FRIDAY, 7TH FEBRUARY, 2025
GOD’S ONE AND ONLY – Pastor Chris
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him (John 1:18).
What we just read provides one of the most extraordinary expressions of the Son of God. It emphasizes that no one has seen God face to face, which is a significant point. Then it refers to Jesus as the “only begotten Son.” The Greek term used for begottenis “Monogenēs,” which means the one and only or one of a kind, unique, with no other like Him. Jesus is described here as the only born Son of the Father.
But then we see something extraordinary about His mission, what He was born to do, in our theme verse: He came to make the Father known: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” The word declared is from the Greek “exēgeomai” which means that Jesus, God’s born-Son, came to rehearse God to men. He came to show us what God is like in human form. He came to declare and act out the nature of God.
Now, think about this: the life that He had is what He’s given you (1 John 5:11-12). And the Bible says as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). So, today, He’s called the “…first begotten of the dead…” (Revelation 1:5). This is because He heads up a new species, a new class of “Monogenēs”—people who have now been born of God as a result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ—by virtue of the New Birth (1 Peter 1:3).
Recall what the Bible says in 1 John 3:1, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God….” We’re born-sons of God: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). James 1:18 says, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” We’re the first and the best; the one and only or one of a kind; unique. (Also read 1 Peter 2:9 AMPC). Hallelujah!
PRAYERDear Father, thank you for the blessing of eternal life for everyone who hears and receives the message of the Gospel. Today, many will hear and understand the depth of your love and the invitation to be born again and receive the divine life as the Gospel is preached around the world, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
1 John 5:11-13
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 26:1-30 & Exodus 32-33
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 13:1-9 & Genesis 38
