The Only Begotten

by R.A. Parker, Stoke-on- Trent, England | Category: General | Nov 1995

It is a rewarding meditation to take time to consider the five references in the New Testament which contain the title, the Only Begotten Son.

David the Psalmist is used by the Spirit of God in the second Psalm to

write of the decree as the words of the Son:

I will tell of the decree: The LORD said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee (2:7).

The day of begetting in this verse has been described as the day of eternity, having neither beginning nor end, which has no yesterday or tomorrow. It is a declaration of the eternal counsels of Deity concerning the eternal Son of the eternal Father. In the light of such amazing revelation we can only bow in faith and accept what the Spirit of God has declared.

With these thoughts in mind, let us now consider the five occurrences of the title 'the Only Begotten'.

(1) We beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The Greek word for glory is doxa, which really means a notion or an opinion which one has of a thing or a person. So that glory is an expression of esteem, honour, praise and adoration because of the qualities, virtues and attributes seen in any one who deserves praise and celebration. His glory was seen on earth among men. It was a transcending degree of excellence, honour, splendour, praise and worthiness which flowed out of the character of the only begotten of the Father. He was no ordinary person dwelling among men. He was the only Man having a divine nature. All His actions and words were full of grace and truth. He counted others better than Himself and it was impossible for Him to lie (cf. John 8:45). His behaviour showed He was a unique Person. From His conversation it was clear He has a Father. By His actions and ways it was evident He always pleased Him.

He has infinite ability. He can turn water into wine. He can heal people at the point of death without being present with them. He can cure longstanding illness, even from birth. He can take five barley loaves and two fish and feed more than 5,000 people. He can walk on the sea. He can open blind eyes, even of someone born blind. These signs were aids to help people believe who He is. The signs showed out or manifested His glory and His disciples believed on Him (John 2:11). But the reaction of the multitude was amazement and fear, and glorifying God they said, 'We have seen strange things today' (Luke 5:26) and 'A great Prophet hath arisen among us: and God hath visited His people' (Luke 7:16).

The glory was not characteristic of man's sin-tainted ability, but characteristic of a sinless, Supreme Being (John 9:30). The excellence, honour, esteem and praise-worthiness was glory as of the only begotten from the Father. The character of the Father was seen in the glory of the Son who came into the world to save sinners.

(2) The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father; He hath declared Him (John 1:18).

It has often been pointed out that the term 'only begotten' does not necessarily mean an only child but rather one upon whom affection is concentrated (see Gen. 22:2, 12, 16; Heb. 11:17).

Never at any time has man seen God. Any knowledge we have of God can only come through the Son of God and the Word of God by the operation of the Spirit of God in our hearts. One of the great mysteries of the Godhead is the eternal relationships between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Since the relationships are eternal they can never be severed. If severance were possible, then when the Word became flesh He would have been no longer in the bosom of the Father. In fact although He became flesh He is at the same time in the bosom of the Father.

This scripture establishes and declares that the eternal Son, being the centre of the affection of the Father, dwells in the bosom the Father from all eternity to all eternity. Who then is more fitted and able to declare to men all that the Father is, than the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father? Who also is more able to be used by the Spirit of God to convey this fact to men, than the follower of the Lord Jesus, who is described five times as the disciple whom Jesus loved, and frequently reclined in His bosom? (see John 13:23 etc).

(3) God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Some of the most profound statements regarding the Godhead are found in John's Gospel and his epistles. John by the Spirit reveals the very nature or essence of God in three declarations: God is Spirit, God is Light and God is Love. They essentially describe God's substance (Gr. hupostasis) out of which flow God's image or likeness (Gr. charakter). By way of illustration, the word 'hupostasis' may be represented by the form of a seal, which when applied to wax, the precise and accurate likeness of the seal (hupostasis) is impressed in the wax (charakter). Similarly, a coin which is struck from a die bears the precise and accurate likeness of the die. So that the character or image of God springs from God's nature or essence.

The love of God has been demonstrated to the world by the Father giving the Son so that the world might live through Him. God's love has two facets contained in two Greek words agape and philia. The first is not the love of affection drawn out by the excellency or desirability of its objects. It has been described as loving that has no cause outside itself. The other is distinguished from the first in that it represents tender affection. Both words are used for the love of the Father for the Son (John 3:35; 5:20).

In John 3:16 the intensity and profundity of God's love for the world is stated. God so loved that He gave. The love of men tires, wanes and varies. Our love is oftimes low, but the love of God is eternal, unchanging and enduring as His nature.

When God's creature man fell short of His glory by Adam's transgression, God intervened in human affairs to save man on the basis of agape love. He loved the world even though the world was lost and ruined by the Fall. The intensity of agape love for the world is measured by the statement, 'God so loved ... that He gave His only begotten Son'.

The degree of giving enabled God to extend to everyone who accepts the gift of His only begotten Son freedom from sin's penalty. To perish does not mean annihilation, but rather to suffer ruin and loss, not of existence or being, but of well-being. In love, God gave to save from ruin and loss. In believing, man receives the gift of eternal well-being and eternal happiness.

(4) He that believeth on Him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the Name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18).

In His Word, the Bible, God has revealed that all the actions and words of men are subject to His judgements. All men from Adam onwards are accountable to the eternal, Triune God. Sinning is falling short of God's requirements. Sin both root and branch was judicially dealt with on the Cross by the Lord Jesus, the only begotten Son, to His Father's entire satisfaction. By the grace and mercy of God extended to men an individual may know annulment of sin by simple trust in what God has said in His Word and what God has done through His Son at Calvary.

The person who does not trust or does not believe on the Name of God's only begotten Son is considered by God to be judged already for his or her sin and sins. Believing the salvation associated with His Name wipes out our sin and sins. It wipes the slate clean. Unbelief treats the giving of God's Son with contempt, and for such treatment there can only be the judgement of God on the person who so behaves. The Scriptures are perfectly clear, the judgement rests upon them or as another passage in John says, the wrath of God abideth or remains upon him.

The Father loves the Son with a love that has no cause outside itself and has given into His hands eternal life to give to those who believe on His Name. He therefore that has the Son has the life, and believing on His Name is the key to God removing judgement and man obtaining eternal life.

(5) Herein was the Jove of God manifested in our case (RVM), that God hath sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him (1 John 4:9).

This verse is the complement of John 3:16. In that case, God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son. It is whoever you are. Here it is more personal. In our case, God's love is brought to the light by the sending of His only begotten Son into the world.

In summary: John 3:16 states the motive, which is primary, having results in the future. I John 4:9 states the action flowing Out of the motive. John 3:16 states the purpose or aim of God's love for the future. 1 John 4:9 states the result of rejecting the Son of God's love.

Through His Son comes not only life to men from God but also the possibility of living that eternal life on earth here and now.

R.A. Parker, Stoke-on- Trent, England | Nov 1995
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