This weekend we will explore the significance of what it means that Jesus is the ‘Son of God’ by drawing together the messianic, royal, and divine aspects of this title.
Texts: Matthew 4:6; 14:33; 16:16; Romans 1:4; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:15; 1 John 5:20
SERMON OUTLINE
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27)
Three Identity Markers of Jesus as the Son of God:
- Jesus is the Promised Seed and Son of Abraham (Genesis 12:7; Galatians 3:16)
- Jesus is the Complete King and Son of David (2 Samuel 7:12-14; Romans 1:1-4)
- Jesus is the unique, one-of-a-kind Son of God (John 1:18; 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-3)
Four Aspects of Jesus’ Way as the Son of God:
- Jesus knows the Father intimately (Matthew 11:27; 6:45-46, 57)
- Jesus obeys the Father fully (John 4:34; 6:38; Mark 14:32-36)
- Jesus saves the cosmos wholly (Luke 1:68-69; Colossians 1:13-14)
- Jesus reigns with resurrection glory forever (Matthew 28:18-19; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:23-26)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Have you ever experienced being known primarily because of your family identity, whether as “the child of…” or “the sibling of…”? Was that a good or bad thing for you?
- This weekend we continue our series, “Name Above All Names,” by focusing on Jesus as the Son of God. Begin your study by quieting yourself before God and asking God to speak to you through His word.
- The phrase “Son of God” is one of the most important titles of Jesus in the New Testament, appearing in direct or related forms more than 100 times. Explore some Old Testament passages related to the phrase “son of God”: Exodus 4:22 • Psalm 82:1-8 • Isaiah 9:6-7; Samuel 7:12-17 • Psalm 2:7-9 • Psalm 89:26-28 • Psalm 110 • Jeremiah 31:18-20
- Three times in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is acclaimed as the Son of God: at His baptism by John (Matthew 3:13-17), at His transfiguration (17:1-5), and at His crucifixion (27:51-54). Read those passages aloud. Who makes these acclamations and what do you think they tell us about who Jesus is?
- One aspect of Jesus being the Son of God is His uniquely intimate relationship with the Father. Explore what that means in the following passages: Matthew 7:28-29 • Matthew 11:25-27 • John 4:22-23 John 6:45-47 • John 8:55 • John 15:15
- As the Son of God, Jesus obeys the Father fully in a way no human can. Read the follow- ing passages related to that theme: Matthew 12:50 • John 4:34; Mark 14:32-42 • Luke 4:1-13 • John 5:30 • John 6:38; Hebrews 5:8-9; John 8:29
- Because Jesus is the unique Son of God who saves, by faith we can also become sons of God (‘sons’ in the sense of full inheritors of God’s promise as His children). Explore that theme in the following passages: Matthew 10:23; 16:27 • Romans 8:14-17 • Galatians 3:23-29; Galatians 4:6-7 • Hebrews 2:10 • 1 John 3:1-2
- What is one thing that God is speaking to you through this study? If you are with a small group, discuss that with one another and pray for one another. If you are studying on your own, write it down and share it with someone.
DIG DEEPER
- Pick one of these passages to memorize: Colossians 1:15 or Hebrews 1:1-3.
- Read the Chalcedonian Creed (451), which was developed in order to clarify how Jesus is the incarnate Son of God.