The idea that Jesus is the Son of God is often a stumbling block for many people of other religious beliefs. This is because the term ‘son of God’ is used in different ways throughout the Scriptures.
It’s true that angels are called ‘sons of God’ in Job 1:6 / Job 2:1 / Job 38:7, but righteous people are also called ‘sons of God’ in Hosea 1:10. Even in the New Testament, we find that Christians are called ‘sons of God’ through faith in Christ, Galatians 3:26.
However, when we turn to Jesus as the Son of God, we see that He is described in a very unique way, which is totally different from all those ‘sons of God’ mentioned above. Jesus personally referred to himself as God’s unique Son in John 3:16. The term ‘one and only’ means one of a kind and unique. We find the same phrase used of Abraham’s son, Isaac, Genesis 16:15-16 / Genesis 25:1-6 / Hebrews 11:17.
Jesus’ unique Sonship is seen in the fact that He is object of God’s eternal love, Matthew 3:17 / John 17:24. Today, people can partake of God’s love by obeying the Gospel, but it’s only Jesus who had the Father’s love, even before the creation of the world, John 1:12-13 / John 10:27 / John 17:23 / John 17:26.
Jesus’ unique Sonship is also seen in the fact that He shares His Father’s divine essence and glory and being one in nature, John 5:21-23 / John 5:26 / John 6:57 / John 17:5 / Colossians 1:13-20 / Hebrews 1:1-3. Only Christ and Christ alone has seen God, John 6:46, and knows His essence completely, John 10:15, and is fully aware of His Father’s nature, Matthew 11:27.
Jesus’ unique Sonship is also seen in the fact that He even before His birth, He the title of the Son of God, Luke 1:32 / Luke 1:35. Even the demons called Him the Son of God when He was on earth, Mark 3:11 / Luke 4:41, as did the prophets, Isaiah 40:3 / John 1:34. And the apostles and disciples, John 1:49 / Matthew 14:33 / Matthew 16:15-16 / Romans 1:4, and the Father Himself calls Jesus His Son, Matthew 3:16-17 / Matthew 17:5.
Jesus’ unique Sonship is also seen in the fact that He is the heir of all things, Matthew 28:18-19 / John 13:3 / John 16:15 / John 17:10. In the parable of the Tenants, we read that God sent servant after servant, that is, prophet after prophet, but the tenants killed them all, Mark 12:2-5.
Notice that Jesus doesn’t call Himself a servant here, Mark 12:6-8 / Luke 20:13-15 / Matthew 21:37-38. He deliberately removes Himself from the succession of prophets. He says they were servants, but He is the Son, Mark 12:6.
Jesus’ unique Sonship is also seen in the fact that He is a distinct Person from the Father, Matthew 3:16-17 / John 8:17-18 / John 14:16-17 / John 14:26 / John 15:26 / John 16:7-15. In other words, the Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Father. The Father is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father. The Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Son.
Jesus’ unique Sonship is also seen in the fact that He is ‘the Word’ of God, John 1:1, who became flesh, John 1:14. He came to show us exactly what God is like, John 14:9 / John 12:44. Jesus’ unique Sonship is also seen in the fact that He could forgive sins, Isaiah 43:25 / Mark 2:5-12. Jesus’ unique Sonship is also seen in the fact that He rose from the grave, never to die again, John 20:24-31 / Romans 1:4 / Romans 6:9.
When we think about Jesus being God’s Son in a unique way, we can clearly see that He was certainly unique in His Sonship. He wasn’t a ‘son of God’ in the same sense as the angels or righteous people were in the Old Testament. These ‘sons of God’ were types and shadows of the true Son, who actually came before them, for the Son was the eternally begotten God, John 1:18.
Jesus wasn’t the ‘Son of God ‘even in the same sense as Christians are today called, ‘sons of God’. He is God’s unique Son, His one and only Son. He is the one and only Son of God who came to die for humanity’s sin, Romans 1:4. I guess we should end by asking the question, Who do you say Jesus is, Matthew 16:13-15.