Jesus Christ the Only Son of God
The opportunity to preach or teach Jesus Christ as the Son of God is never far from us.
All of the early disciples experience this. The First Century Church experienced persecution for this sole reason. They preached and taught that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
“And when [Saul] had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus,” (Acts 9:19).
Now it’s Saul of Tarsus’ opportunity to turn the tables. He consented to the death of Stephen as he preached Jesus.
However, he is about to begin his apostolic ministry by doing the identical thing. He too shall preach that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. What does this mean, that he is the Son of God?
“And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God,” (Acts 9:20).
Two Initial Prerequisites for Sons of God
First, I want us to be cognizant that there are many sons of God, but only one Son of God.
To say this differently, there is only one Begotten Son of God. Or only one begotten of the Father. Second, his name is Jesus Christ (John 1:14; 3:16).
Adam is also a son of God. So too is Lucifer. God is their father. He created them. Third, we who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ are also sons of God.
We don’t automatically become sons of God. Scriptures direct us to two initial prerequisites to become sons of God: receive and believe.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” (John 1:12).
Is Of Son of God a Name?
Therefore, to become a son of God one must first receive the gospel that teaches that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and then one believes in the power inherent in the name Jesus Christ, which saves us from our sins.
Consequently, “Son of God” is not a name. It’s nothing more than a descriptive phrase that points us to the name.
“These things have I written unto you that believe onthe name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God,” (1 John 5:13).
Here, Apostle John was writing to Believers. He was writing to strengthen our faith in God and our assurance of eternal life with Christ.
If you can’t receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and believe on his name you cannot be a son of God.
If You Can’t Receive His Word How Could You Receive His Spirit?
As a result of satisfying those two initial criteria written of above, then we can move on to better things.
If you can’t receive the words of Jesus Christ or those he sends, how could you receive his Spirit? His Spirit comes by hearing and receiving and believing the Word of God.
And if you have not his Spirit, He (the Spirit) cannot direct or lead you.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God,” (Romans 8:14).
So, if we reject that Jesus is the Son of God neither are we the sons of God. We are without His Spirit.
Beloved now are we the sons of God
Then we couldn’t declare:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is,” (1 John 3:2).
Because we have not attained to son-ship, if we despise the name: Jesus Christ.
Recall too, that Apostle Paul through the Letter to the Romans was addressing one of the Gentile Churches that he had established. He was speaking to Believers.
Saul Excessively Zealous to Destroy “Jesus-name” People
They had already received and believed in the name Jesus Christ. Therefore, this epistle of his was to stir up their hearts to continue in what they started. Believing in Jesus Christ.
Saul was excessively zealous to destroy the “Jesus-name” people. He excelled at this in Jerusalem. Now he is in Damascus to do the identical thing. He plans to arrest anyone who calls on the name: Jesus Christ.
The people knew this.
“But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? (Acts 9:21).
These scriptures are not here by accident or mistake. They are present to teach us and for us to know what happened to those who believed in Christ before us. We must learn from them!
“But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ,” (Acts 9:22).
See How Life Consists of Cycles?
Can you imagine how angry the Jews were at Saul? Especially when he told them, the “Son” that David spoke and wrote about in the Psalms is Jesus Christ.
For David, speaking of Jesus tells us:
“I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee,” (Psalm 2:7).
They were so infuriated that they decided that the only way to stop the preaching and teaching that this Jesus is the Son of God, is to kill Saul.
“And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him,” (Acts 9:23).
See how life consist of cycles? Saul has come full-circle. He has been killing all who call on the name Jesus Christ.
However, now the tables are turned: the Jews who gave him authority and power to destroy these Christians plan to murder him for the same reason. Because, now, Saul teaches that this same Jesus is Christ; the Son of God.
He has begun to build that which he has been destroying up until now: the name of Jesus Christ.
The Son of God Creates a New End for You
What we start with in life is what we will end it with. Life follows a cycle. The end is the beginning and the beginning is the end.
But there’s hope. Inject Jesus Christ into the cycle of your life and he will create a new end for you.
Believe his Words. Believe the words of all those he sends to speak to you. Believe that he is the only begotten of the Father and you will become a son of God.
Then your end will become eternal life with Christ. Our lives started without hope and God in this world, but Jesus Christ gives us hope in Him. Trust in Christ.
“But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him,”. (Acts 9:24).
“But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him,”. (Acts 9:24).
Now” we are sons of God because we received the words of Jesus Christ and believed them, (1 John 3:2).
