The Beloved Son

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, "Get up, and do not be afraid." And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone (Matthew 17:5-8).

As the Son of God, the Father declared Jesus to possess the same nature, character, and essence that He has. In other words, the Father declared Jesus Christ to be God as He is God. Christians are also declared to be children of God. 

(John 1:12-13) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

(Romans 8:14-17) For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

(1 John 5:1-2) Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 

Christians are, however, adopted into the family of God through salvation in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:15,23; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). Jesus is not a creation of God nor an adopted Son of God - He is God (Romans 1:1-4; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 1:3; 2 John 3). Just as I am of the same essence, character, and nature of my human father, so Jesus is of the same essence, character, and nature of God His Father. He is divine, we are not, nor will we ever be divine.

As His ‘beloved Son’, Jesus holds a special relationship to the Father that we can never hold. Theirs is a relationship of mutual and perfect love, commitment, fellowship, and identification in every aspect of their being. As such, everything about Him - His will and purpose, His words, His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and return - are affirmed as ‘well pleasing’ to the Father, meaning that all things regarding Jesus Christ are irrevocable and irreversible forever.

“Father, thank You for this affirmation regarding Jesus Christ. When there are so many today who reject Him, manipulate His teaching, try to alter or explain away His plan for the ages, Your testimony makes it clear that all He has done, said, and will do will remain forever. What consolation there is in this truth. May all praise and honor and glory be Yours forever, Amen.”

Pastor