The catechism continues to lead us through the cardinal doctrine of the Triune God and Trinity. We have dealt with the providence of the Father and the names given to His SON. He was designated by God to be our Prophet, Priest, and King. Before we look at why He is called Lord we deal with a little diversion and ask why He is called the only begotten Son of God? What is the distinction between His and own son-ship?
Distinct: The distinction is this. He is the NATURAL Son of God. Although not completely correct in taking things that belong to us and ascribing them to God note however. It is done here to illustrate His Sonship. As our children are our natural children the Son of God remains VERY GOD though He assumes and takes unto Himself the human nature. He takes 2 natures yet NEVER abdicates His Godhead. He is, and will forever remain the Son of God. If we let go of the Godhead of the Son we do NOT have salvation. God's justice could never ever be satisfied in this natural sphere. Never!
First Born: He was eternally begotten and was always an ETERNAL BEING. The Son is very God of very God and ETERNALLY begotten OF GOD! The natural Son of God where we are adopted children of God. We are NOT of the same essence of God. We were created. We are not part of His very essence and though glorified we will never be. The very Son who belonged to God's very essence was GIVEN. he would give His own Son not only, but would also FORSAKE HIMSELF so to speak in order to save us in His love! This is a depth that the extension of it cannot be fathomed. We can have pity and adopt but God saw nothing, nothing worthy, and still gave up so much for us! (He lost so much and gained so little if we give thought to this concept.)
Lord: The term of adoption turns to Lordship. Our Elder Brother becomes our Lord. We belong to Him and are not our own. We were ransomed in our Lord's blood so we belong to Him. Like a natural child can climb in the lap of his parents, so we can with our Father. He also rules over us in our life so we are free from Satan and sin and given new life to SERVE Him in a new life of obedience in a wholehearted fashion as His servants.
Take hold of this very important concept. He IS the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD....making our adoption possible and giving us salvation FULL AND FREE. We are His for time and ETERNITY! Amen!
"God Triune!" Lord's Day 8 of Catechism and Isaiah 61 The truth of the Trinity is paramount and is found throughout our confessions in belief that God is one in being and 3 in persons and is a matter of faith...explainable but inexplicable! God...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
"God's Justice Implemented" LD4 & Galatians 3 One more time before we discuss thanksgiving we discuss the justice of God that must be met. We are depraved and inclined to all evil and infected with that disease and are brought into His Kingdom...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
"Our Father" LD9 & Psalm 103 We are entering into our Apostle creed. The content of scripture (Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier) in a "nut shell." This first article does not focus on who God is, but focus' on God who is our Father for Jesus'...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
"God Triune" LD8 & I John 5 We have a most difficult doctrine before us here. A mystery and a matter of FAITH as we cannot explain or rationally make sense of. The fathers introduced the apostolic confession with the trinity as He is mentioned...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
