Sermon Central
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The Sonship Names Lesson 5 Series
Contributed by Elmer Towns on Aug 5, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: The first time Jesus is called Son: “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’”
The Four Main Uses of Son
“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” John 3:13-18
1. The first time Jesus is called Son: “I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You’” (Psa. 2:7).
a. The word day is not an event but the past eternal day. Jesus has always been God’s Son.
b. The word begotten means unique likeness. Jesus is just like the Father.
c. Theologians call this eternal generation.
2. His Son. “God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world” (John 3:1). Refers to Jesus’ special relationship to the Father. Jesus calls Himself Son 10 times in John 5:19-27.
3. The Son of God, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).
a. A reference to Jesus’ deity and sinless nature.
b. The personification of God Himself.
4. The Son of Man “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven” (John 3:13).
a. Jesus’ favorite name for Himself (no one else called Him this).
b. Only once did He call Himself Jesus (Acts 9:5) and once called Himself Lord (Matt. 22:43).
c. This title showed He fulfilled Messianic expectation.
d. Why? The newness factor; Jesus acquired something He never had before, a human nature.
e. Three contexts in which Son of Man is used:
(1) In relationship to His human ministry (Luke 19:10).
(2) In relationship to His cross ministry (Luke 9:22).
(3) In relationship to His second coming (Luke 18:8).
5. The only Begotten Son. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
a. Two Hebrew words for son:
(1) God says, “Thou art My Son” (Ps. 2:7). The word “Ben” refers to the father’s nature (Psa. 2:7)
(2) The word “Bar” refers to the father’s legacy or inheritance (Psa. 2:12).
6. The Carpenter’s Son (Matt. 13:55), a link to Joseph and Jesus’ business trade.
7. The Son of Mary (Mark 6:3), a human link to His mother and His human nature.
The liberals today struggle to prove His deity.
The early church struggled to prove His humanity.
8. The Son of David (Mark 10:47), a link to His Kingship.
9. The Son from Heaven (1 Thess. 1:10), a link to His pre-existence.
10. The Beloved Son (Matt. 3:17) shows the love of the Heavenly Father for Jesus.
11. The Son of Abraham (Matt. 1:1) shows Jesus’ Jewish ancestry.
12. Son of the Most High (Mark 5:7). Satan’s title for Jesus. Lucifer couldn’t have God’s nature, so he wanted to “be like the Most High God” (Isa. 14:14). Lucifer wanted to be like El Elyon the possessor of heaven and earth.
13. The Son of the Blessed (Mark 14:61). At the trial of Jesus, the High Priest wouldn’t use God’s name in connection with Jesus, he used the title “Blessed.” It is as close to deity as he could come.
14. The Son who is consecrated forever more (Heb. 7:28, a link to His eternal priesthood).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
