John 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
I have seen most, including theologians and people considered experts in the Bible, lack understanding of the term ‘Son of God’, and I do not blame them, since this concept has been programmed into them by the Catholic Church.
We do not realise that we believers, even today, have been brainwashed by the Catholic Church’s nonsense, which they derived from pagan religions and infused into Christianity. We read many scriptures yet believe contrary to them because of doctrines programmed into us.
As an apologist, I have come across Muslim Ulama (similar to our theologians) who mock Christians on the term Sons of God, stating there are many ‘Sons of God’ in the Bible, so how is Jesus different?
There is a great, great difference between the concepts ‘God the Son’ and ‘Son of God’. Lord Jesus Christ is both. He is God the Son who humbled Himself to become both Son of man and Son of God. To be Son of God, He, as Son of man, had to study the Word of God and also remain without blemish (live it). God the Son was something that He was, but Son of God is something He had to earn/live.
The term Son of God has been referred to Angels and also to something we will become upon resurrection. It is the goal of our race. The term refers to one who has the image of God; in other words, manifests the power/authority of God. It does not mean they are perfect/holy, but means they are due for holiness, like we are due for righteousness, and even though we falter at times, yet are called His righteous.
The term God the Son means one who has come from God (not sent but literality come from within Him). The Angel knew of this identity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus when the evil spirits(fallen angels) almost revealed it, Jesus shut them and commanded them not to reveal it. Even today, translators err in translating that scripture and use the term Son of God instead of The God The Son.
None of the people around Him, while He was in the flesh, as man, knew of Him as God the Son, not even His mother Mary. They knew of Him as Son of God. It was Thomas who, after His resurrection, was the first to identify Him as God (God the Son/God).
[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are Almighty God. You alone are God, and there is none other than You. As Son, You came from the Father and humbled Yourself to create this world and everything that we know of. The Heavens and this creation and all that exist within are Your creation. You made it so that by overcoming darkness we earn our place as Sons of God and thus be found worthy to become part of the Father. Lord, we pray we understand the impossible is being made possible by You…
We make this prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
[Reference Scriptures]
Mark 3:11-12
11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God {The God The Son}.
12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
John 1:12 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:
Romans 8:14, 19
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God
John 6:46 Not that any man {one} hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Philippians 2:5-7
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.