The Father and The Son

Christ addressed His Father.

In Jesus’ prayer recorded in John 17, He was addressing His Father.

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father,” John 17:1.

The Old Testament testifies that God had a son even before the creation of this earth.

Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? Proverbs 30:4

He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Daniel 3:25

In His incarnation He gained in a new sense the title of the Son of God.

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost 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 1:35

After the resurrection, in His glorified state, Christ calls God His Father.

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20:17

The measure of God’s love for us is recorded in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…” Can we trust God to tell us the truth? To know God, we must believe His word, and we must believe His love for us. But, I have actually heard church people say that Jesus was just playing a role. They said that the Father could have been the Son and the Son could have been the Father. In fact that is what the majority of churches teach. But is that what we have just read in the passages above? Other Scriptures testify to the fact as well, that Jesus is really the Son of God and God is really the Father of Christ.

Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 2 John 1:3.

That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6.

“Christ” was synonymous with “Son of God” to the Hebrews.

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1.

And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. John 6:69.

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. John 11:27.

The condition for baptism was believing that Jesus was the Son of God.

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Acts 8:37.

This was the first thing Paul preached.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. Acts 9:20.

This was the reason the gospels were written.

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 20:31.

The Scriptures probably contain more testimony referring to Christ as the Son of God than any other subject. If we deny this truth, we make God a liar, and we might as well deny the entire Bible.

Anti-Christ denies this father and son relationship.

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22.

The antiChrist is a professedly Christian power, and the verse above says that this power denies the relationship of the Father and the Son. The Scripture never even hints that we are to understand these verses talking about Christ as the Son of God to mean anything other than the obvious. Believing the doctrines taught to us by our pastor, priest, or the creeds of our church has no power to sanctify us. It is by believing the truth, as revealed in the Bible, that we are sanctified. (John 17:17)

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13.

If we will take the word of God for just what it says without bringing our pre-conceived ideas to it, we will know the truth.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32.

The truth that Christ is the Son of God is the gospel.

For 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 truth is the foundation of the Christian church.

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock [the truth that Christ is the “Son of the living God”] I will build my church. Matthew 16:16-18 (see 1 Pet 2:4-8)

Go Back to book contents .... Next Chapter