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Last week we looked closely at the word begotten; this week we will focus on the word Son or Son of God. Again, I must give credit to The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary (ZPBD) for information and some of the quotes. Exactly what does the phrase Son of God mean?
In the Bible, the word son can have a variety of meanings. Sometimes it can refer to any offspring regardless of sex; or it can simply mean descendants. Many times, it refers to a person, a male who was the direct child of his father. Sometimes the word sons can be referring to a group, or kind of person; like sons of God, or sons of Belial, or sons of the prophets. Judas was spoken of as the son of perdition.
In the New Testament, sons of God often refers to the children of God; those who have been born again from above by the Spirit of God. And in John 8:44, Jesus suggested that the religious leaders were sons of the devil when He said, "You are of your father the devil." But when Jesus is spoken of as the Son of God, it often refers to his equality with God.
In John 5:18, the Jews sought to kill Him "because He not only broke the sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God." In John 10:30 Jesus said, "I and my Father are One." Then in John 10:36, the Jews said He was blaspheming because He said He was the Son of God.
When referring to Christ, the words Son of God, never have the meaning of being begotten (humanly speaking), or having God as His biological Father. It is true that God caused the child to be formed and then protected it, and caused it to mature. But Mary was a virgin before conception, during the pregnancy, and after the birth of Christ. The words Son of God simply designate His eternal deity as being God.
The phrase Son of Man always designates Him (Christ) as the God-Man; He was fully God and yet completely man as well. Daniel 7:13 says, "I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man. Coming with the clouds of heaven!" Before Jesus was ever born, the words son of man were used around 103 times in the Old Testament. The words Son of God were used one time in the Old Testament. Reference, google Jesus Believer JD.
In Mark 14:62, Jesus seems to identify Himself as the Son of Man spoken of in Daniel. The high priest asked, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus replied, I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
When we see the Son of Man sitting at the right of God, we will also see Him as the Son of God, and the Son of the Blessed. Since all judgment has been given to the Son, are you ready for that judgment day? Have you put your faith and hope in the sacrifice He made on the cross?
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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years.