The Divine Son: Understanding Jesus and the Trinity

 

Summary

In today's exploration of John 5, we delve into the profound mystery of the Trinity, focusing on the nature and significance of Jesus as the Son of God. The essence of the gospel is encapsulated in the truth that God, who is infinitely distant from us, became man in Jesus Christ. This divine incarnation bridges the gap between humanity and God, allowing us to know the Father through the Son. Jesus, as the Son of God, is not a created being but the eternal Son, sharing in the glory and love of the Father before the world began.

The baptism of Jesus marks a pivotal moment where the Father affirms Him as His beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit empowers Him. This event underscores the eternal relationship within the Trinity, where the Father has always been the Father, and the Son has always been the Son. Jesus' claim to be the Son of God was a declaration of His equality with the Father, a truth that led to opposition from those who misunderstood His mission.

Jesus' role as the Son of God is multifaceted. He reflects the Father's nature, does what the Father does, and possesses what the Father has. This means that Jesus is the perfect revelation of God, performing divine acts such as giving life, raising the dead, and executing judgment. These are not mere human actions but divine prerogatives that affirm His deity.

The significance of Jesus being the Son of God is profound. It assures us of our knowledge of the Father, the love demonstrated at the cross, and the certainty of our salvation. The cross is not an act of divine cruelty but the ultimate expression of God's love, where God Himself bore the penalty for our sins. This truth invites us to respond in faith, love, and worship, honoring the Son as we honor the Father.

Key Takeaways:

- The Incarnation of God: Jesus, as God made flesh, bridges the infinite gap between humanity and God, allowing us to know the Father through the Son. This divine incarnation is central to the gospel, revealing God's nature and love. [02:05]

- Eternal Sonship: Jesus is the eternal Son, sharing in the glory and love of the Father before the world began. His baptism affirms His divine identity and mission, highlighting the eternal relationship within the Trinity. [04:05]

- Divine Actions of the Son: Jesus reflects the Father's nature, performs divine acts, and possesses divine attributes. He gives life, raises the dead, and executes judgment, affirming His deity and role as the Son of God. [14:07]

- The Cross as Divine Love: The cross is the ultimate expression of God's love, where God Himself bore the penalty for our sins. This act of self-giving love assures us of our salvation and invites us to respond in faith and worship. [25:55]

- Assurance of Salvation: Jesus, as the Son of God, presides over the supreme court of the universe, ensuring our forgiveness and eternal life. His authority and divine nature provide certainty and security for believers. [33:17]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Introduction to the Nature of God
- [00:56] - The Incarnation of God
- [02:22] - The Baptism of Jesus
- [03:48] - Eternal Father and Son
- [05:17] - Equality with the Father
- [06:05] - The Father's Exalted Position
- [07:39] - Returning to the Father
- [08:14] - The Son Reflects the Father
- [10:06] - Peacemakers as Sons of God
- [11:24] - The Son Does What the Father Does
- [14:07] - Divine Actions of the Son
- [17:17] - The Son Has What the Father Has
- [21:20] - Why It Matters
- [34:20] - Responding to the Son of God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Nature and Significance of Jesus as the Son of God

Bible Reading:
- John 5:18-30
- Matthew 3:16-17
- Philippians 2:5-11

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Observation Questions:

1. What does John 5:18 reveal about why the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus? How does this relate to His claim of being the Son of God? [05:17]

2. In Matthew 3:16-17, what significant events occur during the baptism of Jesus, and how do they affirm His identity as the Son of God? [02:38]

3. According to Philippians 2:5-11, what actions did Jesus take that demonstrate His humility and obedience, and how do these actions relate to His divine nature? [05:50]

4. How does Jesus describe His relationship with the Father in John 5:19-20, and what does this imply about His divine authority and actions? [11:24]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the eternal sonship of Jesus, as described in John 5, impact our understanding of the Trinity and the relationship between the Father and the Son? [04:05]

2. What is the significance of Jesus performing divine acts such as giving life and executing judgment, as mentioned in John 5:21-22? How does this affirm His deity? [14:07]

3. In what ways does the cross serve as the ultimate expression of God's love, and how does this understanding challenge common misconceptions about the nature of the cross? [25:55]

4. How does the assurance of salvation, as discussed in the sermon, provide security for believers, and what role does Jesus' divine authority play in this assurance? [33:17]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the concept of the Incarnation. How does understanding Jesus as God made flesh influence your daily relationship with God? What practical steps can you take to deepen this relationship? [02:05]

2. Consider the eternal relationship within the Trinity. How does this understanding of Jesus' eternal sonship affect your view of God's love and glory? How can you reflect this love in your interactions with others? [04:05]

3. Jesus' divine actions affirm His deity. How can you recognize and respond to the divine acts of Jesus in your life today? What specific areas of your life need His life-giving power? [14:07]

4. The cross is described as the ultimate expression of God's love. How does this perspective change your view of sacrifice and love in your own life? What is one way you can demonstrate self-giving love this week? [25:55]

5. Assurance of salvation is a key theme in the sermon. How does this assurance impact your confidence in your faith journey? What steps can you take to share this assurance with someone who may be struggling with doubt? [33:17]

6. Reflect on the call to honor the Son as we honor the Father. What are some practical ways you can honor Jesus in your daily life, and how can this honor influence your decisions and actions? [36:55]

7. The sermon invites us to respond in faith, love, and worship. How can you incorporate these responses into your spiritual practices this week? What specific changes can you make to prioritize these responses in your life? [34:20]

Devotional

Day 1: The Incarnation Bridges the Divine-Human Gap
The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a profound mystery that reveals God's desire to bridge the infinite gap between humanity and Himself. By becoming flesh, God made it possible for us to know Him intimately through His Son, Jesus. This divine act is central to the gospel, as it demonstrates God's love and willingness to enter into our world to bring us closer to Him. The incarnation is not just a historical event but a continuous invitation to experience the presence of God in our lives. [02:05]

John 1:14 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How does the reality of God becoming flesh in Jesus change the way you perceive your relationship with Him today?


Day 2: Eternal Sonship and Divine Identity
Jesus' eternal sonship is a testament to His divine identity and mission. Before the world began, He shared in the glory and love of the Father, affirming His equality with God. The baptism of Jesus is a pivotal moment that highlights this eternal relationship within the Trinity, as the Father affirms Him as His beloved Son and the Holy Spirit empowers Him. This understanding of Jesus as the eternal Son invites us to recognize His divine authority and the depth of His love for us. [04:05]

Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: In what ways can you acknowledge and honor Jesus' divine authority in your daily life?


Day 3: Divine Actions Affirm Jesus' Deity
Jesus' actions on earth were not merely human but divine, reflecting the nature and power of the Father. He performed acts such as giving life, raising the dead, and executing judgment, which are divine prerogatives that affirm His deity. As the perfect revelation of God, Jesus invites us to witness and participate in His divine work, understanding that His actions are a testament to His identity as the Son of God. [14:07]

John 11:25-26 (ESV): "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'"

Reflection: How can you actively participate in the divine work of Jesus in your community today?


Day 4: The Cross as the Ultimate Expression of Love
The cross is the ultimate expression of God's love, where Jesus bore the penalty for our sins. This act of self-giving love assures us of our salvation and invites us to respond in faith and worship. The cross is not an act of divine cruelty but a demonstration of God's willingness to sacrifice Himself for our redemption. Understanding the depth of this love compels us to live lives that reflect gratitude and devotion to the One who gave everything for us. [25:55]

1 John 4:9-10 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Reflection: What is one way you can demonstrate God's love to someone in your life today?


Day 5: Assurance of Salvation Through Jesus' Authority
As the Son of God, Jesus presides over the supreme court of the universe, ensuring our forgiveness and eternal life. His authority and divine nature provide certainty and security for believers, assuring us of our salvation. This assurance invites us to live confidently in the promises of God, knowing that our future is secure in His hands. Embracing this truth allows us to face life's challenges with hope and trust in His unfailing love. [33:17]

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV): "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Reflection: How does the assurance of salvation through Jesus' authority impact your perspective on life's uncertainties today?

Quotes


God became man in Christ Jesus, the word became flesh and lived among us. One writer says if Jesus were only a man, he would be at an infinite distance from God, and if Jesus was only God, he would be at an infinite distance from us. So here is the marvelous truth at the center of the gospel that God who is at an infinite distance from us has become man in Jesus Christ. [00:01:15]

When did God become Father? The answer is that God has always been Father. He is the everlasting Father. When did Christ become the Son? The answer is He has always been the Son. He is the eternal Son. That is why in John in chapter 17 Jesus speaks to the Father about the glory He says that I shared with you, He says to the Father, before the world began. [00:03:52]

The Son reflects who the Father is. Whoever has seen me, Jesus says, has seen the Father. Now normally we use the word son to describe a dependent relative, but in the Bible, the word son is also used to describe a reflected nature. Let me give you an example. In the book of Acts, we are introduced to a man by the name of Joseph. [00:08:24]

The Son can do nothing of his own accord but only what he sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. Now in the ancient world, at least the vast majority of people did not have to worry about choosing a career. It was all very simple. If you were a boy, you did what your father did. [00:11:26]

Only God gives life, only God can raise the dead, and God alone is the judge of all the world. These are God's things, and Jesus says right here that he does them. Look at verse 20: whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise, for the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. [00:14:12]

The Son gives life as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to those whom he will. Giving life is what the Father does; this belongs to God alone, and Jesus says that's what I do. Then the Son raises the dead. Verse 25: truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is here. [00:15:11]

The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son. So bringing the world to justice is something that only God can do; that is a God thing, and Jesus says, I am the one who will do that. So think about this: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, holds the keys to the womb, to tomb, and to doom. [00:15:54]

As the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. Now, your life is a gift from God that came through the union of your father and your mother. Without them, you would not exist, so honor your father and your mother. Only God has life in himself. [00:17:27]

The Son reflects who the Father is; he is God with us, God in the flesh. The Son does what the Father does; he gives life, he raises the dead, he is the one who will bring the world to justice, he pronounces judgment over every person who has ever lived, and the Son has what the Father has, that is, life in himself. [00:20:32]

God shows his love for us in this: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Now the Bible makes it very clear that the Father laid the guilt and the punishment for our sins on his Son, and that this was a demonstration of God's love. But think about this for a moment: if the Son were not God, the cross would be an act of utter cruelty. [00:24:41]

The Father gave his Son for you, the Son gave himself for you, the Spirit gives himself into the life of all who will believe and receive, and the more you come and see the amazing love that God has for you, the more you really will love him, and that love will lead you to worship, to worship him. [00:36:56]

Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life. Whoever believes, if you will hear this word of Jesus today, believe the Father who sent him, trust the Son who came into the world in order that you may know the Father. [00:34:26]

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Transcript
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