What is the relationship between the Father and the Son? It’s a fair question to ask, isn’t it? I mean, I’m sure every one of us has wondered at times. But it seems in some Christian circles it is frowned upon to ask questions that you should already know the answer to. After all, it has been preached enough that we ought to know — but sometimes, we just don’t understand.
What exactly is the relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son?
And I already can hear the catcalls from the gallery. “How dare you ask such a question! We all know that Jesus and God are the same! We all know that Jesus is God in the flesh!”
Just as Nicodemus questioned Jesus personally and directly, it is not “forbidden” to ask questions, and yes, it is okay to ask questions that you are not sure how to answer yourself.
Or maybe you don’t know how the preachers and the teachers came up with that answer. Is it supported biblically? Does Jesus claim to be God? If Jesus is God, then how come God calls him his son, and how exactly was Jesus begotten?
What Is the Relationship between the Father and the Son?
Before discussing this from a biblical or theological perspective, I want to take just a moment to take a closer look at what God did. Of course, we begin with an all-knowing, all-powerful, invisible God (Colossians 1:15), who is spirit and to be worshipped by his creation in spirit (John 4:24).
His creation has gone awry; and despite the set of rules that he provided to help them understand right from wrong, and to help them to know what is best for them, things have only gotten worse. Sadly, with the free will that had to be given to them to make their own choices, it all went very badly wrong, and something had to be done.
From the start, God knew that only he could save his creation, but he also wanted, still wants, them to choose to be saved. He wants his creation to have faith and trust and choose him with their own free wills — so coming on the clouds with a band of angels and lightning bolts would replace choice and faith with authoritarianism, which would not mean his creation loved him as he loved them. But the options were limited.
God never wanted evil in his kingdom — thus broadly forgiving everyone for everything was never an option. Such forgiveness would leave no requirement for repentance and spiritual growth. That meant a sacrifice was required — a propitiation for the sins of mankind. Only then could his creation be deemed righteous and worthy of his kingdom.
God wanted to display to his creation the life that he expected of them. The love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. The sinlessness that he hoped his creation to possess in their lives but could not thanks to their ancestors — to show exactly what it means to sacrifice oneself for the benefit of others while being obedient to God.
God knew then that he himself must enter his creation in a visible, physical form, but carrying his very image and Spirit. And he must experience and exhibit what it meant to actually be human, with the same temptations, challenges, hurts, emotions, ups and downs, and ins and outs, yet live with and for God.
God had already made clear that forgiveness of sin came with a sacrifice of the perfect. Simply adopting a living man as his physical image then, was out, as such would come with sin already in his life.
Any human baby born of relations between a man and woman would carry the sin of Adam and Eve and therefore carry imperfection. Hence, being born of a virgin by the Spirit was the only option —instilling his image, his own human form, into the womb of a woman who had never been with a man.
Then, and only then, once the lessons had been taught, he would let himself be put to death as a sacrifice. He would become the perfect, sacrificial lamb for all, allowing any to choose to accept his sacrifice as their sacrifice. They would be his people and he would be their God.
Through his own sacrifice, then through his resurrection from death, he would defeat Satan and his minions, taking back what had been stolen away in Eden. And at the same time, putting eternal life on full display for all his creations, and letting them choose.
The Only Begotten Son of God - What Is the Relationship between the Father and the Son?
Even with all of this, how could people be made to understand what was presented to them? How could they understand that God was himself the sacrifice? He could not very well say, “I am the visible God” and still accomplish his purposes. He could not come to earth as king — not and save his creation and defeat the evil one.
No. There was only one way — his visible, physical, earthly image would be the Son of God. His only begotten son.
It is very important that we differentiate between Old Testament references to Sons of God, and Jesus, the Son of God. When we receive Christ as our Savior, we become children of God — not before.
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12).
That distinction is made in the word begotten — and that makes all the difference. With a but.
The Greek word used does not refer to any sort of “birthing” in any sense or connotation. The word — monogenes — literally means “one of a kind” or “unique.”
Look at Hebrews 11:17, where Isaac is called Abraham’s monogenes. In the NIV — “one and only,” but the more literal NASB — “…was offering up his only begotten son.” If you know the Old Testament, you know that Abraham had already fathered Ishmael (Genesis 16:15).
Clearly, the term means Isaac was Abraham’s “one of a kind” or “unique” son. Just as Yahweh is an Elohim, and no other Elohim is Yahweh, so Jesus is the unique, divine Son of God, and no other sons are like him.
Yet, the reference to him as the Son of God made Jesus, the Savior, the Christ, relatable in so many ways.
The Word Was with God, The Word Was God
What is the relationship between the Father and the Son? In the Old Testament, there are multiple visual appearances of Yahweh. It was indeed a regular occurrence for Abraham. In Acts, 7:2, Stephen says this, “The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham.”
Then, in Genesis 12:7, “The Lord appeared to Abraham and said, “To your offspring I will give this land. So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.” Then again in verse 4, “And behold, the Word of Yahweh came to him.”
This all brings us to Genesis 15:1-6.
“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.’”
Please take note that it is the Word of the Lord, who comes to Abram (Abraham) in a vision.
In Jeremiah 1:4, the prophet tells us, “The Word of the Lord came to me…” and when Jeremiah responds to the Lord by saying he is too young to be a prophet to the nations, we read, “Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth” (emphasis mine). He “touched my mouth." A visible manifestation of Yahweh. The Word is something that can be seen, a vision. Something that can be felt, he touched Jeremiah’s mouth. The Word of Yahweh. The Word of the Lord our God.
Then this, in John 1:1-5, where John described the Jesus he knew personally:
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. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
In Jesus’ Own Words
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58).
“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
“Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
What was the relationship between the Father and the Son? Indeed, Jesus Christ was the physical, visible manifestation of the living, invisible God. Jesus, the Son of God. The very Word of God.
In the beginning, the Word was with God. The Word was God.
For further reading:
Why Did Jesus Say, ‘Father, Forgive Them’?
What Does it Mean That God Is Our Abba Father?
Why Is Jesus’ Divinity Important?
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