The Son of God: Knowing, Loving, and Proclaiming Christ

Sep 28, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Glory Shared Before Dawn

Jesus’ prayer in John 17 reveals a divine conversation older than creation. He speaks of glory shared with the Father before time began, not as a reward for obedience but as an eternal reality. This truth anchors our faith: the Son’s divinity isn’t earned or temporary but inherent. Eternal life hinges not on abstract spirituality but knowing the undiminished God who stepped into time. When we struggle to grasp eternity, we worship a Savior who existed before clocks ticked. [15:16]

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you… And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.’” (John 17:1,5, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you reduced Jesus to a “moment in time” Savior rather than the eternal Son? How does His timeless glory deepen your trust in His finished work?

Day 2: Knowing Versus Feeling the Only True God

Eternal life is defined not by euphoric experiences but by knowing “the only true God, and Jesus Christ.” In a culture chasing spiritual highs, Jesus redirects us to relational certainty. Truth outlasts emotions because it’s anchored in the God who revealed Himself concretely. To know Him is to study His self-disclosure in Scripture, not chase mystical sensations. When doubts arise, we return to the historical reality of Christ’s incarnation, death, and resurrection. [15:33]

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3, ESV)

Reflection: When have you confused emotional experiences with true knowledge of God? What practical step will you take this week to know Him more through Scripture?

Day 3: Discipleship Drought in a Data Age

Alarming surveys reveal a crisis: many self-identified Christians can’t articulate basic truths about the Trinity. This isn’t a failure of information access but of intentional discipleship. The church’s neglect to teach doctrine has left generations vulnerable to heresy. Yet integrated disciples—those whose beliefs shape their lives—show higher theological clarity. Truth isn’t absorbed through podcasts but through patient, relational teaching. [26:10]

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs you to move from consuming content to curating biblical truth for them? What one doctrine will you commit to explaining clearly this month?

Day 4: Begotten, Not Forgotten (or Fabricated)

A misspelled “forgotten Son” in a church floor inscription exposes a grave danger: sloppy teaching distorts Christ’s identity. The Creed’s “begotten, not made” distinction matters—Jesus isn’t God’s first creation but His eternal Son. Like careless carpenters, we build shaky faith when we mishandle divine revelation. Precision preserves the gospel: only the uncreated Son could bear the weight of redemption. [44:44]

“And 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… No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (John 1:14,18, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you tolerated vague ideas about Jesus’ nature? How will you intentionally honor His eternal Sonship in worship this week?

Day 5: Salvific Implications of the Son’s Identity

If Christ were merely a good teacher or exalted creature, His death would be tragic, not transformative. But the Son’s full divinity means His sacrifice actually atones. Our evangelism isn’t offering life tips but proclaiming the Creator’s rescue mission. Every discipleship conversation must preserve this core: only God incarnate could reconcile us to God. [48:10]

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life… Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16,18, ESV)

Reflection: How does Jesus’ divine identity make His sacrifice uniquely sufficient for your sins? Who needs to hear this non-negotiable truth from you today?

Sermon Summary

John 17 opens up the heart of the Savior as Jesus lifts His eyes to heaven and prays, “Father, the hour has come.” Jesus asks for glory, not as a lesser being trying to get somewhere, but as the eternal Son returning openly to the glory He had with the Father before the world existed. Jesus shows that eternal life is not vague spirituality or merely feeling God’s presence. Eternal life is knowing “the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

The Nicene Creed gives the church words for confessing what God has revealed when language starts to fail. The Creed does not hand out fancy words so that Christians can sound smart. The Creed guards the truth that makes discipleship possible, especially when confusion about the Trinity and the person of Christ is everywhere. The surveys show a discipleship problem, a truth problem, and a growing inability among confessing Christians to say clearly that God is one God in three persons.

The Son is equally God with the Father. Jesus does not become divine through the cross, the resurrection, or an achievement. Jesus possesses the same glory and nature as the Father, and the Father and Son have never existed apart from one another. John 17 puts that eternal glory right in front of the church: “the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

The Son is eternally God. The names Father and Son do not mean that one is more God and the other is less God. The language of Father and Son reveals real distinction within the Trinity while also revealing perfect unity. The mystery does not call for speculation beyond Scripture. The mystery calls the church to confess what has been revealed, know what can be known, and stand in awe where human words run out.

The Son is uncreated. Colossians declares that all things were created by Him, through Him, and for Him. Jesus is not the first thing God made. Jesus is the One through whom creation came to be, which means getting Christ wrong means getting creation, salvation, and eternal life wrong.

The word “begotten” protects the church from turning the Son into the forgotten Son. Jesus is not a created helper who did something inspiring and got rewarded. Jesus is the Creator who took on human nature, lived the life sinners could not live, and died the death sinners deserved. The true deity of Christ gives weight to His cross, certainty to His resurrection, and hope to His promise of eternal life. Knowledge of this God must turn into love, worship, and faithful discipleship until every ear has heard.

Key Takeaways

1. The Son shares the Father’s glory Jesus prays for the glory He had with the Father before the world existed. This glory does not come after the resurrection as a reward for good work. The eternal Son enters history without ceasing to be fully God, and His saving work rests on that divine identity. [36:08]
2. Eternal life requires knowing Christ John 17 refuses to separate knowing God from knowing Jesus Christ whom God sent. Faith cannot settle for a vague belief in a higher power or a moral admiration for Jesus. The eternal life Christ gives comes through the true God revealed in the true Son. [32:37]
3. Begotten does not mean created The word “begotten” guards the truth that the Son has always existed with the Father. The Father does not create the Son as part of creation. The Son receives the same divine glory and nature eternally, revealing unity and distinction within the Trinity. [45:28]
4. Christ’s deity makes salvation certain A merely created Jesus could offer an example, but he could not bear sin with saving power. Jesus can take the sinner’s place because He is the Creator who willingly took on human nature. His deity makes His death sufficient and His resurrection victorious. [48:10]
5. Knowledge must become discipleship and worship Truth about God is not trivia for people who enjoy theological words. Clear confession prepares believers to care for hurting people, answer hard questions, and teach the next generation. Knowledge that never becomes worship and faithful discipleship has missed its proper end. [50:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:22] - John 17 and the Nicene Creed
[15:58] - Knowing and Loving the God Confessed
[18:23] - Why Doctrine Matters for Discipleship
[20:10] - Why the Council of Nicaea Focused on the Son
[21:27] - The Church’s Confusion About the Trinity
[24:15] - A Discipleship and Truth Problem
[27:33] - Teaching Church History and Belief
[30:43] - Eternal Life Is Knowing God and Christ
[34:51] - The Son Is Equally God
[37:28] - The Son Is Eternally God
[39:17] - The Son Is Uncreated
[43:15] - Begotten, Not Forgotten
[46:45] - Why Christ’s Deity Changes Everything
[49:19] - Truth, Worship, and Making Disciples

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 17:1-5
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, 'Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” [15:05]

Colossians 1:15-20
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” [40:38]

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” [44:30]

Observation questions

In John 17:1–5, what does Jesus ask the Father to do, and what reason does He give for that request?
What does Jesus identify as eternal life in John 17, and how does that definition connect knowing God with knowing Jesus Christ? [32:25]
What does Jesus say about the glory He shared with the Father before the world existed, and what does this show about the Son’s existence before creation? [34:40]
In Colossians 1:15–20, what relationship does Christ have to creation, including how all things came to be and their ultimate purpose? [41:10]

Interpretation questions

Why does Jesus’ request to be glorified with the glory He had before the world existed show that His deity did not begin at His resurrection or after His earthly work? [36:27]
John 17 presents eternal life as knowing the Father and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Why is a vague belief in God, or admiration for Jesus as merely a good teacher, not enough according to this passage? [32:37]
Colossians calls Christ the firstborn of all creation while also saying that all things were created through Him and for Him. How do these truths together guard against the idea that Jesus is a created being? [40:52]
Why does it matter for salvation that Jesus is truly God rather than a created messenger, example, or inspiring religious leader? [48:23]

Application questions

When someone asks, “Who is Jesus?” how would you explain in simple words that He is fully God, eternally the Son, and not a created being? What part of that explanation is hardest for you to say clearly? [43:15]
Eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Where are you tempted to settle for religious feelings, general spirituality, or moral effort instead of personally trusting and knowing Christ? [31:46]
The Father and Son’s shared glory before creation calls us to worship Jesus, not merely appreciate His teaching. How could this truth reshape the way you pray, sing, or respond to Christ this week? [35:27]
Jesus is the Creator through whom and for whom all things were made. How does that change the way you view your work, relationships, possessions, and purpose in the world? [41:37]
Clear truth about Christ is meant to help believers care for people who are hurting, confused, or searching. Is there a child, new believer, friend, or family member with whom you could intentionally share what Scripture says about Jesus? What might one faithful next step look like? [49:43]
Knowledge of God should become love, worship, and disciple-making. Which of those areas needs the most attention in your life right now, and what would growth look like in a practical way? [50:14]

Sermon Clips

33s

#UncreatedSon

“It's to keep us from understanding that the sun was created at some point. That there was a time in which the sun didn't exist. And in real practical matters, what does this actually mean for you and I? Why does it matter? It's the difference between somebody who just did something aspiring and he was rewarded for it and God himself who willingly came from heaven to die in our place.”

47s

#BegottenNotForgotten

“But as corny as it really is, I've always I've always kind of used that. There is a danger. If we don't know accurately who God is, and we don't know accurately who the father, son, and holy spirit is that God has revealed to us, it is the difference between knowing the begotten son and suddenly having the forgotten son in churches. If we're not discipling, it's just as good as forgotten when in the reality is he's actually the begotten The one who is equal with the father, and yet he has his mission, his economy as we say it.”

57s

#EqualWithTheFather

“The sun is equally god. We we find this, I think, in John 17 as well as the rest of scripture, and we find this all throughout scripture. But the Nicene Creed is trying to put forward to us that the son possesses the same glory and nature as the father. He is not lesser god. He is not lesser divine as Arias and some of these early, heretics would say that he he became divine or even he be he increased in his divinity. He's always equally been divine with the father. We can never speak of the son as being lesser than the father. They are not father and son because one is more divine than the other. They possess the same glory and nature as one another.”

27s

#FaithfulWorship

“Faithfulness is not measured by mere knowledge alone, but that our knowledge turns to worship of you. Father, I pray for each person in here. I pray that as we're gathered here today, I pray that you would help us to see that this is for the purpose that we would be faithful to worship you and be faithful to make disciples to the ends of the earth.”

50s

#KnowJesus

“Is it essential? What if they just honor the lord and they just recognize that he's god? Is that enough? Well, Jesus says not only knowledge of the one true god, but Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Can I tell you something? Pastorally, this question comes all the time. What happens to those who have never heard? If I can just kind of give us quick number one, we've seen throughout history the gospel has gone out. I would venture to say there's been more rejection of the gospel than there necessarily has places there's never been heard. But on the flip side too, if I can press on us, I think the answer is they have to know Jesus. That puts a burden on you and I.”

34s

#BiblicalTheology

“So if I can give us some guardrails too, let's never try to explain God beyond what he's revealed. Let's let's stick to what God has said. At the end of day, he's revealed himself as father and as son, and they've equally been God. Do I fully understand that? No. But does God's word say it? Yes. So he's equally god, he's eternally god, and third, he's uncreated”

35s

#JesusIsGod

“So as we go through the rest of the Nicene Creed, again, the longest section is on the sun, is on Jesus Christ, and it matters because, ultimately, what we will believe about the sun and what we believe about Jesus actually has salvific implications. Because if he's not truly god, then he can't truly take our place. And if he's not truly god, then his death means nothing. And can I tell you something? If he's not truly god, he never rose from the grave.”

37s

#SpreadTheTruth

“I I can promise you hope about your life all day long. I can't promise you eternal life. The sun is distinctly different, and it matters because, again, as we look at the world around us, there's lostness. But then as we look around the world around us, there's undiscipled believers. So are we gonna be the people that spread truth, speak truth, and teach truth, or are we just gonna hope everybody catches it somewhere else?”

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Central Fellowship Baptist Church Macon / WR This sermon · AI assistant

What makes the Son equally God with the Father?

Why does Jesus’ deity matter for salvation?

How does discipleship address widespread confusion about the Trinity?