How is Jesus the Son of God?

from the old testament

• In the Old Testament, the title “son of God” signified authority and leadership. Israel, as a nation, was called God’s son (Exodus 4:22–23), emphasizing especially Israel’s king, who represented God’s authority on earth. God promised David an heir who would be His Son and reign forever (2 Samuel 7:12–14), and Psalm 2 linked this sonship to a royal figure whose kingdom would extend to the nations (Psalm 2:7–8). These promises created the expectation that a coming Son would perfectly fulfill God’s rule, paving the way for Jesus to be revealed as the true Son of God.

from the new testament

• The Gospel of John begins with the statement, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). John is affirming that Jesus is fully divine. However, in this statement, we also see that Jesus was a distinct Person because, not only is He God, but He was with God. From the rest of the New Testament, we learn that God (the Father) sent His Son (Jesus) to earth. For example, Jesus said, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:16–17). This means that Jesus, in a way we cannot understand, was the Son of God from eternity, before creation.
• However, John then continued, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). As the author of Hebrews put it, being the Son of God in flesh, “he is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3). When Jesus “became flesh” (added on humanity), we were able to know God by looking at the Son of God.
• To add on humanity, He made a unique entrance into the world. While every other human is born from a human father and mother, Jesus only had a human mother. Before Jesus was conceived, Mary was told, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Although it is impossible for us to fully understand what this means, we learn that as a result of this unique conception, Jesus was born without Adam’s guilt or corruption.
• Regarding His perfect sinlessness, the author of Hebrews comments, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Elsewhere, he said, “he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17). To be a propitiation meant that, as perfect, He could die in the place of sinful men and women.
• To eliminate all doubt, the Father Himself identified Jesus as His Son. After Jesus was baptized, the Father spoke from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Later, during the event known as the transfiguration, the Father once again said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5).
• Jesus also recognized His divine sonship, with His enemies understanding the importance of what He was saying. For example, at His trial, the high priest said, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God” (Matthew 26:63). Jesus responded, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64). The comment about the “Son of Man coming on the clouds” referenced Daniel’s prophecy about an eternal, divine ruler (Daniel 7:13–14). The priest understood the reference. We read, “Then the high priest tore his robes and said, ‘He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?’ They answered, ‘He deserves death’” (Matthew 26:65–66).
• Similarly, when Jesus later stood before Pilate, the Jews demanded, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God” (John 19:7). Earlier, John had noted, “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18).
• In summary, the authors of the New Testament called Jesus the Son of God, the Father referred to Him as the Son of God, Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, and even His enemies wanted to kill Him because they understood what Jesus was saying.
• When Jesus died on the cross, three major events took place: the tearing of the temple veil (Matthew 27:51a), an earthquake (Matthew 27:51b), and the resurrection of various people (Matthew 27:52–53). A soldier observing the crucifixion when Jesus died saw all of this and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39). Even at His death, people realized that something was different about Jesus.
• The resurrection confirmed His identity. Paul wrote that Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). Thomas, who initially doubted the resurrection, saw Jesus and worshiped Him, saying, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
• Because Jesus is the Son of God, His victory over death means that someday, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10–11). Everyone will see the Son one day and will bow before Him.

implications for today

Because Jesus is the Son of God, He is not just a good, moral teacher with wise words. Instead, He is Lord. When He first came, He came to save. When He returns, He will come to bring judgment against those who deny He is the Son. Take this to heart and reflect on your relationship with Him. Being fully God means that Jesus is perfect. Being fully human and never sinning means He did not have to die (Romans 6:23a). However, the Father sent Him to be a substitute for your sin. That means, for all who believe in Him, His undeserved death has paid for your guilt. The Father sees those whom His Son has saved as if they are perfect, just like His Son. That is why the Father calls believers His sons and daughters (Romans 8:12–17). We urge you to repent of your sin and believe in Him today!