For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the son of the living god. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 16:13-17
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:5
For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12
It is pivotal to our salvation that we not only believe in the name of Jesus but that we believe he is the Son of God. But is Jesus the literal Son of God or are Jesus and the Father just roleplaying?
Let's examine this issue keeping the Bible's own principles of interpreting scriptures in mind.
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little: Isaiah 28:10
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20
If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 21:18-19
Now then, with that settled, what does the Bible say about Jesus in relation to the Father?
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:18
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14
In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9
Nearly half a dozen times the Bible refers to Jesus as the only begotten Son of God. Additionally, on multiple occasions Jesus plainly stated that everything he had was given him by his Father.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. John 3:35
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. John 10:29
Not only were all things given unto Christ given him by his Father, Jesus spoke and revealed things only as he had seen and heard from his Father.
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Matthew 11:27
When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. John 8:28
I speak that which I have seen with my Father: John 8:38
The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? John 18:11
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. John 10:17-18
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; John 5:26
The Trinity doctrine teaches God in three persons: co-equal, co-eternal. Is that was is presented in the scriptures above? How about the scriptures below?
If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. John 14:28
But to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. Matthew 20:23
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Matthew 24:36
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. Matthew 26:29
And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; Luke 22:29
Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? Luke 2:49
Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. John 2:16
In my Father's house are many mansions: John 14:2
God's Word warned us that the truth would be turned into to a lie and spoken evil of by false teachers in the church replacing the teachings of Jesus, even those about himself, with the traditions of men.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, ...and many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be spoken evil of. 2 Peter 2:1-2
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:20
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians. 2:2-9
There is no reason to not take his claims about himself and his relation to the Father at face value. Jesus is the literal, only begotten Son of God and the spitting image of his Father!
(Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: Colossians 1:15
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Revelation 3:5
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:21
In a future post we will look at various scriptures that many claim to prove Jesus is not the literal Son of God as if the two were merely roleplaying these parts. We will also look at the identity of the Holy Spirit and how these heresies entered the church.
It is one thing for a "father" to give his "pretend" son. It is another thing together for a literal father to give the life of his literal son!
Click here for Part 2 in this series on the Sonship of Jesus. (Coming Soon!)