JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

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Not only was the nation of Israel in general called "son" but so was the Davidic king and
his successors who were to rule over their people (Ps 2:7; 2 Sa 7:14).
In this broad sense the term "son of God" could be applied equally to Jesus and to God's
people (Jn 1:12). Yet Jesus did not explicitly use the term of Himself although the term is used
by others in the New Testament such as Paul and the writer of the book of Hebrews. In fact, Paul
stated that Jesus had been "declared Son of God" because of His resurrection (Ro 1:4).
Although Paul uses the term "Son of God" in relation to both Jesus and His followers, he
draws a distinction between the sonship of believers and that of Jesus. He carefully points out
that believers are "sons of God" by virtue of adoption, whereas Jesus' sonship originates from
His being "God's own Son" (8:31). John reserves the use of the term "son" (huios) only for Jesus,
whereas he uses the more general term "children" (tekna) when referring to believers.
The New Testament is clear that believers can enter into the same kind of relationship as
that which Jesus enjoys with the Father through faith, whereas the relationship between Jesus
and the Father is prior to, and foundational for, that between believers and God. The phrase "Son
of God" can also mean God-like. Because the Hebrew language is not strong in adjectives it
frequently uses the phrase "son of" followed by an abstract noun instead of an adjective. The
Hebrew expression "a son of peace" (Lk 10:6) would then mean "a peaceable man." Barnabas,
for instance, is called "a son of consolation" (Ac 4:36) and James and John are called "sons of
thunder" (Mk 3:17). Peacemakers are called "sons of God" (Mt 5:9) meaning people who are
doing a God-like work. Does this mean that when Jesus is called "the Son of God" that this is
saying no more than that He is God-like?
Even though this idea of God-like or "a good man" is certainly one of the meanings of the
"Son of God" title (Mt 27:54; Mk 15:39; Lk 23:47), it does not do justice to the full intent of
the designation.
This title also refers to Jesus' Messiahship. The title "Christ" or "the Christ" is the Greek
equivalent to the Hebrew title "Messiah." In the following verses we see that the title "Son of
God" is identical with the title "Messiah":
"The high priest said to Him, 'I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us
if you are the Christ [the Messiah], the Son of God. "Yes, it is as you say,
' Jesus replied" (Mt 26:63).
"Again the high priest asked Him, Are you the Christ [the Messiah], the Son of
the Blessed One?' 'I am,' said Jesus" (Mk 14:61).
"'If you are the Christ,' they said, 'Tell us.' Jesus answered, 'If I tell you, you will not
believe Me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of
Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.'