Word of Salvation – Vol.51 No.24 – June 2006
The Only Son Makes Each Of Us A Son
A Sermon by Rev Sjirk Bajema
on Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 13
Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18
Congregation in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Confession in the Heidelberg Catechism continues looking at the titles of the second person of the triune Godhead stated in the Apostles’ Creed. So after having considered the name “Jesus”, which means “Saviour”, and which tells us about His mission; and after considering the name “Christ”, which is His “Office”, His anointing; we now look at God the Son personally.
Let me explain. You can know what I have come here to do; you can know the position I hold to be able to do it; but if our relationship develops don’t you naturally want to know more about where I’m from as a person? Isn’t it when we start to relate personally that we really get to know someone?
This is where the Scripture in John chapter 1 ties in. There we have Jesus’ background. And what revealing words they are about Jesus. As John starts, in the verses 1 to 3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
That’s sure some family He’s from! And John goes on later, in verse 14, “The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Then John adds even more, really confirming where this Jesus is from. Verse 18 says, “No one has ever seen God, but God the only Son, who’s at the Father’s side, has made him known.”
No wonder that Jesus is called in our creed “God’s only begotten Son.” He’s the true Relative – the only One who can properly convey His Father’s will. So the Catechism says that He’s called God’s only begotten Son, “Because Christ alone is the eternal, natural Son of God.”
How do we know this is His character? Which way will we realise the first point… JESUS CHRIST AS THE ONLY SON?
Well, He is the Son of God. That’s shown right throughout the Bible. We’re told in Philippians 2 that He’s in very nature God; in John 17 that after His ascension He received back the glory which He had with the Father before the world began; in Ephesians 1 that He never leaves His Church and that He fills all in all; in Acts 1 that He knows everything and He hears all prayers; in Matthew 28 that he’s all powerful; and from our reading in John 1 that He’s eternal.
These qualities are far removed from anything we can do or be. These characteristics aren’t found in our families.
And then let’s reflect on what His Family can do together. With the Father and the Spirit He creates all things. Together with the Father He upholds all things – He keeps everything going; and together with the Father He saves and redeems. The list goes on and on!
And His Person is also acknowledged by men. They come to see who He really is. Simon Peter says to Him in Matthew 16 verse 16, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John the Baptist declares in John 1 verse 34, “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” Those who crucified Him confess, in Matthew 27 verse 54, “Surely he was the Son of God!” And the apostle John says, in John 20 verse 31, that he wrote his gospel so that “you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
And still, dear friends, listen to the greatest testimony that Jesus is God’s Son from the Father Himself. Note what He says at the Transfiguration – that moment foreshadowing the glory to come. For there, in Matthew 17 verse 5, He declares, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
There is only one eternal and natural Son of God. There is only one Jesus Christ – the one and only Saviour that mankind could ever have. Comparing this person with us must make us feel very small. Because we are. We are worthless, insignificant people – doomed to destruction and death. But the wonderful thing is that this part of the Catechism is all about ‘Our Deliverance’ – it’s about how we’re saved!
So even as we confess who Jesus is in the Apostles’ Creed, it’s quite right to see what this means for us. Question 33 applies it logically, by asking, “Why is Jesus called God’s ‘only begotten Son’ when we are also God’s children?”
You see, Scripture also talks about us being part of God’s family, doesn’t it? We heard from John 1 verse 12 that to those who believed in Him Jesus gave the right to become children of God. Romans 8 further spells out the special relationship we now have with God. Paul says there, in the verses 14 to 17, “those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”
Congregation, we have seen our first point, JESUS CHRIST AS THE ONLY SON. It’s through seeing this, however, that we come to realise, secondly… WITH THE FATHER, HE HAS MADE EACH OF US ONE (that is, a son).
Dear believer, do you ever find it so amazing just how rich you now are? As you reflect on where you stand now with the Father through Jesus Christ, isn’t it with a sense of almost utter disbelief? Don’t you really wonder why He chose you? Of all people, He says you now share in all His treasures. Those immense promises in Scripture are yours. The abiding help of His own Spirit, the assurance of eternal life – how rich you are!
Yes, there’s a difference between us as sons, and the only begotten Son. The Catechism says, “We, however, are adopted children of God – adopted by grace through Christ.” But what a position nevertheless! >From being total strangers to God – and what rights do strangers have in a family? – to becoming adopted so that you are one of the family!
Adoption – that’s a key word. And it must be quite a concept to describe what’s happened between being a stranger to God, to then becoming one of His very own children. Well, it does tell us, first of all, about how we are different than Jesus. He is the eternal, natural Son of God – we are Johnnie-come-latelies!
But it also tells us, secondly, about what adoption is. And let’s reflect on that a moment. We read and hear of those who have been adopted years later trying to find their original parents. This can give us the idea that adoption is something bad because they’ve missed out on something for all that time. That, though, couldn’t be further from the truth! The intention of those people adopting that child was to put him or her in a family – a loving relationship where, though the old ties are cut, the new ties are much better. In fact, often it means they actually receive the love they need. And on top of all that, the adopted person also becomes a legal heir with the same rights and benefits as natural children.
Thanks to Jesus Christ, we can say that his father is also our Father. And what the Father blesses Him with, we also begin to know more and more.
You see, the day is coming and already is here in part, when we will live with Him and also reign with Him. For, congregation, the marvel of the Gospel is that our Saviour and our Christ – the Messiah – has, through God’s grace, become our Brother, too!
That’s what Hebrews 2 verse 17 says. Together we’re members of God’s family. JESUS CHRIST AS THE ONLY SON… WITH HIS FATHER HAS MADE US ONE. And this is all, in the third place…
SO THAT HIS LOVE THROUGH US IS BEING DONE.
There can be no taking our privileged position for granted in God’s Kingdom. In fact, Answer 34 in speaking about what we mean when we confess Jesus as “our Lord,” tells about a maturing walk with Jesus.
We can see that in the case of the disciples as they more and more showed Jesus’ Lordship when they understood it more. They were coming to see even closer how their Master was and is the God of the Old Testament, the YAHWEH Redeemer – God of His people.
It’s interesting to trace in the New Testament how often the word “Lord” is used for Jesus at certain times. When you do that you’ll find that it’s after the resurrection that the name “Lord” becomes one of the most popular for Jesus.
It’s no surprise, is it? This name, more than any other, expresses that Christ, who had humbled Himself to death on a cross, has been raised to life and glory. Now He sits at God’s right hand and is Lord of all, as Acts 2 verse 34 says. He’s reigning over the Church and over this world, as Acts 20 verse 28 says. Jesus Christ is Lord!
What should really be the point, however, is this – Is He your Lord? Do you belong to Him completely? Are you His – body and soul?
If it wasn’t for Him, we would still be under the power of the evil one. We were hostages, trapped, but He set us free.
How? What else but that which we read in 1st Peter chapter 1 verses 18 and 19, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
In complete contrast to what’s valuable to us, God paid with Himself. That’s the only way love can go. Once we were slaves, now we’re sons. Once we were slaves to sin (Gal 4:7), now we’ve become “slaves of righteousness” (Rom 6:18).
So – who do you belong to? Friend, if it is the Lord, then sin is no longer the master! The devil, and even our old selves, have lost control! We belong to Christ – He will guide us, protect us, and help us always. There’s no way He’s going to let go any one of those He paid the ultimate price for!
What – did you think it didn’t cost that much? Then think again. And let’s thank Him again!
Amen.
PRAYER:
Let’s pray…
O Lord Jesus, by your own Spirit make us know you more and more as “Lord” of our lives and “Lord” over all life. Don’t let us be intimidated by Satan, but make us fight boldly under your banner – the sign of the cross itself!
It’s by your blood, Lord, that we know you comfort us through this life. With all its struggles we can yet look ahead to that great day when we will reign perfectly with you and the Father, in your Kingdom.
Amen.