Through the centuries Christians using the words of the Apostles’ Creed have confessed their faith “in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord.” While the term “only-begotten” is very familiar and definitely Scriptural (John 1:14, 18, 3:16, 18; I John 4:9), it is often misunderstood. Usually, we think that the word means simply that Jesus is the only Son that God has, since, if we were using this rather dated word about someone, that is how we would use it. But if we carefully study the word mono genes (which is translated “only-begotten”) we find that it comes from words which mean “one of a kind.” In other words, this term “only–begotten” says that Christ is unique.
Now, this uniqueness is seen in many ways, but at the heart of it all is the fact that He is both God and man.
To be sure, not all who claim to be religious believe that Jesus Christ is both God and man. There have always been people who believe that Jesus was a mere man. He was merely a great prophet or teacher. Early in the history of the Church the Ebionites believed this. Today, this belief is known as liberalism.
Another heresy was that of Docetism. This taught that Christ had only a divine nature. He only appeared to be human. Thus, He only appeared to be born and to die.
Then, there were the Arians. They believed that Christ was not God, but only the highest of created beings. Today, in that tradition the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that He is only “a god,” not God. While He was on earth He was “a perfect human nature.” In answer to Arianism the Athanasian Creed was written. It declares that Christ is “God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, being of one substance with the Father.”
What does t he Bible say about our unique Mediator? Scripture teaches three things:
- Our Mediator is truly God.
- Our Mediator is truly man.
- Our Mediator is God and man in one person.
I. Our Mediator is truly God.
By revelation God has made this very clear. At one point Jesus says, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). The Jews understood Him and therefore believed that He blasphemed. Theirs was no reaction of faith!
That Jesus is God is seen in that Divine names are given t o Him. One very important and strong proof of this is I John 5:20. Here we read of Jesus Christ: “This is the true God, and eternal life.” The importance of this text is that in the Greek Christ is called “the true God.” Jehovah‘s Witnesses will say that Jesus is god, that is, “a god,” but they refuse to say that He is “the God.” I John 5:20 proves their teaching to be in error. Other passages which show Christ as God include Romans 9:5; John 20:28, 1:1; Jeremiah 23:6 and Isaiah 9:6.
Besides the Divine names, Divine attributes are ascribed to Christ. He was considered omniscient by Peter (John 21:17). He is spoken of as eternal (Micah 5:2). He is everlasting (Revelation 1:8).
Divine works are also said to be His. He is creator (John 1:14; Colossians 1:16, 17). He is the God of Providence (Hebrews 1:3). He forgives (Luke 5:20–24). He gives Life (John 5:21).
More, Divine honors are given Him. He is worshipped in Scripture (Acts 7:59; John 20:28). He is believed on for Life (John 3:36).
Quite in keeping with all of this is t he fact that He is called the Son of God. There are times when Jesus’ words imply this idea (John 10:15, 30, 14:20, etc.), and there are times when He comes very close to saying it (eg., Matthew 11:27). Nevertheless, Jesus never calls Himself the Son of God. It remains for others to use this title of Him. When the disciples saw Him coming to them on the storm troubled waters they said, “Of a truth thou art the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33). In response to Jesus‘ question, “But who say ye that I am?” Peter calls Him “the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). When Gabriel announced to Mary the great event of the incarnation he called Jesus the Son of God (Luke 1:35). The Holy Spirit directed the writers of the epistles to use the title, also (Romans 1:3, 4, 8:3; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 1:1, 2).
What, exactly, does t his title mean? It means that the Mediator is the eternal and absolute Son of God, one in essence, or being, with the Father. It means that Christ, the Son of God, is the Second Person of the Trinity.
Why must He be God? The Heidelberg Catechism summarizes the faith of the Church by saying (q. 17) “That by the power of His Godhead He might bear in His human nature the burden of God’s wrath; and that He might obtain for us, and restore to us, righteousness and life.” Only One who has the power to overcome death and hell can be a redeemer. Man is powerless over these. Only Divine power can withstand God’s wrath. Jesus must be God.
Unless one believes that Jesus is God he cannot be a Christian (I John 4:3). Therefore, any group which has a different doctrine, no matter how slightly different, IS NOT CHRISTIAN. Theirs is unbelief!
II. Our Mediator is truly man. While it is absolutely essential that Jesus be truly God (or we have no salvation) it is equally necessary that He be truly man. Further, He must be righteous, or sinless man. The Heidelberg Catechism (q. 16) teaches us to confess t his by stating that the Mediator must be true and righteous man ” Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which has sinned should make satisfaction for sin, and because one who himself is a sinner cannot satisfy for others.”
For two reasons Jesus must be man, and righteous man at that. First, the payment for sin must be made by man for it is man who has sinned. He alone can suffer in body and soul. The Old Testament offerings did not pay for the sins of God’s people. They couldn’t (Hebrews 10:4). They spoke vividly of a blood that would be shed—the blood of Jesus Christ. At the same time that shedding of animals’ blood brought a ceremonial cleansing. How much greater in effect is Christ’s blood (Hebrews 9:13, 14)! As man, our Savior knew the depths into which we have plunged and thus could act as our merciful High Priest before God (Hebrews 2:17, 18).
He had to stand in relationship to the Law in our place. Only as man could our Mediator do this. He had to answer God‘s demands with an uncompromised and perfect “yes.” To put it another way, He had to fulfill all righteousness for us.
For this reason, it is always emphasized that Christ is, in the second place, truly righteous man. He knew no sin. Only a sinless man can stand before God and have communion with Him, as Isaiah testified (Isaiah 6:5). Jesus had to be sinless in order to fulfill His work as our Substitute (I Peter 3:18). Besides, only a sinless man, one who has never committed any sin can suffer punishment for someone else’s sin. Because of the completeness of God’s wrath on sin a sinner would spend eternity bearing God’s wrath, and eternity never ends. Jesus was without sin (II Corinthians 5:21) and therefore could take on Himself our sins and at the same time be utterly obedient to the Father so that He would pay for all the sins of His people. To do this He had to be man.
But how do we know that Jesus is man? Some, in centuries past, have denied this. Today, perhaps the emphasis is too heavily on Jesus as man. Nevertheless, Scripture speaks clearly of Christ’s humanity in many different ways. We are told that Jesus came in the flesh, i.e., the human nature (John 1:14; I Timothy 3:16; I John 4:2). Furthermore, we know how this happened: Jesus came through the instrument of a woman (Luke 1, 2; Galatians 4:4). Studying the Gospels we realize that though others were astounded by what He did, they always saw Him as a man. Having a body as do all men, He ate, drank, slept and gr e w (Luke 2:52). He had human wants and exper ienced suffering, too (Hebrews 2:10, 18, 5:8). He had the feelings of the human nature: He groaned in spirit , was troubled and He wept (John 11:33, 35).
In addition to this, He called Himself the Son of Man. Though this title is first found in the Old Testament (Psalm 8:4; Daniel 7:13), it was used by Jesus as a self-designation more than forty times. By using it, Jesus focuses on the depth of His humiliation, but also the honor and glory which will be His in the everlasting Messianic kingdom.
Only as He is God and man can He deliver us from the bondage and death of sin. What a marvelously unique Savior God saw fit to give His Church. Is it any wonder that believers have testified:
Beautiful Savior! King of creation! Son of God and Son of Man! Truly I’d love Thee, Truly I’d serve Thee, Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.