The Only Begotten Son (John 1:18)

Begotten - to give an exalted position or place (chosen or selected)

Begotten doesn’t mean begat or to create.

Hebrews 11:17-18

Abraham had two sons that he begat (Isaac and Ishmael). But only one of them was begotten.

Isaac was the chosen one whom the promise to Abraham would come by.

God has many sons, but only one of them is the only begotten.

The Only Begotten and His Glory (John 1:14)

Hebrews 2:10 “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

2 Peter 1:4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

We are to bring glory to God, but we could not bring any glory to God like Jesus Christ brought glory to God. His glory is the glory of the Father!

The Only Begotten and His Glue (Bond with the Father)

John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

“In the bosom of the Father”

John 13:23 “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.”

Luke 16:22 “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;”

Both are places of comfort, consolation, and compassion!

This describes a timeless state, an eternal condition of fullest intimacy and boundless love. It describes the mutual love of the Father and Son in the eternal Godhead and affirms that this relationship continued unbroken by the incarnation. (IS IN the bosom of the Father)

John 17:24 “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

God the Father has always loved God the Son! Though God loves sinners, none of us have ever had such a close bond like the Son has with the Father!

Christ always pleases the Father. I have not. Christ always has fellowship with the Father. I do not. If you want to see closeness and compassion, look at the only begotten and His Father!

The Only Begotten and His Giving

John 3:16 “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.”

1 John 4:9 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

I have not always had life. But Jesus has! John 1:4 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

I cannot give life. But Jesus can! John 10:27–28 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

I could never become a son of God myself. But thank God because the only begotten gave himself, I can become a son of God, too!

John 1:12–13 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

The Only Begotten and His Greatness

Hebrews 1:1-14

Psalm 2 (King)

Hebrews 5:5–6 “So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Priest)

Acts 13:33 “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”

Christ’s death and resurrection verified his chosen position as the only begotten Son.

Revelation 1:5–6 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Those that are born again are kings and priests, but there is only one King of Kings and only one High Priest. It’s the only Begotten Son!