KBM Only Begotten Son Of God

So, today we are going to begin a new series of lessons on “Titles Given To Jesus.” We will begin by looking at one of the most common being “Only Begotten Son of God.” I won’t pretend I can explain how “God” was placed in Mary’s womb by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18). What I can explain however, is what the title “Only Begotten Son of God” means. Though modern translations have tried to remove the phrase “only begotten” they have ended up, inadvertently, making the bible contradict itself. Why, how, because all those that obey the gospel are “sons of God.” Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 5:9.

Matthew 5:9 ESV

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Paul, inspired by God would later declare in Galatians 3:26…

Galatians 3:26 ESV

26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Simply put Jesus isn’t the “only son of God” but the only “begotten son of God.” In other words this title lets everyone know that Jesus was “unique and one of a kind” compared to the other “sons of God.” How is this the case? How is Jesus unique and one of a kind compared to every other “son of God” by being “begotten of God. Yes God “creates every person in the womb (Psalm 139:13) but he does so through natural means not miraculous means. Even Abraham and Sarah conceived through natural means. God simply used his providential power to make the pregnancy sustainable at their age. However, with Mary the Holy Spirit did something never done before or since, he impregnated Mary with Jesus through miraculous means. In other words Jesus, God, became flesh and thus God and man.

John 1:14 NKJV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

This title also demonstrates the length God the Father, Son, and Spirit went to create salvation for us. You see Jesus being begotten of God and thus man and God at the same time didn’t stop once Jesus ascended into heaven. In fact Jesus is still “the man Christ Jesus.”

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

So when we meditate upon Jesus being the “only begotten Son of God” let us not just remember that this means Jesus is both man and God but that he gave up much to do so just so you an I could be with him for eternity.

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.