The Only Begotten Son

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: John 1:14; Lord's Day 13
Psalters: 260, 325, 4, 125
  1. The proof.
    1. When Jesus? human nature was in earthly humility, then it was easy to deny that He was the Son of God.
    2. But even then some recognized Him to be the Son of God: John 1:34, 49; Matt. 16:16; John 20:28.
      1. Also: John 1:1-3,14,18; 3:16; I John 5:5,20; Romans 9:5; I Timothy 3:16.
  2. We must insist on the language, ?the only begotten Son of God.?
    1. If Jesus is only a man, then the church?s faith in Him is only hero worship, faith in a man.
    2. Christ?s sonship is unique especially because He is ?begotten.?
      1. Begotten is the act of love whereby one reproduces oneself in another.
      2. Because God Himself in our flesh sheds His life?s blood, then the cross is surely efficacious.
    3. His Sonship is ?only.?
  3. Its great significance: only in and through Christ can we confess that we too are God?s children.
    1. God graciously adopted us and gave us the glorious privilege of being called His children (Gal. 4:4,5; I John 3:1).
    2. Our adoption into God?s family is only and always by grace (Eph. 2:2,3).
    3. We are legally adopted (Eph. 1:4,5).
    4. Spiritually, the Son of God has the power to make us God?s children in reality (not step-children).
    5. Abide in the happy and peace-giving confidence that we are in His family.