If
you are a Roman Catholic, you will say YES because the Creed of
Athanasius says Jesus was begotten in eternity, the same substance as
the Father.
If
you are a Protestant, you will say YES because the Council of Nicaea
voted that Christ is of the same substance as the Father.
If you are Orthodox (any kind), you will say YES because of the decision of the Council of Nicaea.
If you are an Anglican, you will say YES because it is contained in the Thirty Nine Articles of Faith.
If you are a Jehovah's Witness, you will say YES because the Watchtower decrees that Christ was the first of God's creation.
If you are a Mormon , you will say YES, even though it is believed Jesus was the literal spirit brother of Lucifer, a creation.
If you are a Seventh-day Adventist, you will say YES because the Bible says Jesus is the Son of God.
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Press
a little harder and you will see that not one of the above really
believes God has a Son -- a strong statement in the light of
each answer, but think it through.
If Christ is eternal with the Father, He cannot be a begotten Son. A Son must come forth from the being of the Father at some point in time.
The Council of Nicaea placed the word consubstantial in the creed (Greek - homoosius - meaning 'same substance') to separate the majority of council members from Arius who believed Christ was of 'like substance' (homoiosius) begotten of the Father. All who believed in 'like substance' were banished from the realm.
If Christ was created by the Father, He is a created son and not a begotten Son.
To believe Christ is the Son of God because the Bible says so is commendable, but it must be believed.
According to John's epistle, "He
that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that
believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the
record that God gave of His Son." John 5:10. This text is not speaking of a salvational belief in God's Son, but whether God sent His Son.
Ask yourself the question:
Did God have a Son to send?
Think about it.
Your answer could condemn you.
Or it will prove you believe the record that God did indeed have a Son to send.
Do you believe God has a Son?
The
subject of God's Son has many aspects that need to be pondered. It is
in fact, the most important subject in the Bible. You may not have
thought about it before, but it is wise to consider the question. After
all, we are saved by God through His Son. If we don't believe in God's
real Son, we may not be saved in the end.
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:12 Source
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