MATTHEW 1:21 - IT IS THE SON OF GOD WHO SAVES

Recently, some missionary organizations have decided that, in order to reach Muslims with the Gospel, they would call God Allah.  In addition, the "Bibles" they hand out no longer contain the identity of Jesus, as the Son of God.  While some have no problem with these changes, saying that there is really only one God, and that different cultures call Him by different names, I strongly disagree!  By comparing the character of Allah from the pages of the Islamic "holy book," with the character of Jehovah of the Bible, it is clear to see that we are not speaking of a mere difference in His name!  Jehovah does not desire that any perish (2 Pet. 3:9), while Allah is described as ordering the slaughter of all who refuse to convert to Islam.

As for Jesus being identified as the Son of God, there is ample evidence in the Scriptures that He was and is!  First, before I discuss that evidence, I want to point out that "the Son of God," is God.  Just as the male offspring of a duck is a duck, a giraffe is a giraffe, an eagle is an eagle, etc., so the Son of God is God (Cp. Gen. 1:1 w/ Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-2; etc.).  The Bible is clear:

*Satan, the prince of devils, believes Jesus is the Son of God (Mt. 4:1-11; Jam. 2:19; etc.).
*The demons believe it (Mt. 8:29; etc.).
*The high priest knew Jesus claimed to be the Son of God (Mt. 26:63-65; Jn. 10:36; etc.).
*Jesus said so (Mt. 27:43; Lk. 22:71; Jn. 9:35-37; etc.).
*The Centurion said so (Mt. 27:54; etc.).
*Two Gospels are dedicated to Him as the Son of God (Mk. 1:1; Jn. 20:31; etc.).
*The Angel told Mary (Lk. 1:35).
*His genealogy declared it (Lk. 3:38).
*Nathanael declared it (Jn. 1:49).
*His ability to heal proved it (Jn. 11:4).
*Martha declared it (Jn. 11:27).
*The hostile crown accused Jesus of saying He was (Jn. 19:7).
*The Ethiopian Eunuch believe it (Acts 8:37).
*Paul declared it (Acts 9:20; Rom. 1:4; 2 Cor. 1:19; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 4:13; etc.).
*The writer of Hebrews said it (4:14; 6:6; 7:3; 10:29; etc.).
*It is stated in First John (3:8; 4:15; 5:10, 12, 13, 20; etc.).
*Revelation 2:18 declares Jesus to be the Son of God!

How important is it that a person acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God?  It is how one becomes an overcomer; how one is saved (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7; etc.)! 

 

"Who is he that overcometh the world...

he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God (1 Jn. 5:5)!"