by Given O. Blakely

THE SUPERIORITY OF JESUS #4

Thou Art My Son

A poignant question is asked of us. We are to consider it with sobriety and expectation. "For to which of the angels did He ever say: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You'?" (1:5, NKJV). This is a quotation of Psalms 2:7. This strong affirmation of the divinity of Jesus was quoted by Paul at Antioch of Pisidia with reference to the bodily resurrection of Jesus. "And we declare to you glad tidings; that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You'" (Acts 13:33). This is the confirmation of the accessability of salvation! "Today," as you must know, is a significant word in the redemptive economy. It is equivalent to "this is for you," "this is the time," or "it is within your reach." Do you remember some of the Spirit's affirmations? "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21). "Today salvation has come to this house" (Luke 19:9). "But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today'" (Heb 3:13). "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts" (Heb 4:7). It is as though the Spirit were saying, "This is the time of the fulfillment of all the glorious promises of old. The Father has, through the Son, ripped the veil in two, and opened the fountain for cleansing. In reliance upon the Father, and in fulfillment of His eternal purpose, the Son has brought this great salvation within our grasp!" There are places in Scripture where angels are called "the sons of God." "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them . . . "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD . . . When (creation) the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 1:2,6; 38:7). The Spirit, however, does not ask if the angelic order is called "the sons of God." Rather, He asks if any single angel has ever been declared to be God's son. Was there ever a point in time when one of these powerful creatures began to be the son of God! Emphatically, there was not! No angel is the "express image of God!" The fulness of the Godhead does not dwell in any angel. The six-winged seraphim, and the mighty cherubim do not precisely and fully reflect the glory of God! That is something of what is involved in the term "Son of God." God has Never spoken to one of the angelic order in this manner. As faithful as they are, "who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word!" (Psa 103:20), God the Father has never honored a single one of them by saying "Thou art my son!" This is not, then, a trite saying--a sort of theological buzzword! The Son is associated with God in His majesty, and shares in His everlasting throne (Heb 1:3; Rev 3:21). How refreshing to read of the Son, " . . . who was declared the Son of God with power . . . " (Rom 1:4, NASB). 149 times the Holy Spirit refers to "the Son" in Scripture! 35 of those times, Jesus is called simply "the Son," emphasizing the uniqueness of that term. 38 times we read of "the Son of God", showing an exclusive identity with the Father. 69 times He is called "the Son of Man," underscoring that He is the premier man, standing alone in distinctness. Twice God spoke from heaven saying, "This is My . . . Son" (Matt 3:17; 17:5). No elect angel has been afforded such an honor--even though they have no sin, are faithful to fulfill all of their commissions, and abide around the Throne of the Majesty in the heavens! The distinction of "the Son of God" is not WHERE He is, but WHO He is! Over and above even the work of the Son is His Person. With men, WHO they are is generally the result of what they have accomplished. The work of our Lord, however, is impacted by WHO He is. It is true, He has been exalted because of His voluntary and vicarious death. However, that did not change WHO He was! It is not so with the angelic order. The confession of Jesus as "the Son of God" is the single acknowledgment that qualifies the individual for Divine recognition. It is a confession that confirms the Father has blessed the individual (Matt 16:16-17). It qualifies one to be baptized into Christ (Acts 8:37). This mighty confession empowers the believer to overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5). More than that, this is what makes a believer a "believer." We are not believers because we have accepted a humanly conceived creed, or because we do not question the doctrines of a denomination! It is because we believe Jesus Christ is THE Son of God. That sets Him apart from the entire angelic order, to say nothing of mankind!

-- MORE ON THIS TOMORROW -- In joyful expectation of glory Given O. Blakely