Is Jesus the Son of God? How could Allah, being God, have a son?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible consistently presents Jesus as more than just a prophet or servant of God. It teaches that Jesus is the divine Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity, who became incarnate to save humanity. This concept of Jesus's divinity and sonship is fundamental to Christian theology and soteriology. The Old Testament prophecies are “signposts” pointing to the coming Messiah, while the New Testament explicitly declares Jesus's divine nature and His role as the Son of God. This biblical portrayal of Jesus stands in stark contrast to the Islamic view, which regards Him only as a prophet and servant of Allah.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Isaiah 9:6: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." This prophecy points to the Messiah as divine, using titles that belong to God alone.
• Psalm 2:7: "I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you.'" This psalm, later applied to Jesus in the New Testament, speaks of God's Son in a unique relationship with the Father.
• Proverbs 30:4: "Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!" This verse implies that God has a Son, challenging the idea that such a concept is foreign to biblical thought.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• John 1:1, 14: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." These verses explicitly state Jesus's divinity and His incarnation as the Son of God.
• Colossians 2:9: "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily." Paul affirms that Jesus possesses the full nature of God in bodily form.
• Hebrews 1:3: "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." This verse describes Jesus as the perfect representation of God's nature and equal in power.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Unlike the Islamic view, which sees Jesus merely as a prophet, the Christian faith recognizes Jesus as divine, offering a unique path to reconciliation with God. The idea of God having a Son doesn't imply biological procreation, as some might misunderstand. Instead, it speaks to the eternal relationship within the Trinity and God's self-revelation to humanity. Jesus, as the Son of God, demonstrates God's love perfectly in human form, making the infinite God knowable and approachable.

For salvation, Jesus's divine sonship is crucial. As the Son of God, Jesus could perfectly reveal the Father and offer a sacrifice sufficient to atone for human sin. This provides assurance of salvation that works-based systems, including Islam, cannot offer. Ephesians 2:8–9 emphasizes this: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." The biblical teaching of Jesus as the Son of God offers hope, purpose, and the assurance of God's love, challenging us to respond in faith and to share this transformative truth with others with love and respect.

UNDERSTAND

• Jesus is explicitly declared as divine in the Bible.
• Jesus’s sonship reflects an eternal relationship within the Trinity, not biological procreation.
• Jesus's divinity is essential for providing a perfect sacrifice for sin, offering reconciliation with God.

REFLECT

• How does recognizing Jesus as the Son of God impact your personal relationship with Him and your understanding of salvation?
• How does Jesus's divinity influence your daily choices and interactions with others?
• How does the belief in Jesus as the Son of God, who willingly died in your place so you can be freed from sin and shame, shape your view of God's love and grace in your life?

ENGAGE

• Jesus taught in the Injils (Gospels) that He was more than a prophet and servant of God. He claimed to be one with God (John 10:30). John 1:1 calls Jesus "the Word" and says He was in the beginning with God, making Him divine. John 3:16 teaches, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son [Isa, Jesus], that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Jesus was much more than a servant; He was God in human form.
• How does the concept of Jesus as the Son of God differ from the Islamic view of Jesus as a prophet, and what implications does this have for understanding God's nature and His revelation to humanity?
• How can Christians effectively and respectfully discuss the significance of Jesus as the Son of God with Muslims, acknowledging differences while finding common ground in the conversation about God's nature and purpose?
• INCLUDE ARTICLE LINK: https://www.compellingtruth.org/God-have-son.html