“He (Jesus v. 31) shall be great and shall be called the son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32-33

This is what we read in 1 Chronicles 17, and is the fulfilment of the promise to David already referred to. David's throne was in Jerusalem and Jeremiah the prophet, speaking of the restoration of God's kingdom to Israel, wrote these words:

“At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem” Jeremiah 3:17

The wise men inquired after Jesus when he was born.

"Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." Matthew 2:2

At his return to the earth he will assume that position, after he has raised from the dead those made responsible to him by knowledge of God's plan and, judged and immortalised (or rejected) them.

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:... Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:31-34, 41

He will then sit on the throne of his father David and establish his rule world-wide.

We can reign with Jesus

We have an opportunity now to “seek for glory, honour and immortality” (See Romans 2:6-11). The choice is ours, for the Bible sets before us LIFE and DEATH. Knowledge is the key to life,

“This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent”. John 17:3

Therefore choose life. Read the Bible and learn about Christ and his Father, so that you may have a position of rulership with Christ, reigning over the whole earth in that day when he will sit on David's throne ruling in righteousness.