Begotten of God

Dear Brethren,

Is Jesus Christ the only begotten of the Father?  Are we also begotten of God?  When and how do we become begotten of the Father?  Are all who live begotten of God?  Do we take it on at birth, baptism, or in the resurrection?  How and when does a converted person become begotten of the Father?  John would reflect back to the time when Jesus was the first and only begotten of God.

"The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."  (John 1:14 )

Jesus was begotten of the Father and became the Son of God. "God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."  (Acts 13:33)

It is God's will that we are His begotten children.  "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 [the will of] God."  (John 1:12-13)

Jesus is the first, but we are begotten also, and incredibly, counted as firstfruits with Him.  "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."  (Romans 8:29)

The responsibility for those of us who would seek to understand the truth of scripture, particularly the very words of Jesus Christ, is an awesome one indeed.  "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."  (James 1:18)  "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."  (Revelation 14:4)

A Christian is begotten of God at baptism and with the laying on of hands.  At baptism, a convert receives the Father's name and is also baptized into the Spirit of God - the spiritual life of God.  "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body... and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13)  At baptism, we become children of God - begotten of God.  "And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."  (2 Corinthians 6:18)

When we began our physical life we were begotten by our dad (and mom).  At baptism and the receiving of God's Holy Spirit, we are begotten of God and begin to put on God's spiritual life.

In other words, when a person is baptized and receives God's Spirit, he becomes a begotten son of God - God places His own name on the newly baptized believer!  He belongs to God.  He is God's son in embryo - not yet fully born spiritually into the eternal Family of God.  That  will come at the resurrection.  "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."  (1John 3:1-2)

At present, the literal spiritual Family of God consists only of the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the divine nature, mind, and power of the God Family.  "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."  (Romans 8:16)

We are begotten of the Father - we have the Father's Name.  In the book of Revelation, we read a remarkable prophecy about those who have the Father's name.  "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads."  (Revelation 14:1)

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."  (1John 4:7)

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Sermon:

"Encouragement"