The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the Son of God in a unique way. This does not mean that Jesus was created by God or came into existence at some point, as humans do. Rather, the Bible reveals that the Son has eternally existed with the Father and shares the same divine nature. Jesus’ sonship describes His special relationship with the Father and His authority to reveal God and redeem sinners.
Jesus claimed to be the Son of God
During His earthly ministry, Jesus frequently called God His Father and Himself the Son of God. When asked by the Jewish leaders if He was the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus affirmed, “I am” (Luke 22:70). The disciples came to recognize Jesus as the Son based on His words and miracles (Matthew 14:33; 16:16). Jesus accepted worship as the Son, a prerogative that belongs to God alone (Matthew 14:33; John 9:35-38). The Father also declared from heaven that Jesus is His beloved Son (Matthew 3:17; 17:5).
The Jewish leaders understood Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God as blasphemy, a crime punishable by death (Matthew 26:63-66; John 5:18). They recognized that Jesus was making Himself equal with God, which would usurp God’s unique authority. Jesus’ claim went beyond merely being a figurative or adoptive son; He claimed unity with the Father.
The Son was with the Father from the beginning
Jesus existed as the eternal Son before He took on human flesh. The Son was active in creating the world (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:2) and appeared at times in the Old Testament (theophanies) as the visible representative of the invisible God.
The Gospel of John highlights Jesus’ eternal relationship with the Father. In the beginning, the Word (Jesus) was with God and was God (John 1:1). Although the Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16-17), Jesus, being God, descended from heaven voluntarily out of love (John 6:38). Even during His earthly ministry, Jesus was in heaven at the same time (John 3:13). The Son enjoyed glory with the Father before the world began, a glory revealed again after His resurrection (John 17:5).
The Son shares the divine nature with the Father
In Scripture, the Father addresses the Son as God. The author of Hebrews applies Psalm 45:6-7 (“Your throne, O God”) to Jesus (Hebrews 1:8-9). Jesus is the exact representation of God’s nature and possesses the divine attributes (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15, 2:9). He exhibits authority to forgive sin, give eternal life, and judge the world, which belong to God alone. Thomas worshiped the risen Christ as “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
Yet Scripture maintains a distinction between the Father and Son. The Son intercedes with the Father (Romans 8:34), is subordinate in function though equal in nature (John 5:18-19, 8:28-29), and receives revelation from the Father (Matthew 11:27). At Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration, the Father spoke from heaven as the Spirit descended on the Son (Matthew 3:16-17; 17:5). Their unified purpose reflects the ontological Trinity: one God eternally existing in three Persons.
Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the Son
The Old Testament contains prophecies about the coming Messiah as God’s Son:
– Psalm 2 portrays the nations raging against the Lord and His Anointed One (v. 2), who is called God’s Son (v. 7). The Son rules as King on Zion (v. 6) and will judge the nations who oppose Him (v. 9).
– Isaiah 9:6 prophesies the birth of a child who will be called “Mighty God” and “Eternal Father.” As David’s descendant, He will reign on David’s throne forever.
– In Daniel 7:13-14, one like a “Son of Man” approaches the Ancient of Days (God) and receives dominion and a kingdom from Him that will never be destroyed.
Jesus identified Himself as this promised Messiah and Son of God who would suffer, die, and rise again (Matthew 16:16-21; 26:63-64). The disciples later recognized that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 3:13, 18).
The Son submits Himself to the Father
Although Jesus is equal with God, He willingly submitted Himself to the Father’s will during His earthly ministry. Jesus only did what the Father commanded (John 5:19, 30) and sought not His own will but the Father’s (John 6:38-39; Philippians 2:6-8).
This voluntary submission, however, did not negate Jesus’ equality with God or His authority over all things. After completing His work of redemption, Jesus declared that all authority in heaven and earth had been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). God exalted Jesus and bestowed on Him “the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). Jesus now reigns as Lord at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33-36).
The Son reveals the Father
A core aspect of Jesus’ sonship is making the Father known to people. As the sent Son, Jesus perfectly reveals the Father and communicates divine truth (John 1:18, 14:9; Hebrews 1:1-3). Jesus taught that the Father had given Him authority to execute judgment “because I am the Son of God” (John 5:22-27). Those who reject the Son thereby blaspheme the Father who sent Him (Luke 10:16). No one comes to the Father except through the Son (John 14:6).
The Son also discloses people’s relationship to God. Jesus declared that unless people honor Him as the Son, they do not honor the Father (John 5:23). Those who believe in the Son already have eternal life; those who disobey the Son face God’s wrath (John 3:36). The Son grants eternal life to those He wishes (John 5:21; 17:2).
The Father and Son also send the Holy Spirit to apply Christ’s salvation to believers (John 14:16, 26; 15:26). This Trinitarian relationship reveals both the distinction of Persons and unity of purpose within the Godhead.
The Son redeems and judges sinners
Central to Jesus’ sonship is His mission to be the Savior of the world (Luke 19:10; John 3:17). The Father sent the Son to redeem people who were under the law’s curse (Galatians 4:4-5) and save the lost (Luke 15:1-32). Jesus accomplished redemption through His sacrificial death on the cross (Mark 10:45; 2 Corinthians 5:21). God displayed Christ publicly as the atoning sacrifice, demonstrating His righteousness (Romans 3:25-26). Now believers have redemption through Jesus’ blood, the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7).
However, the Bible also warns about the Son’s future judgment of unbelievers. At His return, the Son of Man will come on the clouds to judge the nations (Matthew 24:30-31; Acts 17:31). As part of His messianic reign, the Son will punish those hostile to God and consign the unfaithful to hell (Matthew 13:40-43; 25:31-46). Fearing and honoring the Son who judges is equivalent to fearing and honoring the Father (John 5:22-23).
Believers gain adoption as sons through the Son
The Father decreed that those whom He justified, He would also glorify as His adopted children (Romans 8:29-30). God predestined believers for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5). Through faith in Christ, believers become children of God and fellow heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:26).
Jesus enables believers’ adoption by redeeming them from slavery to sin through the cross (Galatians 4:5). The Father sent the Spirit of His Son into believers’ hearts, confirming their adoption into God’s family (Galatians 4:6-7). Adopted sons cry “Abba, Father” trusting in God’s care and inheritance through Christ (Romans 8:15-17).
Glorification completes believers’ adoption at the resurrection when Christ transforms their lowly bodies into glorious ones like His (Philippians 3:20-21). Then the Father’s children will see Christ and become like Him in the Father’s presence (1 John 3:1-3).
Conclusion
The Sonship of Christ encompasses His eternal deity and absolute unity with the Father. As the Son, Jesus reveals God, accomplishes redemption for sinners, judges the world, and includes believers in His relationship with the Father. This biblical understanding upholds Christ’s true divinity and His unique relationship with the Father in the Trinity. Calling Jesus the Son of God means He is no mere man or adoptive subordinate, but the eternal God who took on humanity to restore sinners to the Father.
