Muslims Question how Jesus can be Begotten of God.
“How Can God Have a Baby?”
When people have studied the Bible and then challenge our faith, we need to see if our faith actually lines up with the Bible.
Once we examine God’s usage of the term ‘begotten’, we see promotions; not a baby.
Paul begat children by being a spiritual father: “For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 4:15)
And God is Jesus’ Father: “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); “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son …” (John 3:16)
Through Jesus, we are also begotten: “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9); “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” (1 John 5:1)
And God is our Father, too: “Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philemon 1:3)
Jesus was already a Son: “The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22)
However, Jesus wasn’t begotten until the day he was made a high priest: “Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.” (Hebrews 5:5)
Jesus is the first one begotten: “Jesus Christ, who is … the first begotten of the dead …” (Revelation 1:5)
And we are also begotten by his resurrection: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17); “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)
However, there is a second resurrection: “For in the resurrection they … are as the angels of God in heaven.” (Matthew 22:30); “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); and “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3)
But, Jesus received a more excellent name: “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:12-13)
“Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” (Hebrews 1:4-6)
Though our faith may, sometimes, be in error, the error is on our part – not God’s.
“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:2-3)
KJV Selection © 2007 by Joyce C. Lock
http://iam.homewithGod.com/glimpsesofgod/ Scriptural Methods of Bible Study illustrated. As it is written in the prophets, they shall all be taught of God.