"And how shall they preach, except they be sent?"  Romans 10:15a

Who and what are we preaching? Are we beholding the Real Jesus? Are we eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of man? Who and what is the “only begotten” Son of God? Who is Jesus?

Everyone preaches a Jesus, but is the True Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life being preached in the congregations of various denominations of the world including Oneness denominations? “The Chalcedonian Definition” of 451 AD will be stated below as it is the primary defining of Christ as to his Person and nature(s) as the “God-man”. This is not only in Trinitarian denominations, but is the primary stance of Oneness denominations also stating that Christ is the “God-man” who must be expressed as having two natures. The Chalcedonian Definition is the last Christological Council defining the Roman Catholic Church’s stance on the office of Christ, the Son of God. Let’s take a look at it below: 

"Following the holy Father we teach with one voice that the Son [of God] and our Lord Jesus Christ is to be confessed and one and the same [Person], that he is perfect in Godhead and perfect in manhood, very God and very man, of a reasonable soul and [human body] consisting, consubstantial with the Father as touching his Godhead and consubstantial with us as touching his manhood; made in all things like unto us, sin only excepted; begotten of his Father before the worlds according to his Godhead; but these last days for us men and for our salvation born [into the world] of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God according to his manhood. This one and the same Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son [of God] must be confessed to be in two natures, (1) unconfusedly, immutable, and indivisibly, inseparably [united], and (2) that without distinction of natures being taken away by such union, but rather the peculiar property of each nature being preserved and being united in one Person and subsistence, not separated or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son and only-beogtten. God the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Prophets of old time have spoken concerning him, and as the Lord Jesus Christ hath taught us, and as the Creed of the Fathers that delivered to us."

The Chalcedonian Definition above is regarded as the primary stance of the church concerning the Person and natures of Christ.

Amazingly, this is the stance of most Oneness Pentecostals as well as most mainline denominations at this present day. The Christ as defined in the Chalcedonian Definition does not exist in the Word of God; the Definition of Christ is a false Jesus. There are so many errors in this Definition of Christ that it boggles the mind being an intellectual exercise only in trying to explain the Christ, the Son of God without any measure of revelation from God at all. Then why does almost every denomination embrace the Chalcedonian Definition or some terminology derived from it to explain their dogma concerning Jesus as the Christ? The reason is due to no revelation from God.

Why is this so important? It is because the revelation of the Christ, the Son of the living God is the bedrock that the church as the bride of Christ is built upon as stated by Jesus.

The revelation of the Christ as the Son of God is the way to God, for it is this office of the Spirit of God above all others that leads to the knowledge of God, for the Holy Ghost speaks of him. Therefore, God gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers for the working of the ministry, until we all come into the unity of the faith, unto a perfect man, unto the knowledge of the Son of God. It is the Son of God that is the way, the truth, and the life for the believer to grow in knowledge in order to receive the precious promises of God and be partakers of the divine nature, not divine natures as proposed in the title “God-man” as stated in the Chalcedonian Definition of the Roman Catholic Church.

Who knows the Son of God? Who knows the Father? Have we seen the Son of God? Have we seen the Father? Do we know him; or rather, are we known of him? To know the Father is to know the Son of God, and to know the Son is to know the Father in revelation. This knowledge is not an intellectual exercise of the mind, but a revelation of God to the spirit of man through the Holy Ghost in knowing the Father, the Son of God.

According to Jesus’ words as recorded in the gospel of Matthew and Luke, Father and Son must be revealed by the Son, for it is in the office of the Son that God is revealed, not two Persons, but one person having two offices.

Let’s see how God came into time and space in the earthly realm in order to save mankind. Paul gives a step by step account of the semantics of the person and work of God concerning God Himself working salvation in and of Himself.

The form of God is morphe Theos, God as Spirit, made himself of no reputation (Gr. kenoo = emptied out, humbled) in a self imposed limitation in taking upon Himself the form of a servant; that is, being made in the likeness of men or mankind; He was fashioned as a man (not “in a man” but “as a man”. As a man he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even his death upon Calvary. In speaking of natures, God who has a divine nature being pure and holy took upon Himself a human nature of mankind; thus two natures while in the days of His flesh as the Son of God. But God nor the Son of God has two natures, for God and the Son of God has only one nature, and that one nature is divine. For human nature is not God and can never be God. Therefore, God added to Himself a human nature in order to work salvation in and of Himself as a man, then went back to the same glory that He had before He took on a human nature. With that said, that humanity cannot be divinity; we will turn our attention to the office of the Son of God who wholly is divine.

There are two genealogies given of Jesus Christ in the Word of God; one in Matthew as the seed of Abraham, the seed of David and the other in Luke as the lineage tracing back to Adam, “which was the son of God”. Both of these accounts concerning the genealogy of Jesus refer to him as the Son of God. John however does not give the genealogy of Jesus as to lineage, but calls him “the only begotten Son”. It is the office of the Spirit, the Son of God, that this article will be addressed as there is so much division and heresies pertaining to the Son of God as to his nature, character, identity, person, and work.

Suppose that someone offered a billion/trillion dollars to the greatest intellectual minds in the cosmos to ascribe the following criteria to be met in describing Jesus as to His genealogy:

Do you think that some intellectual mind could do it? This is exactly what God revealed of himself in the first book of the New Testament in presenting the genealogy of Jesus. Seven has always been known in Bible numerics as perfection, completion, and consummation, as only God is perfect in nature and character. Thus this man Jesus is the perfection, completion, and consummation as the way, the truth, and the life as reflected in his genealogy.  Luke on the other hand reflects light as Jesus being born a son in the human race, taking part in it as an Adam or mankind, just like you and me with the genealogy going back to Adam. One point of note in Luke’s Gospel is that Mary “shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called, the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33). Notice that Mary conceives a son being a human being only; she does not birth the Spirit of God. Secondly, this son as a fleshly human being “shall be called the Son of the Highest:” is yet future tense, a time in the future when this human son will be proclaimed “the Son of God”. John does not refer to genealogy in literally listing each “begat” or “the son of” in lineage, but simply calls Jesus “the only begotten Son of God” as the Word made flesh. Again, we are focusing upon the “Son of God”. There is a reason “the only begotten Son of God” is cited in John’s Gospel alone.

It is important to note that neither Matthew, nor Mark, nor Luke called Jesus the “only begotten” Son of God, but only John who did not record a genealogy. Mark did not list the genealogy as did Matthew and Luke, but simply called Jesus, the Son of God. There is a reason why this “only begotten Son of God” is referenced in John’s gospel alone and not in the other three. 

We will turn our attention to the term “only begotten” which is seen in the New Testament only nine times. The nature and characteristics of the “only begotten” will be our focus. The “only begotten” is a compound of Greek words “monos” and “genes”, or “monogenes”. For the meaning, we will look to the Word of God alone in order to determine the meaning of “the only begotten” or “monogenes”; “mono” meaning “only” and “genes” meaning “genos”. The important thing to note here is that the Greek “genos” means “kind, type” with a verb “made” being “ginomai” meaning “to be or become”; therefore, the definition of “only begotten” being “one of a kind”, “one and only”, “unique”, “of one unique descent”. “Genes” or “genos” is seen by some Greek scholars as strengthening the “mono” translating it as “alone”, “sole”, “solitary”, “unique”, “incomparable” (cannot be compared to any other). The “only begotten” as an office of the Spirit of God is incomparable as to any other and cannot be compared to Adam, mankind, angels; that is, “only begotten” is a sole, unique, solitary office of the Spirit of God.

Some believe that “only begotten” constitutes Jesus being born of the virgin Mary. But birth alone does not constitute Jesus as the “only begotten” as we will discuss in the following scriptures when using the Bible terminology “only begotten” in conjunction with the Son of God.

Did Abraham have only one born son? No, for Abraham had eight sons: Ishmael (Genesis 16:15), Isaac (Genesis 21:3), and six other sons by Keturah which were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishabak, and Shuah (Genesis 25:1,2). Isaac was not Abraham’s first born son, neither was Isaac Abrahams only son of his flesh, but Isaac was the unique son of his old age, being the promised seed from God.  The Greek word “monogenes” “only begotten” has been misunderstood in that it does not mean “born” but rather “sole, unique, only, one of a kind”. “Only begotten” or “monogenes” is used five times by John, three by Luke, and once by Paul in Hebrews. We have cited Paul’s use of “only begotten” in the book of Hebrews when referring to Isaac. Here are more examples of “only begotten”.

What does the term “only begotten” have to do when used of the “Son of God”; that is, the “only begotten Son of God”? Everyone will agree that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary as to the flesh. But does birth alone constitute His being the “only begotten”? Let’s examine a few scriptures as to this unique, one of a kind, office of the Spirit called the “only begotten Son of God”. If the “only begotten” or “monogenes” referred to Jesus being birthed or born of a virgin alone and not to a greater revelation, then Adam could possibly be referenced as more unique in his being created since he was not born of a man or woman at all, but created by God. However, Jesus is the incomparable, unique, sole, solitary Son of God; much greater in uniqueness than Adam or angels or anything created.

The Son of God has the sole, unique, exact nature and character of God. The Son of God has only one nature, and that is the nature of God. Jesus as the only begotten had this unique glory as the Son of God, not two natures, but one and only. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14). Again, notice the position of the Son of God in this following scripture: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:18). Jesus being the same essential nature as the Father allowed him to reveal God as no other could. Consider the following scripture. Someone will no doubt say at this point that they have been taught two natures in Christ Jesus as the Son of God forever. Let’s take a good look at the scriptures by the leading of the Holy Ghost to help us in this area pertaining to the identity of the only begotten Son of God.

The key word here is “dwelleth”, the Greek “meno” meaning “to remain, abide, to remain as one, not to become another or different”. [1] The only begotten Son of God is the brightness of God’s glory, and the express image of his (God’s) person. (Hebrews 1:3). The express image is God’s character and nature in one manifestation, not a copy, but the actual die cast mold of God’s person. Major Point to be accentuated: Jesus Christ as the Son of God is the only one of a kind revealing the exact character of God, the exact nature of God, and the exact attributes of God. The Son of God is the absolute manifestation of the Father in glory, nature, and character.

There are three instances in the Word of God where “only begotten” or “monogenes” is not used, but “begotten” or “gennao” meaning “born, begotten”; as it is referenced to the literal time of birthing.[2] This is not referencing the “only begotten” as “monogenes”, but “begotten” as “gennao”. It is important to understand that Jesus was born the Christ, the Lord, the only begotten Son of God whose name is Jesus. But it must be also noted that Jesus had to obtain that name in the same way that God made that same Jesus who was crucified both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36). Someone will declare that Jesus was already born Christ the Lord, having the name Jesus, and was already the only begotten Son of God. And to that we reply an emphatic “yes!” But he was not declared to be the Son of God until a later date as we shall endeavor to prove by the Word.

The name of a person in the Word of God has great significance since the name denoted the character, nature, attributes, and essence of the person. Jesus being given the name of God at birth in vocation, Jesus also had to obtain the name JESUS by obedience, making the captain of our salvation perfect through sufferings. In other words, JESUS was God’s name by inheritance being vocation and that being Salvation; JESUS being God’s name in Salvation by destination to the cross of Calvary; thus, obtaining the name through obedience unto death. JESUS name reveals vocation, essence, destination, and glorification. Therefore God has given him a name that is above every name because of his obedience. Since the name of a person denotes the nature, character, and attributes and essence of the person, JESUS being the Greek “Yesh-shua” or “Yeshua” being “YHWH is Salvation”; therefore the name JESUS is the name of the Father as the Self Existent Eternal God who has become our Salvation.

When was Jesus declared to be the Son of God? When did God literally “begotten” him as to His Son? It is only after the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus is he called by God, “thou art my Son”. This is of primary importance in having the true revelation of the Son of God as shown by Luke in the book of Acts stated below.

The scripture being referenced in the above is a quote from the Psalms.

In all of the above scriptures, the Father called the Son of God “begotten” at a specific time; that is, after resurrection and glorification; for the only begotten Son of God is the redemption or salvation office of God which was not completed until his death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. In Jesus’ exaltation being given all power in heaven and in earth, the Son of God is YHWH (God) is Salvation; the name JESUS being declared to be the Son of God since the redemption price was paid in full by the Son of God. Here is another scripture to be examined as relating the same point as to the only begotten Son of God. Notice as to the time when Jesus is declared to be the Son of God.

There is a difference when the Son of God is declared to be the Son of God than from his birth, being a particular time designated by the Father as the time that God declares him begotten. The Son of God has only one nature, one character, is one sole, unique, solitary one of a kind which cannot be compared to Adam, mankind, angels, or anything in heaven nor in earth; that being “God manifested”. This is not Son of God manifested as an Eternal Son who was with the Father, but “God manifested”. The Son of God is God’s exact manifestation; that is, God’s exact manifestation of His glory, His nature, His character, His attributes, His Person.

Let’s take an inanimate object for an example of manifestation. The Bible you hold in your hand is the Word of God. The Word of God is Spirit, but the Bible you hold is the physical manifestation of the Spiritual Word as written by holy men of God as the God breathed scriptures, the Word of God. Now, carry this over to the perfect animation being the life, the way, the truth, the Spirit, the perfect and exact Manifestation of God. Who and what is it? The Son of God!

Paul will give us great insight as to the Son of God, in Person and nature. Is Jesus the God-man or the man that is God? How you answer will prove as to whether you have a pure revelation of the Son of God, or simply following basic Oneness theology which is stereotyped after the Chalcedonian Definition of 451 AD confessing the God-man in two natures in the Son of God. The absolute Son of God has never had two natures, one human and one divine when one realizes that the Son of God was begotten some 33 ½ years after being born of the virgin Mary. The Son of God was begotten by God in his exaltation and glorification, being on the throne of God being God’s perfect and absolute Revelation in manifestation having one divine nature disputing the Chalcedonian Definition as to Christ, the Son of God having two natures, one divine and one human; called the God-man.

John stated that we must believe in (trust in, adhere to, and obey) the Son of God in order to have everlasting life. Most think that they already have a revelation of the Son of God and have need of nothing. But as for me, I will continue on to know God, growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, unto the knowledge of the Son of God.

Again, Christ, the Son of God has one divine nature, begotten of God after his exaltation and glorification who is one of a kind, sole, solitary, and unique, never has been one like Him, and never will be One after Him, the Son of God.  Glory to God is only through Jesus Christ forever.

The Son of God is come, not has come, for this is the witness that God gave of His Son; that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; knowing this true God, that we may believe on the name of the Son of God; so that we may know that we have eternal life. To discern spirits is to confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, not has come. (1 John 1).

This is a brief synopsis. For those who are interested, may I suggest getting the DVD series titled “The Son of God” listed on the website which has over three hours of teaching? God bless you and yours in His Wonderful name JESUS.