Sonship - Week 1

“If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.” J.I. Packer

The firstborn son was an esteemed and revered position.

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:Genesis 49:3

The firstborn son would receive a double-portion of the inheritance.

But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.Deuteronomy 21:17

The firstborn son could act on behalf of and in place of the father.

The firstborn son was expected to take on leadership roles within the family, especially in the absence of the father.

The firstborn sons were originally to serve as priests.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.Exodus 13:1-2

Sons would typically take on the vocation of their father.

Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?Matthew 13:55

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.Mark 6:3

Jesus is the only begotten of the Father.

The Son of God is His identity.

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;Mark 1:1

His divine sonship is recognized by Satan and his demons.

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.Matthew 4:3

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?Matthew 8:29

And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.Mark 3:11

Only begotten and firstborn speaks to Jesus’ position, not his creation.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.John 1:1-2

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.Colossians 1:17

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:Hebrews 1:8-10

Jesus’ claim to sonship made Him equal in authority with God the Father.

The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.John 5:10-18

Jesus is a perfect expression and revelation of the character of the Father.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;Colossians 1:19

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.Colossians 2:9

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;Hebrews 1:3

God called Israel His firstborn son.

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.Exodus 4:22-23

God established an exclusive covenant with Israel.

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.Genesis 12:1-3

Israel was adopted as God’s people.

Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;Romans 9:4

Israel has an esteemed position over all other nations.

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.Deuteronomy 7:6

Israel was chosen to represent God’s character to the heathen.

And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.Deuteronomy 26:18-19

We have been chosen by God to be called His sons.

Sonship is a privileged position with special benefits.

Jesus made us part of the family of God.

All are welcome in God’s family.