Christ was the literal Son of God before coming into the world

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."  1 John 4:9

 

 “She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” John 11:27

Jesus loves to have children pray to Him

Jesus represents us as his children. He declares that he is our Father, and that we are to come to him as children come to an earthly parent. Youth Instructor Sep 13,1894 par6

That which is to distinguish Christians from all others is their union with Christ. This union is their strength and their efficiency. It leads them to love Jesus, to pray to Him, and to honor Him by doing His commandments. The fruit of this union is seen in their love for one another. MS 1901 par9

I hope all you that are praying children will endeavor to live your prayers. Pray in faith, believing that Jesus hears you; then watch, bearing in remembrance your prayers.  Jesus loves to have children pray to Him. Believe and trust Him. When you are tempted to speak impatiently, lift up your heart in prayer—silent prayer, if it is not convenient for you to go by yourself. Jesus knows every trial that you bear, every self-denial that you may make, and he can appreciate just how much it costs you every time to give up your will and way to the desire of others. And Jesus is ready to help when you call upon Him for help. He loves to have you feel how weak you will be in your own strength, without His special help. Letter 12 1867 par6

Try to live humble, prayerful lives and expect the blessing of the Lord to be with you. Believe that He hears you when you pray to Him. Tell Jesus all your troubles, all your perplexities. He will delight to bear your burdens and griefs for you. We have a tender, compassionate, loving, pitiful Saviour. Love Him and trust Him with your whole heart, my precious, dutiful boy. Letter 13 1867 par6

I cannot tell you how many letters came to me across the broad Pacific, when I was in Australia, asking for counsel. What did Christ promise His disciples if they would believe in Him as their personal Saviour? “Lo, I am with you alway,” He said, “even unto the end of the world” [Matthew 28:20]. Again He says, “I am at thy right hand to help thee” [see Psalm 16:8]. Think of how many promises He has given us, which we may grasp by the hand of faith. When we go to the Source of power, we know that we shall receive that intelligence and wisdom which comes from the pure source, which is not mixed with anything of humanity. As we pray, it is our privilege to know that God wants us to pray, to ask Him for help. “Ask, and ye shall receive” [John 16:24]. It is for you to believe that you will receive. He wants us to become acquainted with Him, to speak to Him, to tell Him of our difficulties, and obtain an experience in asking of One who never misjudges and never makes a mistake. 2 Sermons & Talks p.164

BRI: The term “Son” is used metaphorically

BRI 

Fifth, the father-son image cannot be literally applied to the divine Father-Son relationship within the Godhead. The Son is not the natural, literal Son of the Father. A natural child has a beginning, while within the Godhead the Son is eternal. The term “Son” is used metaphorically when applied to the Godhead. It conveys the ideas of distinction of persons within the Godhead and the equality of nature in the context of an eternal, loving relationship.

Tempted in All Points Like As We Are

Christ paid an infinite price to redeem the world. He sacrificed his honor, his riches, his glorious home in the royal courts, and endured the fierce assaults of Satan, that man might have strength to overcome as he overcame. The temptations that Satan brings to bear upon the human race are severe; but his test for the Son of God was a hundredfold more severe. It was not merely the gnawing pangs of hunger that made Christ's sufferings so intense; it was the guilt of the sins of the world, which pressed so heavily upon him. He who knew no sin was made sin for us. With this terrible weight of guilt upon him, he withstood the fearful test upon appetite; upon the love of the world and of honor; and upon pride of display, which leads to presumption. Christ endured these great temptations, overcoming in our behalf, and working out for us a righteous character.  

Many who fall under temptation excuse themselves with the plea that Christ's divinity helped him overcome, and that man has not this power in his favor. But this is a mistake. Christ has brought divine power within the reach of all. The Son of God came to the earth because he saw that moral power in man is weak. He came to bring finite man in close connection with God. It is by combining divine power with his human strength that man becomes an overcomer.  

When we are tempted to question whether Christ resisted temptation as a man, we must search the Scriptures for the truth. As the substitute and surety of the human race, Christ was placed in the same position toward the Father as is the sinner. Christ had the privilege of depending on the Father for strength, and so have we. Because he laid hold of the hand of infinite power, and held it fast, he overcame; and we are taught to do the same. He met every temptation with, “It is written;” and so must we. The one who resists evil in his strength can say, in the words of Inspiration: “The Lord God will help me: therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? ... Behold, the Lord God will help me: who is he that shall condemn me?”  

The language of Christ on many occasions shows that he was placed in the same position that we are. He had to walk by faith, as we walk by faith; and when temptations came to him with overwhelming power, he used the language that every child of earth must use. “The Son can do nothing of himself,” Christ declared, “but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”...

Christ is the Captain of our salvation. “It became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” The suffering that poured in upon the Son of God is beyond anything that man will be called to endure; yet Christ overcame, and perfected a spotless character. By his suffering and resistance he made plain to man that perfection of character can be obtained and maintained by humanity.  

When Satan fails to lead men into sin by the first two temptations, those of appetite and presumption, he besets them with the third, the love of the world; and in almost every case he leads them into apostasy by this means. It is the glory of this world that attracts and ensnares. But we have reason to thank God that the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering, and came off conqueror in our behalf. Every son and daughter of Adam may have this divine strength. The promise of the Comforter has been given us. “He that believeth on me,” said Jesus, “the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” The power that came to Christ as a representative of the human race will come to every member of the human family who will make God his strength.  

“We have a great high priest, which is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.... We have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” We may take courage, and believe that we shall overcome every imperfection of character. Our Redeemer has taken our nature, fought our battles, and in his name we shall conquer. Human nature may take hold of the strength of God, and be victorious.       The Youth's Instructor, December 28, 1899

Cut off for Christ

The judgment of those who profess the truth

On the morning of October 23, 1879, about two o'clock, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I beheld scenes in the coming judgment. Language fails me in which to give an adequate description of the things which passed before me and of the effect they had upon my mind.  

The great day of the execution of God's judgment seemed to have come. Ten thousand times ten thousand were assembled before a large throne, upon which was seated a person of majestic appearance. Several books were before Him, and upon the covers of each was written in letters of gold, which seemed like a burning flame of fire: “Ledger of Heaven.” One of these books, containing the names of those who claim to believe the truth, was then opened. Immediately I lost sight of the countless millions about the throne, and only those who were professedly children of the light and of the truth engaged my attention. As these persons were named, one by one, and their good deeds mentioned, their countenances would light up with a holy joy that was reflected in every direction. But this did not seem to rest upon my mind with the greatest force.  

Another book was opened, wherein were recorded the sins of those who profess the truth. Under the general heading of selfishness came every other sin. There were also headings over every column, and underneath these, opposite each name, were recorded, in their respective columns, the lesser sins.  

Under covetousness came falsehood, theft, robbery, fraud, and avarice; under ambition came pride and extravagance; jealousy stood at the head of malice, envy, and hatred; and intemperance headed a long list of fearful crimes, such as lasciviousness, adultery, indulgence of animal passions, etc. As I beheld I was filled with inexpressible anguish and exclaimed: “Who can be saved? who will stand justified before God? whose robes are spotless? who are faultless in the sight of a pure and holy God?”  

As the Holy One upon the throne slowly turned the leaves of the ledger, and His eyes rested for a moment upon individuals, His glance seemed to burn into their very souls, and at the same moment every word and action of their lives passed before their minds as clearly as though traced before their vision in letters of fire. Trembling seized them, and their faces turned pale. Their first appearance when around the throne was that of careless indifference. But how changed their appearance now! The feeling of security is gone, and in its place is a nameless terror. A dread is upon every soul, lest he shall be found among those who are wanting. Every eye is riveted upon the face of the One upon the throne; and as His solemn, searching eye sweeps over that company, there is a quaking of heart; for they are self-condemned without one word being uttered. In anguish of soul each declares his own guilt and with terrible vividness sees that by sinning he has thrown away the precious boon of eternal life.  

One class were registered as cumberers of the ground. As the piercing eye of the Judge rested upon these, their sins of neglect were distinctly revealed. With pale, quivering lips they acknowledged that they had been traitors to their holy trust. They had had warnings and privileges, but they had not heeded nor improved them. They could now see that they had presumed too much upon the mercy of God. True, they had not such confessions to make as had the vile and basely corrupt; but, like the fig tree, they were cursed because they bore no fruit, because they had not put to use the talents entrusted to them.  

This class had made self supreme, laboring only for selfish interests. They were not rich toward God, not having responded to His claims upon them. Although professing to be servants of Christ, they brought no souls to Him. Had the cause of God been dependent on their efforts, it would have languished; for they not only withheld the means lent them of God, but they withheld themselves. But these could now see and feel that in occupying an irresponsible position in reference to the work and cause of God they had placed themselves on the left hand. They had had opportunity, but would not do the work that they could and should have done.  

The names of all who profess the truth were mentioned. Some were reproved for their unbelief, others for having been slothful servants. They had allowed others to do the work in the Master's vineyard, and to bear the heaviest responsibilities, while they were selfishly serving their own temporal interests. Had they cultivated the abilities God had given them, they could have been reliable burden bearers, working for the interest of the Master. Said the Judge: “All will be justified by their faith and judged by their works.” How vividly then appeared their neglect, and how wise the arrangement of God in giving to every man a work to do to promote the cause and save his fellow men. Each was to demonstrate a living faith in his family and in his neighborhood, by showing kindness to the poor, sympathizing with the afflicted, engaging in missionary labor, and by aiding the cause of God with his means. But, like Meroz, the curse of God rested upon them for what they had not done. They had loved that work which would bring the greatest profit in this life; and opposite their names in the ledger devoted to good works there was a mournful blank. 

The words spoken to these were most solemn: “You are weighed in the balances, and found wanting. You have neglected spiritual responsibilities because of busy activity in temporal matters, while your very position of trust made it necessary that you should have more than human wisdom and greater than finite judgment. This you needed in order to perform even the mechanical part of your labor; and when you disconnected God and His glory from your business, you turned from His blessing.”  

The question was then asked: “Why have you not washed your robes of character and made them white in the blood of the Lamb? God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that through Him it might be saved. My love for you has been more self-denying than a mother's love. It was that I might blot out your dark record of iniquity, and put the cup of salvation to your lips, that I suffered the death of the cross, bearing the weight and curse of your guilt. The pangs of death, and the horrors of the darkness of the tomb, I endured, that I might conquer him who had the power of death, unbar the prison house, and open for you the gates of life. I submitted to shame and agony because I loved you with an infinite love, and would bring back my wayward, wandering sheep to the paradise of God, to the tree of life. That life of bliss which I purchased for you at such a cost, you have disregarded. Shame, reproach, and ignominy, such as your Master bore for you, you have shunned. The privileges He died to bring within your reach have not been appreciated. You would not be partaker of His sufferings, and you cannot now be partaker with Him of His glory.” Then were uttered these solemn words: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” The book then closed, and the mantle fell from the Person on the throne, revealing the terrible glory of the Son of God.  

The scene then passed away, and I found myself still upon the earth, inexpressibly grateful that the day of God had not yet come, and that precious probationary time is still granted us in which to prepare for eternity.               Testimonies for the Church, Vol 4, pp. 384-387

Did God Raise Jesus From the Dead Or Did He Raise Himself?

Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)”
 

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
 

Ephesians 1:19-20 “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.”
 

2 Corinthians 4:14 “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.”
 

Romans 4:24 “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.”
 

Romans 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
 

1 Corinthians 15:15-16 “Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised.”

Colossians 2:12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
 

1 Peter 1:21 “Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”
 

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
 

Acts 2:32 “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”
 

Acts 3:15 “And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.”
 

Acts 4:10 “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”
 

Acts 13:29-30 “And when they had fulOilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulcher. But God raised him from the dead.” 

Acts 13:34 “And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.” 

Acts 13:37 “But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.”
 

Acts 17:31 “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

What is Eternal Life?

Who is Elohim?

Using the Bible as its own expositor, Jeremiah 10:10 tells us exactly how we should be applying the word “Elohim” when referring to God:

“But the LORD (Jehovah) is the true God, he is the living God…”

The word “God” is here, and throughout the Old Testament, translated from the Hebrew word “elohim.” So, Jeremiah 10:10 uses the Hebrew word Elohim to specify the true God, the living God. The name of the true God (Elohim), and the living God (Elohim) is Jehovah.

The New Testament expands our knowledge of this true and living God, known as Elohim in the Old Testament:

So who is the the true God, or the true Elohim?

 In John 17:3, Christ prays to His Father, and He names His Father the “only true God.” Praying to His Father, Jesus says,

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

According to Jesus, the Father is the only true God. There is “only” one true God, and it is the Father. And Christ is someone other than the only true God. In other words, Christ is not the only true God but the Son of the only true God. This is emphasized by the use of the word “and” – “the only true God and Jesus Christ…”

This is the same as saying “the Father and His Son.” The Father (the only true God) is not a plurality of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is One, not three.  In fact, the Father is the “only” true God, because it is the Father who is given the name of the only true God. The Father is “the true Elohim,” or “the true God” of Jeremiah 10:10. The true Elohim is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only true God (2Corinthians 11:31; Ephesians 1:3; 1Peter 1:3; John 17:3; Jeremiah 10:10).

But please don’t jump to conclusions. Because I said Jesus is not the true God does not mean that I’m saying that Christ is not divine. Christ is God’s divine Son. Christ is God’s only begotten Son. This is what makes Him divine.

“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” John 5:18

Notice that God is one person, and Christ is another. Christ could not be equal with God if He were God. He could only be equal with God if He were someone other than God. Christ is equal with God. And what makes Him equal with God is the fact that He is God’s Son. God is the Father of Christ. Christ is the Son of God.

Elohim is the true God, the only true God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who is the living God?

In Matthew 16:16, Peter answers a question asked by Jesus Christ. His answer tells us who the living God is. Jesus asks His disciples,

“But whom say ye that I am?”
“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Again, we learn that Christ is not the living God, but the Son of the living God. If Christ is the Son of the living God, then the living God is the Father of Jesus Christ. The living God is not all three persons of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The living God is the Father, one person.  He is

“The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” 2Corinthians 11:31
“… the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Ephesians 1:3
“… the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” 1Peter 1:3
“One God and Father of all…” Ephesians 4:6

Going back to Jeremiah 10:10, we can read it this way:

“But Jehovah is the true Elohim (- the only true God who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  John 17:3 -) he is the living Elohim (- the living God who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Matthew 16:16 -).

And here is some more confirmation. In 1Thessalonians 1:9, 10 the same distinction is made :

“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

The Thessalonians turned from their idol worship to worship God, also named here “the living and true God.” And they were waiting for His Son. The living and true God has a Son. This means the living and true God is the Father of His Son. God is one person, not three. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And Christ is not the true and living God but the Son of the true and living God. 

Reader, we don’t have to be scholars of Hebrew in order to know how to use the word Elohim. We don’t have to accept what scholars teach just because they apparently know more about Hebrew than we do, especially when what they teach goes against what the Bible reveals. We only have to search for the Bible’s counsel ourselves, and listen to what it says. The Bible is the very word of God speaking to us, and God tells us exactly who He is. Jehovah is not the Trinity. Jehovah is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only true God. He is the living God. This is Elohim.

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” 1Corinthians 8:6     JOL

The Father-Son relationship found so consistently in the word of God

John 10:36 “Say ye of him whom the Father hath  sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou  blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son God?”
 

John 5:18 “Therefore the Jews sought the more to  kill him, because he not only had broken the  Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father,  making himself equal with God.”
 

Verse 19 “Then answered Jesus and said unto them,  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do  nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father  do, for what things soever he doeth, these also  doeth the Son likewise.”
 

Verse 20  “For the Father loveth the Son. . . .”
 

Verse 23 “That all men should honour the Son, even  as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not  the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent  him.”
 

Verse 26    “For  as the Father  hath life in   himself; so  hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.”
 

Verse 30 “ I can of mine own self do nothing; as I hear,  I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek  not mine own will, but the will of the Father which  hath sent me.”
 

Verse 36 “But I have greater witness than that of  John: for the works which the Father hath given  me to Oinish, the same works that I do, bear  witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”
 

Verse 43 “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye  receive me not: if another shall come in his own  name, him ye will receive.”
 

1 John 1:3 “That which we have seen and heard  declare we unto you, that ye also may have  fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is  with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
 

1 John 2:22-23        “Who is a liar but he   that denieth  that    Jesus    is    the    Christ?    He    is    antichrist,    that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever  denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father:  (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the  Father also.”
 

Verse 24 “ . . . .If that which ye have heard from the  beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall  continue in the Son, and in the Father.”
 

1 John 3:23 “And this is his commandment, That  we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus  Christ, and love one another, as he gave us  commandment.”
 

1 John 4:15 “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is  the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in  God.”
 

1 John 5:5    “Who is he that overcometh  the world,  but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
 

1 John 5:10-11 “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.”
 

James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
 

Proverbs 30:4 “Who hath ascended up into heaven,  or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his  Oists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment?  Who hath established all the ends of the earth?  What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if  thou canst tell?”
 

John 11:27 “She saith unto him, Yea Lord: I believe  that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.”
 

John 6:69 “And  we believe and are sure that  thou art that Christ the Son of the living God.”
 

Matthew 17:5 “And behold, they cried out, saying,  What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of  God?”
 

1 Corinthians 15:28 “And when all things shall be  subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself  be subject unto him that put all things under him,  that God may be all in all.”
 

1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I would have you know,  that the head of every man is Christ and the head  of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is  God.”
 

John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might  believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;  that believing ye might have life through his  name.”
 

Matthew 16:17-18 “Thou art the Christ, the Son of  the living God. . . . Upon this rock I will build my  church.”
 

Galatians 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath  sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,  crying, Abba, Father.”

God could not express greater love than he has expressed in giving the Son of his bosom to this world

“Nature and revelation alike testify of God's love. Our  Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and  of joy.”  Steps to Christ p. 9

“The Lord God of heaven collected all the riches of the  universe, and laid them down in order to purchase the  pearl of lost humanity. The Father gave all his divine  resources into the hands of Christ in order that the  richest blessings of heaven might be poured out upon  a fallen race. God could not express greater love than  he has expressed in giving the Son of his bosom to  this world. This gift was given to man to convince him that  God had left nothing undone that he could do, that  there is nothing held in reserve, but that all heaven  has been poured out in one vast gift.” Youth’s  Instructor, October 17, 1895.

And that greatest gift is the Son of His bosom,  Jesus.

Jesus, the foundation of our faith

In Romans 6:23, the Bible tells us: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life  through Jesus Christ our Lord."

We only have eternal life through Jesus Christ. That means our eternal life is not dependent  on  us belonging to a certain denomination or any kind of membership. Our eternal life depends only on Jesus Christ our Lord.

In John 17:3, Jesus is praying to His Father, and says: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

So, eternal life is: 1) knowing the Father, the only true God, and 2) knowing Jesus His son.

So, who is Jesus? We will take a look at the bible  because our eternal life depends on knowing who He is.

In John 10:36, Jesus says to the Pharisees: "Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?"

So from Christ's own words we know He is the Son of God.

John  5:18 tells us: "'Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God."

In this verse Christ is making himself equal with His Father based on his Sonship.

Now, if  Jesus claims Sonship from the Father, are there other son's of God?

Luke 3:38 tells us that Adam was called the son of God by creation (Genesis 5): "Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God."

1 John 3: 1 tells us that we become son's of God by redemption or adoption: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should called the sons of God:  therefore the world knoweth us now, because it knew him not.

But John 3:16 tells us that Christ is the only begotten of the Father: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Who is He begotten of? John 1:14 gives us the answer: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Did Christ come out from God? Jesus himself tell us in John 16:27: "For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God."

If Christ was begotten, when was He begotten? Micah 5: 2 refers about Christ in prophecy and tell us: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out  of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel;  whose goings forth have  been from of old, from everlasting."

Proverbs 8:22-30 clarifies this text: "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth.
When he established the clouds above:  when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment; when he appointed the foundations of the earth;
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.'

Proverbs 8 is talking about wisdom. Who is the wisdom of God?  In 1 Corinthians 1:24 the Bible tells us: "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

So, Christ is the wisdom of God, in other words it is He who is speaking in Proverbs 8.

What about Proverbs 30:4.  In Proverbs 30:4 the Bible tells us: "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?'

Solomon identifies the relationship between a Father and a Son at the creation.

So, Christ here has confirmed that by the time creation took place, He was already a Son, He was already begotten of His Father.

Now, one of the many things that Christ inherited was His Father's name. Hebrews 1:4 says: "Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."

Christ inherited the character and authority of His Father.

In John 5:26 Christ tells us there: "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself."

So, the same eternal life the Father has, He has given to His Son because He is the only begotten of His Father and therefore Christ is equal in divine nature with the Father.

Colossians 2:9 says, speaking of Christ: "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."

In Christ dwells all the divinity and equality of His Father based on His Sonship. That makes Him the only Being in the whole universe who is fully equal to His Father in nature.

Now, we have a testimony from the Father himself in Matthew 3:17 at the baptism of Christ: "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

And a second testimony from the Father himself In Matthew 17:5 this time on the  Mount of Transfiguration: "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them;  and behold a voice out of  the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;  hear ye him."

And what was the Father revelation? That Jesus is His beloved Son. Why was important to repeat it? Because only through His Son there is eternal life.

Now, do you think satan would stay idle with the truth that the Father said twice regarding His Son? Of course not.

In Matthew 4:3 says: "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."

In Matthew 4:6 he says the same thing again: "And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at  any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.'

Here the tempter is trying to persuade Jesus to unbelief (doubt) by questioning His Sonship. He contradicts twice what the Father said about His Son. So, the devil's theology is to deny the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.

In the book This Day with God, p. 128 we read: "Angels were expelled from heaven because they would not work in harmony with God.   They fell from their high estate because they wanted to be exalted. They had come to exalt themselves and they forgot that their beauty of person and of character came from the Lord Jesus. This fact the [fallen] angels would obscure, that Christ was the only begotten Son of God, and they came to consider that they were not to consult Christ.'

Satan has always tried to obscure and hide the fact that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God.

So, what does the Koran say about the Son of God? Let's take a look:

“1  Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; 2 Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
3    He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
4    And there is none like unto Him.”  Sura 112

Those who follow the Koran don't believe the fact that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.

What about the New Age theology? The book "The new age movement and the biblical worldview" p. 60 states: "The worldview of new agers compels them to say that Jesus is no more God than anyone else."

In other words, Jesus is not the real Son of God. He is God in the same way that you are god. Just as the serpent told Eve in the garden: "you shall be as gods", that same lie keep resonating to this day. So, new age philosophy is the antagonist of Islam regarding the fact that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.

What about closer to home? In the book 'Understanding the Trinity' p. 97 we find the following statement: “The Father–Son relationship in the Godhead should be understood in a metaphorical sense, not in a literal sense”. 

This quote is basically saying: God does not have a real Son. Jesus, the only begotten of the Father, is just a metaphor. The Father-Son relationship is not real.

Satan is definitely busy trying to obscure and hide God's truth for this day!

What about a quote from the Adventist Review of Seventh day Adventist church, October 31,1996 p.12.  It says the following: "A plan of salvation was encompassed in the covenant made by the Three Persons of the Godhead, who possessed the attributes of Deity equally. In order to eradicate sin and  rebellion from the universe and to restore harmony and peace, one of the divine Beings accepted, and entered into the role of the Father, another the role of the Son. The remaining divine Being, the Holy Spirit, was also to participate in effecting the plan of salvation."

Jesus taking the role of a Son?  What about the bible saying that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God? Was He lying when He said that? Was Jesus only pretending to be a Son? Is satan trying to hide the truth that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God by clever and sophisticated ways? Certainly!

Now, take this next bible verse into your heart because sadly prophecy is being fulfilled right now just like Paul said to young Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."

What a worse scenario than to think that we are in the faith, when in reality we have departed from it when we accept the doctrines of devils. In other words we are deceiving ourselves.

And this is from the SOP in Signs of the Times, May 30, 1895 part 3 : "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son," not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father's person”

Does this quote sound like bible truth  or role playing? Also, in Adventist Review, Jan. 6, 1994 we find the following statement: "Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of ‘present truth’. Most startling is the teaching regarding Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord...... Likewise, the Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally  held by the early Adventists."

Have we departed from the faith? Indeed, we have!

Ministry magazine, October 1993 says: “Most of the founders of Seventh-day Adventism would not be able to join the church today if they had to subscribe to the denomination's fundamental beliefs.”

In other words, the SDA's pioneers would be denied membership if they were alive today!

But, what about independent ministries? We quote from Vance Ferrell's book entitle "Defending the Godhead" p. 17: “Christ has always been the Son of God; and there never was a time when He emerged from the Father. That statement appears to solve all the problems about Christ’s Sonship.”

Is this statement biblical? Certainly not as we already saw it plainly in the bible. If Christ is not a begotten Son, then how can He be a Son?

 We conclude with the words of Christ in Matthew 16:15-18. Please, pay close attention to the words and meditate on them:  "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

Was Peter referring to Jesus being the Son of God metaphorically or literally? Literally, because we confirmed it in John 16 when Jesus said: "They have  believed that I came out from Thee (His Father)."

So, as we can see, satan will pervert and attack the foundation of our faith which is Jesus Christ to take away from us His life. But if we stand on the promise of Jesus, "the gates of hell shall not prevail agains it".

What decision are we going to make today? Are we going to believe what He said in His word or are we going to mock Him like the leaders of Israel when He was hanging on the cross (Matthew 27:40)? Are we going to speak the same language of satan himself when he was tempting Christ in the wilderness: "If you are the Son of God…."?

May God help us to share this evidence with others so Christ can come soon and finish the misery in this world.  Luis

The Begotten Belief