Most Christians say Christ Jesus is the Son of God. But, in truth, regarding this point, most Christians don’t believe the very thing they claim.
Let me explain.
How many sons does God have?
In the case of Genesis 6:2 and 6:4, it is referring to human beings who remain loyal to God. These are they who by obedience choose God as their Father. Human beings choose who their Father is, whether it be God or whether it be Satan. (See Romans 6:16, John 8:44) However, human beings are not literal physical sons of God because they “Came Forth” from human parents. So human beings “Become” sons of God by way of adoption. (Ephesians 1:4-5, Galatians 4:5)
In the case of Job 1:6, and Job 2:1, the sons of God being referenced here are angelic beings. Angels are sons of God by way of creation. (See Psalm 104:4, Hebrews 1:7, Nehemiah 9:6) Angels have no birth parents because they do not marry or have children. (Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:25) They were created directly by God as was Adam. Adam, being human, had no birth parents, but unlike angels, he was able to marry and have children.
When it comes to Jesus, however, scripture tells us that He is God’s “Only Begotten Son” (See John 1:18, John 3:16, John 3:18, 1 John 4:9). This is where many Christians get tripped up. Most people do not really believe that Christ is the literal Son of God. We certainly do believe that Christ was born of the virgin Mary. But most of us will have nothing to do with the idea that Christ was born of God the Father. If Christ was simply born of Mary, He would have to be adopted to become Son of God, like every other human who chooses God as Father. But Jesus was Son of God way before He was born of Mary. (See Daniel 3:25, Proverbs 30:4) The Bible speaks of God’s only begotten Son. How can God have only one begotten Son seeing He has so many? The whole universe is full of His children. But they are all either by creation or by adoption. Christ, however, is the only one who is God’s Son by birth. If we only take scripture as it reads, the confusion is eliminated.
It is often mentioned that the word “Begotten” in the New Testament must be translated as “Unique” because the Greek word for begotten is “Monogenes”. However, as we are not Greek scholars, we fail to recognize the multiple uses of the word. To help with our understanding, we can turn to the Blue Letter Bible and use the tools it supplies. The word monogenēs (Strong's number G3439) is used 9 times in the New Testament. Each and every time the word is used, it is within the context of an only child son/daughter of a parent. (Read More) To determine the meaning of a word with multiple definitions, we must rely on how the word is used in context.
Proverbs 8:22-30 is in reference to Christ’s origin. If you read verse 25 in other versions you will see that it is in reference to a birth. (See NLT, NIV, AMP, CSB, EXB, GNV, CEV, ERV, EASY, GW, GNT, JUB, NASB, NIRV, NIVUK) Many will say that Proverbs 8:22-30 is in reference to wisdom. Yes, it is indeed in reference to wisdom. In this context, wisdom is a metaphor for Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30) Suppose we want to believe that Proverbs 8 is saying that wisdom was born sometime in eternity past. In that case, we will have to deal with the conflicting irony that God, who is all-knowing, had no intelligence before He was all-knowing. It would mean that before God created anything, He had no knowledge and that He gave birth to His own intelligence at some point. This of course is not the case.
The KJV as well as many others, use the phrase “Brought Forth”. If we read how Eve expressed her birth of Cain, we see that she uses the same phrase. (See Genesis 4:1) We can look at this phrase throughout scripture and see that it is used in the context of birth. Vegetation “brings forth” fruit, animals “bring forth” baby animals, and the land “brings forth” crops. (See Genesis 1:12, Genesis 30:39, Genesis 40:10, Genesis 41:47, Psalm 51:5, Song of Solomon 8:5, Isaiah 45:10, Isaiah 51:18, Ezekiel 31:6, Matthew 1:25, Luke 1:57, Luke 2:7)
Christ’ wording is very similar when speaking about His birth from the Father. (See John 8:42, John 16:27-30, John 17:8) The Pharisees called Christ a blasphemer because He said God was His Father. (See John 5:18) Christ never claimed to be God, but He claimed to be His Son on various occasions. (See Matthew 27:43, Luke 22:70, John 10:36) Peter acknowledged Christ as the Son of God. (See Matthew 16:16) How can everyone back then get it right, yet most of us today get it wrong? Christ had the valid label of “Son of God” because He was the only one God gave birth to. Yes, that sounds strange, but that’s what scripture teaches. John 3:16 says that God “gave His only begotten Son” to us so that we would not perish. The reason God gave His only begotten Son is that He already had a begotten Son to give, to begin with.
This is strange to us because we have been led to believe that Christ, just like the Father, never had a beginning. But scripture never says that. Proverbs 8:25 says that Christ was begotten. In the book of Daniel, we see a metaphor of Christ being symbolized as a “Rock” cut out of a mountain. (See Daniel 2:34-35, 45) This “Rock” is Christ. It was once part of the “Mountain”. The Mountain is a metaphor for God the Father. The Rock was cut out of the Mountain, but not by any human agency. This illustrates the fact that Christ was “Brought Forth” from the Father.
SDA Conference leaders have adopted a new and strange doctrine. This doctrine became prevalent when it was voted into our fundamental beliefs back in 1980. (Read More) This was done to align the church more closely with mainstream Christian theology. The “Mainstream Christian Theology” is another way of saying the “Christian Majority”. This includes Catholics and protestants. (Read More) The SDA leadership admits that this so-called Trinitarian concept is nowhere found in scripture, instead it is an assumed fact.
“While no single Scripture passage states the doctrine of the Trinity, it is assumed as a fact... only by faith can we accept the existence of the Trinity.” — (Adventist Review, Vol. 158, No. 31, p. 4, (For Further Reading ←You can see the above quote on the second page, section C of this link.)
The Trinitarian doctrine denies the true sonship of Christ because the Trinity claims that three literal beings make up God. If that were true, all three would have no beginning. This nullifies completely the Father/Son relationship. This concept transforms the Father and Son relationship into a symbolic metaphor. In short, it claims there is no literal Father and no literal Son. The Bible does not teach that. Instead, the Bible says that Christ was begotten before anything was created. (Proverbs 8:22) But most Christians believe that Christ is Son of God only by virtue of being born of Mary. Christ differentiates His sonship of God and of men. He calls Himself Son of God (Matthew 27:43) by virtue of the fact that He was begotten of God, His divine Father. He also called Himself Son of man. (Matthew 20:28) by virtue of the fact that He was born of Mary, a human mother. He was begotten of God before anything was created.(Proverbs 8:22 NLT, DRA, TLB)
Christ has referred to Himself in many ways. Many times He spoke of Himself in the third person.
Son of man (Matthew 24:27,30, Mark 10:45)
The Comforter (John 14:16, 15:26)
The Helper (John 16:7)
The most controversial is when He calls Himself the comforter. He most definitely refers to the Comforter as some other being. (John 14:16) But if we let scripture explain itself, we realize Christ is referring to Himself. Jesus says plainly that He will not leave His people comfortless, He will come to them Himself. (John 14:18) We know that the word “Comforter” is a translation from the Greek word “Parakletos”. Parakletos is also translated as “Helper” and also as “Advocate”. In 1 John 2:1 we find the word “Parakletos” translated as “Advocate”. Every occurrence of “Comforter” is from the Greek word “Parakletos”. But in 1 John 2:1, “Parakletos” is translated to “Advocate” where it clearly identifies who the Advocate really is. To further clarify who the Holy Spirit is, we can go to Acts 20:28 where it leaves no room for doubt as to the identity of the Holy Spirit. It says that the Holy Spirit made us overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He (the Holy Spirit) purchased with His own blood. We know that it was Christ who shed His blood for His chosen elect. So the Holy Spirit is Christ Himself.
So why do most Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is another person all to himself? The reason for this is that the Holy Spirit is referred to as having intelligence, emotions, and qualities that a person would have. But once we realize who the Holy Spirit really is, these qualities become obvious.
Scripture says that God is Spirit and that we must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) This Spirit originates from God the Father. It “proceeds” from Him.(John 14:26) God the Father is a Holy God, since He is Spirit, His Spirit is Holy, thus the reason He is called the Holy Spirit. When the Father begat His Son, He shared His Holy Spirit with His Son. This is the reason the Holy Spirit is also referred to as the “Spirit of Christ”. (Romans 8:9, Philippians 1:19, Galatians 4:6) Both the Father and His Son share this same Holy Spirit. When Christ told the disciples that He would send them another Comforter, He was saying He would come to them in another form. That Spirit contained both the Father and the Son. (See John 14:23) Notice what Chist is saying to them. He is still talking about this Comforter. He says that whoever keeps His word will be loved by His Father. And to this He adds “and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” This means that this Conforter (Holy Spirit) is shared by both.
The belief that the Holy Spirit is a third entity all to itself, is not supported in scripture. Nowhere in scripture is found that there are three individual beings that make up one God. In fact, nowhere in scripture is found that there are two beings making up one God. But you will find repeatedly that there is “One True God” (John 17:3) who has an “Only Begotten Son”. (1 John 4:9) And it was only between them both that they consulted together in regards to the plan of Salvation referred to as the “Counsel of Peace”. (Zechariah 6:13) It was decided way back, before anything was created, that Christ “God’s Only Begotten Son”, would become the “Lamb Slain from the foundation of the world…” (Revelation 13:8, NIRV, NLT)
Christ’s sonship to His Father is real and literal, not metaphorical. This means that Christ had a birth date. The only one that never had a beginning was the Father. Christians claim Christ is eternal with no beginning and no end. But scripture teaches no such thing. Micah 5:2 says that Christ’s “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” KJV What does that mean? Is it saying He is eternal? Look at it carefully. Notice the context. Is it telling us (When He came) or (Where He came from)?
If someone asks you, where do you come from? Would you respond with “I came from two years ago.”? Or would you say, “I came from Chicago.”? The context shows that Christ came “From” a place called “Everlasting”. Of course, in our language that makes no sense. But understand that this time frame was during a period that “Time” itself was not created yet. Read Proverbs 8:22 again. In the EXB version, it says:
“The Lord ·begot [or acquired; possessed] me ·when he began his work [ at the beginning of his path], long before he made anything else.”
There was nothing created yet when Christ was born to His Father. So how do you call this place where nothing exists and has no time reference? We call it “Eternity”.
“whose goings forth are from of old, from the days of eternity.” DARBY“
and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity.” DRA
“His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity.” EHV
“His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.” HCSB
“His existence has been from antiquity, even from eternity.” ISV
Since the author of this statement could not reference a place or a time because neither was yet created, he referenced a time period unknown to human understanding. This is when and where Christ originated from. Nothing existed because it was through Christ that everything came to be. (Colossians 1:16)
“...All things were created through Him and for Him.”
Why did Christ accept worship? He accepted worship because His Father commanded it to be so. (See Hebrews 1:6) What gives Christ the right to receive worship? He has the right to receive worship because He was given all the authority His Father possesses. (See Matthew 28:18) Isn’t worship reserved for God alone? Although Christ is not God, He is however, the same nature as His Father. (See Philippians 2:6-11) Before His incarnation, Christ was in the “Form” of God. He possessed the exact likeness of His Father. (See Colossians 1:15 AMP) Understand, Christ is the image of the Original. He is not the Original, He is the Image of the Original. As a Son, Christ possessed, in a sense, the same DNA as His Father. He was of the same substance as His Father. Since His Father is God, Christ also has the same God nature as His Father. God the Father is greater than His Son. (See John 14:28) Not only during the time He was on Earth, He was always subordinate to His Father as Michael the Archangel. Angel means messenger, so He was the Arch Messenger of all the heavenly hosts. He was known as “The Angel of the Lord”. (See Exodus 3:2) God the Father has always been the head of Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 11:3) God is above all. He is the head of Christ, and Christ is the head of everyone else. For that reason He made Adam the head of Eve. He set that hierarchy for the sake of the angels. (See 1 Corinthians 11:10) So Christ’s authority is supreme over all creation. But His Father is supreme over all creation including His Son. Christ accepted worship by virtue of being the Son of God. He possessed the same divine attributes as His Father.