JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

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Names of Deity are given to Him
The names given to Jesus by God the Father reveal His divine nature. Some have argued
that if Jesus were divine there would be clearer evidence for this. It must be remembered,
however, that the number of affirmations we do have that Jesus is "God" is astounding given the
strong reluctance of New Testament writers to speak of Jesus as "God," because of their
background in the strict monotheism of Israel.
● He is called the "Son of God" (Mt 27:54; Jn 9:35-37).
The title "Son of God" is probably the one that is used the most often in thinking and
speaking about Jesus of Nazareth. Yet of all the titles this one is the least clearly defined and the
most misunderstood in our minds.
The idea of Jesus as the "Son of God" was central to the thought of the early church. The
gospel according to Mark opens with this affirmation:
"The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mk 1:1).
John addresses his first letter to those who believe in Jesus as "the Son of God" that they
may be assured of eternal life:
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that
you may know that you have eternal life" (1 Jn 5:13).
Our understanding of this designation is critical to our salvation:
"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he
in God" (4:15).
Our perception of this title is crucial to living a life of obedience, of gaining victory over
the world's sinful patterns of life:
"Who is he that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son
of God" (5:5).
The conception of Jesus as "the Son of God" is basic and fundamental to the letters of the
New Testament as it is to the gospel accounts.
● Jesus is designated as "the Son of God" in power (Ro 1:3).
● It is Jesus as "the Son of God" that Paul, Silvanus and Timothy preached to the
Corinthians about (2 Co 1:19).