Jesus as God's Son

[dwb]

This may sound like a stupid question, but I never questioned Jesus as God's Son before I really studied the Bible. I took it as fact from years of Sunday school, Bible studies, and sermons. But after a more in depth private study I came to find out Jesus is God. One of the three parts of the Holy trinity, all equal, depicted as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I remember one day shouting to my wife, with my new revelation, Jesus is God!! Jesus being God's son (IMHO) puts Him at a lower level than God, and that's how I viewed the trinity for years. God as the Gold medalist, Jesus as the silver, and the Holy Spirit as the bronze. Of course that's not the case, but if you don't know, then that's exactly how one would view the trinity without more insight.

So the question is, why is Jesus known as God's Son, instead of as God Himself? It seems a unnecessary complication to understanding the trinity. As a father of two sons I understand the special love a father has for his sons, so maybe that's why. I don't know. To sacrifice your son would be the ultimate sacrifice, maybe that is the reason, to show how much God loves the world. It just seems confusing. I never question God's word. I take it as the absolute truth which it is, but my mind does want to ask questions.

 

[Hol]

As a father of two sons I understand the special love a father has for his sons, so maybe that's why.

I think you’ve answered your question.

I’ve grown up without church and participated in various religions. I can’t think of another religion that cleanses sin. Imagine God gave all when Jesus offered His blood for us, it’s heartbreaking.

In Islam, or even Judaism, both have an eternal all-powerful creator who is solitary.

I’m not sure, but I think the doctrine of aseity helps us understand that God’s triune reality gives Him perfect love independent of His creation.

Take Allah: no sacrificial love at all, no justice, no holiness.

 

[Andy C]

From Got Questions:

What does it mean that the Father is the first Person of the Trinity?​

The word Trinity is not used in the New Testament, but Christians believe that this term best describes God, who eternally exists as three distinct Persons. He has revealed Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (see Galatians 4:6). We often speak of the Trinity as the first Person, the Father; the second Person, the Son; and the third Person, the Spirit.

In no way do the terms first, second, and third, applied to the Persons of the Trinity, suggest levels of importance or significance. The wording of the Athanasian Creed was careful to maintain the equality of the Persons of the godhead: “We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. . . . In the Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another, but all three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal.”

While each Person of the Trinity is co-eternal and co-equal with the others ontologically, when the members of the Trinity relate to people, they do so in a specific hierarchy. That is, each Person of the Trinity plays a specific role. In the New Testament, when the term God is used, it most often refers to God the Father.

The Father is the “first Person of the Trinity” because in the “Trinitarian formula” found in Matthew 28:19, the Father is presented first: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The simple word order of the formula might be enough to explain the Father’s position as “first.” However, there is more that contributes to the Father’s being the first Person of the Trinity.

The Father is also called “first” because He has first priority within the economic Trinity. This would be similar to how a human father is considered the head of a household. The Father sent Jesus into the world (John 6:57), and Jesus came in obedience to the Father and lived on earth in submission to the Father. “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19). It is the Father who raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:32) and raised Him to the right hand of power, and it is the Father who will be glorified in the drama of redemption (Philippians 2:9–11).

So, the Father is the first Person of the Trinity because He is listed first and also, within the economic Trinity, He holds the place of leadership, like the father of a household.

What does it mean that the Father is the first Person of the Trinity? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the Father is the first Person of the Trinity? Why is God the Father referred to as the first Person of the Trinity?

www.gotquestions.org

 

[mattfivefour]

As a father of two sons I understand the special love a father has for his sons, so maybe that's why. I don't know. To sacrifice your son would be the ultimate sacrifice, maybe that is the reason, to show how much God loves the world.

I think you’ve answered your question.

I agree.

 

[mattfivefour]

From Got Questions:

What does it mean that the Father is the first Person of the Trinity?​

The word Trinity is not used in the New Testament, but Christians believe that this term best describes God, who eternally exists as three distinct Persons. He has revealed Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (see Galatians 4:6). We often speak of the Trinity as the first Person, the Father; the second Person, the Son; and the third Person, the Spirit.

In no way do the terms first, second, and third, applied to the Persons of the Trinity, suggest levels of importance or significance. The wording of the Athanasian Creed was careful to maintain the equality of the Persons of the godhead: “We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. . . . In the Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another, but all three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal.”

While each Person of the Trinity is co-eternal and co-equal with the others ontologically, when the members of the Trinity relate to people, they do so in a specific hierarchy. That is, each Person of the Trinity plays a specific role. In the New Testament, when the term God is used, it most often refers to God the Father.

The Father is the “first Person of the Trinity” because in the “Trinitarian formula” found in Matthew 28:19, the Father is presented first: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The simple word order of the formula might be enough to explain the Father’s position as “first.” However, there is more that contributes to the Father’s being the first Person of the Trinity.

The Father is also called “first” because He has first priority within the economic Trinity. This would be similar to how a human father is considered the head of a household. The Father sent Jesus into the world (John 6:57), and Jesus came in obedience to the Father and lived on earth in submission to the Father. “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19). It is the Father who raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:32) and raised Him to the right hand of power, and it is the Father who will be glorified in the drama of redemption (Philippians 2:9–11).

So, the Father is the first Person of the Trinity because He is listed first and also, within the economic Trinity, He holds the place of leadership, like the father of a household.

What does it mean that the Father is the first Person of the Trinity? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the Father is the first Person of the Trinity? Why is God the Father referred to as the first Person of the Trinity?

www.gotquestions.org

This GotQuestions explanation is as good as I've ever read. But I do not believe that there is any way a human being will ever truly understand the Trinity. It is a concept only graspable by an infinite mind.

God assures us, however, that one day we shall know as we are currently known. One day our faith shall be made sight. Until then, we must simply accept His Word as Truth. And one day, when we enter glory, we shall see marvels that we will not only understand but that will amaze us throughout eternity!!! What a glorious future is ours! Thanks to our Lord and Savior who came, suffered, and died so that we might be given it!!!

What an awesome God we serve!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Batman]

One thing is for sure, He is the Son, but he is so much more in names. Many years ago someone in a different church was very hung up about the Son title, etc. The best answers were that Jesus is God, the Holy Spirit is God, and the Father is God.....One God, 3 Persons......AND the name Son is akin to how it's used on earth BUT not only that.....so much more!

I was reading the writing of the 10 Commandments by the Finger of God and recall how for many years I just assumed it was the Father but learned and studied and learned and studied that it was the Son. I believe the same thing about who (the Son) went to the Garden to have face to face time with Adam.

Also, to me the Son goes right with the Son of Man self-titled statements by the Son.....that was even predicted in the OT several times.

 

[dwb]

Good information. Thanks!