The Son of God

Introduction

Acts 9:20-31.

Saul of Tarsus

Hebrew of Hebrews

A Roman Citizen

Studied under Gamaliel

Student of Jewish tradition

Looking for the Messiah and the kingdom he would bring

And when it was heard that some CARPENTER fro Nazareth was the Messiah, he began enraged, and sought to put an end to all who followed the man

Acts 26:9–10 ““So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. “And this is just what I did…”

Saul left Jerusalem for Damascus, with orders from the high priest to drag them from their homes and bring them back.

He left with an enterage, and in great strength! But on his way, our risen Lord revealed Himself in glorious light… and was led by the hand into Damascus for God had struck him blind.

He was taken to the street called Straight, where Ananias ministered to him, laid hands on him, the Holy Spirit anointed him, and the scales like flakes fell from his eyes and he was able to see.

Then we read in our text… that the one who came BLIND into the city, being led by the hand, became so powerful that he had to leave the city because the people of Damascus wanted to kill him! So he left by secretively escaping in a woven basket outside the city walls.

So you can imagine the radical shift in Saul’s life!

From leaving Jerusalem in POWER,

To be led in HUMILITY into Damascus,

Then flees from the city in WEAKNESS in a basket, that his life may be spared

A man who sought the blood of believers, now desires the blood of Christ be applied to sinners.

Acts 9:20 NASB95

20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Son of God

Only time in Acts, this is used as a title for Jesus

Christ, Lord, Son of man (Jesus’ favorite title for himself)

But how do we quantify, this juxtaposition between “Son of Man” and “Son of God?”

It would be easy, to fall back on what we know and say: Jesus is truly man, and Jesus is truly God!

Son of Man: human nature

Son of God: divine nature

But to make this conclusion is wrong

Son of Man

The principle and chief significance of that title… is that it refers to an OT character, a heavenly person, who dwells in the presence of the Ancient of Days and who was sent from heaven to the earth for a mission.

So it describes more of Jesus DIVINE nature than HUMAN

Son of God… refer to His diety?

Here’s how Paul announces Jesus, beginning his ministry: “Jesus is the Son of God” … what did he mean?

OT uses is in various ways:

1) The angels of heaven are called sons of God… (still creatures, not divine)

2) Israel, herself, as a nation, is called the son of God… “Out of Egypt, I have called my Son”

3) Kings were called the sons of God in the OT… and as the concept of a Messiah developed and was spoken of by the prophets, that Messiah would ALSO be king, would also be the son of God

NT:

Jesus at His baptism… embraces all the responsibilities of the Messiah, is anointed by the Spirit, and hears audibly the words of the Father: “THIS IS My BELOVED SON… in whom I am well pleased”

Transfiguration: “This is my beloved son, listen to Him!”

The NT understanding of sonship… is OBEDIENCE!

Remember when Jesus spoke to the Pharisees about them being children of Abraham? He said “If you were children of Abraham then you would do what he did! Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and you reject me this very minute… and before Abraham even LIVED, I AM! You are NOT the children of Abraham but are of your FATHER… the devil.”

Why did he say this?… You are the children of the one you obey… so BECAUSE you OBEY Satan, you shall rightly be called the children of Satan

Same idea is used to describe sonship with Jesus.

Jesus is uniquely the SON of God, because He of ALL people, was completely and absolutely obedient to the Father

He was the Son of God: In his humanity & sinlessness, because of His perfect obedience, He warranted this title!

And we could stop there and say, “well the title must only refer to His physical nature”… no no no

It ALSO extends to Jesus UNIQUE relationship with the Father

Gospel of John: “The ONLY Begotten of the Father”

Sparked a serious controversy in 4th century… for the vast expanse of Christendom to come together to Nicea, out of which came the Nicean Creed

“Glory be to God the Father… God the Son… God the Holy Spirit”

People had come to dispute the deity of Jesus!! That He was not of the same substance and essence of God… just a creature

How? Because he was ‘begotten’

Means to be, become, or to happen… so if Jesus had a beginning, He is not GOD! Not ETERNAL

Yet the creed declared:

Jesus is co-substantial, co-eternal with the Father

And says: “Jesus was begotten, not MADE!”

That the begottenness of Jesus is eternal in origin

That Jesus is the only one, uniquely, individually, singularly, begotten of the Father

It is THAT message, that the apostle Paul IMMEDIATELEY proclaimed! Where he once saw Jesus as a corrupt false teacher… he now sees Jesus as the Messiah and redeemer… the ONLY BEGOTTEN of the Father… nothing less than God incarnate!

Acts 9:21–22 NASB95

21 All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 9:23 NASB95

When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him,

What a contrast

Hebrews 13:5–6 “…I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?””

‘After many days’

Galatians 1:17–18 “nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.”

Acts 9:24–31 NASB95

24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket. 26 When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

Paul picked up the mantle of Stephen … and preached Christ

May the apostle Paul stand as an illustration, of what God can do in your life.

Concerning the statement of Paul,

That is why we are here today…

Because we are persuaded that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God!

What we proclaim is what Peter proclaimed in saying: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”

That Gods son, His only begotten son, came into this world, for US! and for our salvation

And we come now each Lords day to give the sacrifice of praise! To give honor/worship/adoration