05 Nov God as Father and Son
How can God be both a Father and a Son at the same time?
It’s no wonder that Jews and/or Muslims and others find this idea so odd, they label it as polytheism, and even a great sin.
But Jesus isn’t a son in the way that we think of children. Jesus is eternal.
When I was young I saw on television the Challenger spaceship explode on launch. I saw the Berlin wall fall, and later I saw the horrible events of September 11. But my children have no memories of these things because they didn’t exist. I can tell them what happened, but it’s like recounting ancient history. They are not living stories for them, just stories.
But Jesus was always there. There was never a moment he wasn’t there. He is eternal.
The Bible says, ‘The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.’ Hebrews 1:3
It also says, ‘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.’ John 1:1-3.
That’s just two verses… but there we see that the Son was always there, was in fact the creator of all things, and sustains all things. So Jesus isn’t created, but he is a Son.
What is going on?
God is being shown to us in the form of a relationship. God is a relational God. He is both a fatherly God, someone who cares, who protects and who blesses. He is also a son God, someone who listens, who cooperates, who serves another. God has both of the best qualities of a father and son, and is trying to show us that He is like this.
As people made in God’s image, we are supposed to have these same qualities. You are supposed to be a father/mother to others in faith, caring for them, supporting and protecting. You are also supposed to be a son/daughter in faith, being mentored, guided, and listening to and serving those over you in the Lord. You are both of those at the same time.
Imagine if Jesus was independent… it would mess up God somehow, and probably mess up the entire Universe and all of creation with it. So we too as believers are not to be independent, but in meaningful father/son relationships… or mother/daughter relationships that fill the entire Body of Christ with love.
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