Son of God

It wasn’t until a couple of months ago that it was brought to my attention that “ope”- OPE was a word in the Midwestern culture. I can’t remember ever reading, I don’t ever remember saying it. One day my wife showed me an article of different words said in different regions of America. To her surprise, I told her, “I don’t think I’ve ever used that word”. A few hours went by and I accidently bumped into her while walking past her in our kitchen, and I said “Ope, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bump into you.” Come to find out I’ve been saying ope and I’ve never realized it. It blew my mind that I had been using a word without my knowledge because it was so engrained in the culture around me. When we are surrounded by a certain culture or environment, words and phrases can be so familiar to us that we can use them without ever really understanding them.

This can happen in church culture as well. We can say Christian/biblical words without even knowing what they actually mean. I can’t tell you how many times I sang the song “Amazing Grace” without understanding the meaning of the word grace or I would say “I forgive you” without really knowing what it means to truly forgive someone. Another example of this for me is the title of “Son of God” that we have for Jesus. Growing up I knew that Jesus was in fact the Son of God but it wasn’t until later in life that I understood what it truly meant.

This morning, as we finish up our teaching series on the names of Jesus, we will look at this name of “Son of God”. This name of Jesus that we sing, we proclaim as truth, we would say is essential to our faith, but may not understand why He has this name or what it truly means. Hopefully with further study we will truly understand what it means when we claim Jesus as the Son of God.

The name “Son of God” has brought much debate and has created divisions among different groups of people who “claim Jesus as their Savior”.

You have groups of people such as the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons who claim they believe in Jesus but for them, the term Son of God means that person of Jesus has been created by God and therefore not equal to God.

We, as evangelical Christians, believe that Jesus was not created by God but rather is God and part of the triune Godhead of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.

Transition Statement: This morning we will go over two points as it relates to this name of Jesus.

How to correctly view the term, “Son of God”.

How understanding Jesus as the Son of God can change our lives.

1. How to correctly view the term, “Son of God”

Let’s start our Theological Inquiry with scripture. The source of truth. Please open your bibles and meet me in Luke 1. Luke 1 verse 26.

Read Luke 1:26-38

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged, to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”

35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

38 “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

The key verse in this passage is v. 35

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

When we examine this verse further we see that a futuristic tone is used. So when the baby is born, then He will be called the Son of God. Before the birth of Jesus, the term “Son of God” had not yet been attributed to Jesus. This name is given because Mary conceives due to the Holy Spirit, not by any earthly man.

Now while talking about the earthly birth of Jesus we must remember that He existed with God the Father from eternity past. We see this in John 1:1-3

John 1:1–3 CSB

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

We know that when John is referring to the Word, he is referring to Jesus.

John 1:14 CSB

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So going back to our original passage in Luke 1. We see Jesus, a person of the trinity, fully God, left heaven and entered the womb of Mary via the Holy Spirit and became human, in a mysterious way that we as mere humans cannot comprehend. The term that is used to describe this miraculous event is the word, incarnation. This morning we are going to learn a couple of theological vocab words. Incarnation is the first one.

Say incarnation. Incarnation

Incarnation- term used by theologians to indicate that Jesus, the Son of God, took on human flesh.

There is another theological term that is closely related to incarnation but focuses on another specific aspect of the birth of Jesus. The incarnation focus on the truth that Jesus, being God, took on human flesh. Our other theological term describes how Jesus, fully God, became fully human but yet remained fully God at the same time. That term is hypostatic union. This is our second vocab word so...

Say hypostatic union.

Hypostatic union- Jesus Christ, one Person, fully God and fully man.

gotquestions.org has this to say on the Hypostatic union.

Quick plug- if you have any questions about the bible or theological terms. Gotquestions.org is a biblically based resource for you to use, they also have a great app for the phone. So parents, when your child asks you a deep theological question that leaves you speechless. Got Questions is a great, free resource to have. Ok plug over. Back to the Hypostatic union. Got Questions says this about the Hypostatic Union

The doctrine of the hypostatic union is an attempt to explain how Jesus could be both God and man at the same time. It is ultimately, though, a doctrine we are incapable of fully understanding. It is impossible for us to fully understand how God works. We, as human beings with finite minds, should not expect to totally comprehend an infinite God. Jesus is God’s Son in that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). But that does not mean Jesus did not exist before He was conceived. Jesus has always existed (John 8:58, 10:30). When Jesus was conceived, He became a human being in addition to being God (John 1:1, 14).

-Got Questions

Summarize this....

Basically reiterating what we’ve already read in scripture and talked about.

Ok, so we’ve covered the incarnation and hypostatic union which both theological terms help us understand when we talk about Jesus, as the Son of God. Since we now know what it means, let’s talk about how we can apply it to our relationship with God.

Transition statement: Let’s move to our second point. How understanding Jesus as the Son of God can changer our lives.

2. How understanding Jesus as the Son of God can change our lives.

First, understanding Jesus as the Son of God, means that we worship a God that can sympathize with us in our struggles. With Jesus being fully God and fully human, means that he lived a life of going through things that we also go through. The difference is, we sin in our daily lives but Jesus never did. Even though this is true, it still means that Jesus understands the temptation and trials that we face in life. He just faced them without sinning. We see this explained further in the book of Hebrews.

Read Heb. 2:14-18

Heb. 2:14-18

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. 17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement, for the sins of the people. 18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

This is so comforting to know. That we have a God that can relate with us in our struggles. We have a savior that looks at you and says, brother, I can relate with what it feels like to be tempted to serve self. He can turn to you, sister, and says I can relate with your trial in life.

To those battling with desire for power and fame, Jesus says, I know the temptation to put yourself above others. Satan tried to tempt me with offering me the whole world.

To those who work or live in an environment that is divisive or that has differing opinions, Jesus says, I can relate, I spent years with a group of 12 people who had differing opinions.

To those who are living paycheck to paycheck, Jesus says, I can relate with living off of very little. I too lived a life that wasn’t financially easy.

To those who have lost a loved one, Jesus says come to me child for I too have wept over a loss of a friend.

To those who have experience betrayal, Jesus says I too know what it feels like to have a friend go behind your back and hand you over to humiliation.

To those battling with gluttony or an unhealthy dependency of food, Jesus says I too was tempted by Satan to live by bread alone.

To those whose families are divided, Jesus my own brothers didn’t even believe in me for years.

To those who struggling with a tough, difficult situation in life, Jesus says child come close, I too faced challenges as I sweat drops of blood.

To those who are experiencing physical pain, Jesus says, I know what it feels like to have your body be wounded.

To those are dealing with rejection, Jesus says, I too know what rejection feels like, people have been rejecting me for thousands of years.

Now, I could continue to give examples of what Jesus experienced in the bible and how it could possibly relate to your life, and I don’t know your current individual circumstances in life. But I do know this. You have a God. You have a Savior. You have a friend in Jesus who wants you to come to him with your problems. He wants you to cry out. He will meet you there with sympathy, mercy, and grace.

The writer of Hebrews continues in Heb. 4:14-16

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

This comforting truth can change our lives so that when we face various temptations and trials in life, we are never alone. We never have to walk through this life on our own strength. So in your temptation or trial cry out to your savior who sympathizes with you.

Now maybe you are here and don’t know what it is like to have a relationship like this with God.

If that is the case, then the truth that Jesus is the Son of God can change your life as well. Jesus coming down to earth to take on human flesh was ultimately for the purpose of being the perfect sacrifice that could take away the sins of people.

Read Gal. 4:4-7

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.

Jesus came to live a life that was without sin so that you can be saved from your sins. This only takes place when we believe and trust in Jesus our savior, repenting for our sins, and asking God to forgive us.

Today is an opportunity for you to start that relationship with God today. The day after celebrating Christmas.

In reference to Jesus dying for our sins, reference Reliant K- I celebrate the day.

And I, I celebrate the day That You were born to die So I could one day pray for You to save my life

When this moment of salvation takes place in your life, you are changed forever.

You were once a sinner, now you are seen as a saint.

You were a slave, now you are child of God, an heir with Christ.

You were once lost, but now you are found.

You were once an enemy to God, but now you are a friend of God

I pray that today would be the day of your salvation if you have not started that relationship with God yet.

If the worship team would come back up.

In conclusion, we have this beautiful truth that Jesus is the Son of God. I hope that when you see this name of Jesus that you can understand what it means and I pray that you would let the truth of Jesus being the Son of God change your life. Let’s pray.

Pray for those who are hurting. Going through various temptations.

Pray for the unsaved.

Benediction

Read Heb. 4:14-16

I pray that as we go out from here that we would approach the throne of grace this week in whatever trial or temptation you may have.