I think it is of utmost importance that everyone know this truth: Jesus is the only begotten son of God, He died on the cross, and that he rose from the dead. (I Corinthians 15:1-4) This may seem simple on the surface, but it involves a lot of truth which needs to be understood. Over the next several posts, I will humbly attempt to explain this truth in a way which reflects salvation in a valid and understandable fashion.
Firstly, Jesus is not just a son of God, but the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16 KJV*) I place this emphasis on the begotten aspect of Jesus’ nature intentionally here just as I believe it was placed by the Biblical writer of this truth with intention. What does it mean that he was begotten? There are two different dictionary meanings to this word. The first is to bring into existence a child through the process of reproduction. The second is to give rise to or bring about. We could choose to look at this in the terms of the Holy Spirit overshadowing Mary and conceiving Jesus in her womb. Many people would accept this as the simple meaning of this truth. However, we read in the Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” When we realize that the Word here is none other than Jesus himself, we realize that Jesus existed before even Mary did. What then could the meaning of begotten be? Some would resist more meaning than what was first presented here of Jesus being the conception of the Holy Spirit with Mary. However, I propose here to present what I believe gives greater meaning to this condition of Jesus of being begotten.
As a Christian, I believe in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three aspects of the Godhead which exist concurrently. God is eternal. God is outside of time. The aspect of begotten that I think best describes is the second: to give rise to or bring about. God the Father begot Jesus the Son before the world or anything else was. Jesus is as much a part of God as the Holy Spirit is a part of God. As His Son, he has all the attributes of God and is in perfect accord with God the Father. If we look to Genesis, we read God referring to himself in plurality. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness….” (Genesis 1:26) So, Jesus’ attribute of being even before his conception within Mary does not lessen his glory but gives us a glimpse into just how glorious his coming really was.
Not included in the presentation of the gospel was the aspect of the virgin birth. Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus. Now I am not like our Catholic friends who propose that Mary was eternally a virgin. After all, Jesus did have earthly brothers and sisters. (Mark 6:3) Why is the virgin birth important? I will get into this more in the next post, but if Jesus was only a man, then he could not be the Christ. For those of you that have trouble believing in the virgin birth then how will you ever believe that Jesus rose from the dead?
In my next post, I will continue my view of the Gospel as outlined above with His death on the Cross. I will leave you with these thought provoking questions: Why did Jesus die on the cross? Was it necessary for him to die? If so, why? What does it mean to take up your cross and bear it as Jesus instructed his followers?
*Note: The King James Version has the word begotten in the text where others leave the word out. I think the word begotten is significant and leaving the word out constitutes a watering down of the truth. Be careful of those that would seek to lessen the strength of the Bible.