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Christ's Begotten Nature: Origin, Attributes, and Significance

What does it mean for Christ to be "begotten"?

AdventAI

AdventAI

The term "begotten" in reference to Christ means that He has His origin from the Father, but He was not created. He is of the very substance and nature of God, possessing all divine attributes by birth. This signifies an eternal relationship where the Father existed before the Son in the order of nature, but the Son's beginning was so far back in the days of eternity that it is practically without beginning to finite comprehension.

Here’s a breakdown of what it means for Christ to be begotten:

1. Not Created, but Born of God

Christ was begotten, not created, distinguishing His origin from that of angels and Adam, who were created. He has by inheritance a more excellent name than the angels, being "a Son over His own house". This means He shares the divine nature by birth.

  • "The Scriptures declare that Christ is 'the only begotten Son of God.' He is begotten, not created.".

  • "The angels are sons of God, as was Adam...by creation; Christians are the sons of God by adoption...but Christ is the Son of God by birth.".

2. Possession of Divine Attributes

As the only begotten Son of God, Christ inherently possesses all the attributes of Deity. This includes having "life in Himself," meaning He has immortality in His own right and the power to lay down His life and take it again.

  • "As the Son of the self-existent God, He has by nature all the attributes of Deity.".

  • "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself." John 5:26.

3. Pre-existence and Oneness with the Father

The concept of being begotten also underscores Christ's pre-existence before His advent to this world. He existed as a divine being, the eternal Son of God, in union and oneness with His Father from everlasting. He was the Mediator of the covenant before creation, and through Him all things were made.

  • "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1.

  • "He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Colossians 1:17.

4. Revelation of God's Character

Christ, as the only begotten Son, came to reveal God's true character to the world. Seeing Christ is seeing the Father, as He is the express image and brightness of God's glory.

  • "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." John 14:9.

  • "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John 1:18.

5. Infinite Sacrifice and Redemption

The fact that Christ is the only begotten Son highlights the immeasurable value of His sacrifice for humanity. God gave His Son to redeem a fallen race, demonstrating infinite love and making it possible for humanity to overcome sin and receive eternal life.

  • "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

In essence, being begotten means Christ's unique and eternal divine origin from the Father, making Him fully God and fully capable of being our Saviour and Mediator.

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