| Our sermon text for this Lord’s Day we will be Hebrews 1:1-14. We will be using this text to explain the portion of the Apostles’ Creed which says, “I believe… in Jesus Christ, His only Son…” Our focus will be on the importance of Jesus as the “only Son” of God the Father.
Some people, when reciting the Apostles’ Creed, will add the word “begotten” between “only” and “Son.” This variation has ample Scriptural support, as you can see from verse 5 of our text (which is a quotation from Psalm 2:7).
To say that Jesus is the only “begotten” Son of God has been a confusing statement for many Christians. Several of the cults, most notably the Jehovah’s Witnesses, understand the word “begotten” to mean that Jesus is a created being. This, of course, is a heretical teaching because orthodox Christianity teaches that Jesus has been eternally present; without beginning; co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
So if “begotten” doesn’t mean that Jesus was created, then what does it mean? And why is this important to us? Aren’t those who are regenerate considers “sons and daughters” of God? If so, then why does the creed say that Jesus is the “only” Son?
We will seek to answer these and other questions about God the Son’s relationship with God the Father in this coming sermon. |
