The Doctrine of Christ - Eternal Generation
"I will declare the decree of the LORD: The LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." (Psalm 2:7)
When was Jesus "begotten"? Answering this question involves understanding the meaning here of the word day. As God lives beyond time, He cannot be limited to a 24-hour period. This word means an eternal day. Jesus did not become the Son of God at a point in time; rather He has eternally been in the process of being generated as the Son in God's eternal day. There has never been a time when Christ was not the Son of God.
Illustration: On several occasions during His ministry on earth, the sonship of Christ was particularly emphasized-in the Incarnation (Luke 1:35), in the Baptism (Matt. 3:17), and in the Resurrection (Rom. 1:4). These events did not make Christ the Son of God, but only proved that He already was.
Application: As the Christian thinks of the present ministry of Christ, he recognizes this also as an opportunity to appreciate Christ's unique relationship with the Father.
When was Jesus "begotten"? Answering this question involves understanding the meaning here of the word day. As God lives beyond time, He cannot be limited to a 24-hour period. This word means an eternal day. Jesus did not become the Son of God at a point in time; rather He has eternally been in the process of being generated as the Son in God's eternal day. There has never been a time when Christ was not the Son of God.
Illustration: On several occasions during His ministry on earth, the sonship of Christ was particularly emphasized-in the Incarnation (Luke 1:35), in the Baptism (Matt. 3:17), and in the Resurrection (Rom. 1:4). These events did not make Christ the Son of God, but only proved that He already was.
Application: As the Christian thinks of the present ministry of Christ, he recognizes this also as an opportunity to appreciate Christ's unique relationship with the Father.
posted by Andrew Brown at 12:06 AM
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