Who is the Son of God

(Hebrews 1:1-4 – Who is the Son of God)

Today I begin reviewing the book of Hebrews. This first chapter is fascinating for many reasons. One of which is that it destroys the doctrine of Trinity that has pervaded the church for many generations.

This chapter shows clear distinctions between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those distinctions are impossible to reconcile with the doctrine of trinity.

As we go through these scriptures we will see how the doctrine of trinity cannot work. Sometimes it will be in the simplest of ways, as we will see today. And today the focus will be on who is the Son of God.

Who is the Son of God?

This is a question that is often asked, especially by non-Christians.

The Muslims accept Jesus as being a prophet, and a great prophet at that. But they do not accept Him as the Son of God. Many people believe Him to have been a good man who lived two thousand years ago who taught many good things.

But in truth, who is the Son of God? This scripture today answers that question.

1 In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4)

The Son of God

Verse 2 in this section shows quite clearly that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In a later verse from this chapter (verse 8) we note also that Jesus is called “God” by the Father.

So, in answer to the question, who is the Son of God, He is Jesus Christ and He is a God.

The book of Hebrews covers many things regarding who Jesus is and we will look at those as we progress. For now though, we see that in addition to the points above, Jesus is also the one who, “…made purification for sins.” (verse 3). This means that He is also our Saviour and the one on whom we can and must set our hopes of salvation.

God the Father has accorded great power and authority to Jesus because He was obedient to the Father. He reflects the majesty of God the Father and bears the very stamp of the nature of God the Father too. This is why Jesus Christ was, “…appointed the heir of all things,” as we see in verse 2.

Even more, Jesus was the one through whom the entire Creation was created. He was a co-Creator with God the Father. All things were made through Jesus Christ, and this is made abundantly clear in the following verse:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God; 3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:1-3)

This supreme spiritual being, creator with the Father of all that exists, the Son of God and called God by the Father, came to the earth as the man Jesus Christ. So as we think about who is the Son of God, we should recall all of these things.

And we must remember too that this great, majestic, supreme being came and died so that we may have life eternal.

It’s a humbling thought when we understand who is Jesus Christ.

Trinity troubles

Now, I mentioned that this chapter creates problems for the doctrine of trinity. There are a couple of such issues in these words already.

The essence of the doctrine of trinity is this. That the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three faces of the one God. They are not three separate beings, but one being manifested in three different ways.

But the problem with such an idea is blown apart by scripture like these, and there are many others too.

First, He was appointed heir of all things by God the Father. If the Son and the Father were one being, why would He need to be appointed by Himself? This could only occur if they are two separate entities.

Second, He reflects the glory of God and bears the stamp of the nature of God, as verse 3 tells us. However, if they are essentially the same being, how can one being “reflect” themself? Where there are two beings it is possible that one may “reflect” the nature of the other, but one cannot “reflect” themself.

Third, we see that after making purification for sins, He, “…sat down at the right hand of the majesty on High.” Surely it is impossible for one being to sit at the right hand of themself. Only two separate entities can sit beside each other.

These are only three points that shatter the idea of trinity. There are many more throughout the Bible, and in fact in the next couple of posts we will see how the Holy Spirit is separate again from the Father and the Son and is not part of a “Three in one Godhead.”

So, finally, when asking who is the Son of God, we see that He is not part of a trinitarian Godhead, nor one of “three faces of the one God,” as that doctrine would suggests. Instead, He is a separate entity who was begotten by the Father, He is Saviour, God, and the hope of our salvation. He is Jesus Christ.

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