The controversy as to who the "true Jesus"―the Lord Jesus Christ is, that is, how He should be correctly known regarding His person and nature traces its roots from His ministry here on earth in the first century and continues to this day. Indeed this is a very important issue because the possession of the right knowledge about the "true Jesus" will ensure his chance of salvation on the day of Judgment. This confusion was prevalent among His contemporaries but not among His Apostles and disciples. Christ's identity was not a problem to His Apostles and disciples because they knew Him very well. This is the very reason why Christ's Apostles and disciples wrote their testimonies in what is now called the New Testament of the Holy Bible.

The Great Deception, as prophesied by the Apostles had indeed come, as proven by the existence of various doctrines of "another Jesus" that are being preached among Christians today. It is therefore very important to strictly limit our study to what is written in the Holy Bible. This is to make sure that no one will be deceived to leave the simplicity and purity that is in Christ Jesus, nor misled or tricked to believe "another Jesus" who is different from the "true Jesus" that was preached by the Apostles.

The Gospel was written to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the "Son of God"

3G.1   What was the purpose of Christ's Apostles and disciples in writing the truth about the "true Jesus"?

In John 20:30-31, these are written:

Why This Gospel Was Written
30. Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31. but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (New American Standard)

The purpose of the Apostles in writing the truth about the "true Jesus". . . . 

• is for people to know that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God". And by believing this truth, one may have eternal life in Christ's name.

Thus the very purpose why the Gospel was written was to proclaim that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God"

The Apostles declared that Jesus is the Christ, the "Son of the living God"

3G.2   What did His Apostles say, when Jesus asked them, "who do you say that I am"?

In Matthew 16:13-17, these are written:

13. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of man is?"
14. And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15. `But you," he said, "who do you say I am?"
16. Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17. Jesus replied, "Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. (NJB)

Simon Peter answered and said,

• You are "the Christ, the Son of the living God.''

How did Jesus affirm the truth that He is indeed the "Son of the living God"?
Jesus replied and said to him, ""Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven."

Thus, the Apostles indeed knew the "true Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God".

Jesus Himself said and confirmed that He is the "Son of God"

3G.3    What did Jesus "say who He is", when He was confronted by Jewish leaders at the Temple in Jerusalem?

In John 10:22-36, these are written:

 ^22-24They were celebrating Hanukkah just then in Jerusalem. It was winter. Jesus was strolling in the Temple across Solomon's Porch. The Jews, circling him, said, "How long are you going to keep us guessing? If you're the Messiah, tell us straight out."

 ^25-30Jesus answered, "I told you, but you don't believe. Everything I have done has been authorized by my Father, actions that speak louder than words. You don't believe because you're not my sheep. My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind."

 ^31-32Again the Jews picked up rocks to throw at him. Jesus said, "I have made a present to you from the Father of a great many good actions. For which of these acts do you stone me?"

 ³³The Jews said, "We're not stoning you for anything good you did, but for what you said—this blasphemy of calling yourself God."

 ^34-36Jesus said, "I'm only quoting your inspired Scriptures, where God said, 'I tell you—you are gods.' If God called your ancestors 'gods'—and Scripture doesn't lie—why do you yell, 'Blasphemer! Blasphemer!' at the unique One the Father consecrated and sent into the world, just because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? (The Message)

When confronted by the Jewish leaders, who was accusing Him of blasphemy; Jesus said, "I'm only quoting your inspired Scriptures, where God said, 'I tell you—you are gods.' If God called your ancestors 'gods'—and Scripture doesn't lie—why do you yell, 'Blasphemer! Blasphemer!' at the unique One the Father consecrated and sent into the world, just because

•  I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 

Why were the Jewish leaders mistaken about their accusation that Jesus called Himself God, when in fact, He said, "I am the Son of God"?

• "I told you, but you don't believe". "You don't believe because you're not my sheep" (John 10:25-26).

Very true indeed, the Jewish leaders cannot understand that Jesus is indeed, the "Son of God" because they are not His sheep.

• Christ's sheep are His Apostles and disciples. They knew Him very well, His identity was not a problem to them. The Apostles indeed knew the "true Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God".

3G.4   How did Jesus confirm that He is indeed the "Son of God" when He was talking to the blind man, whom He just made to see?

In John 9:35-37, these are written:

5 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?''
36. He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?''
37. And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.'' (NKJV)

Jesus affirmed the truth that He is indeed the "Son of God" when He said to the previously blind man, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.''
 

3G.5   How did Jesus confirm that He is indeed the "Son of God" when He was confronted by the chief priest and scribes?

In Luke 22:66-70, these are written:

66. As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying,
67. "If You are the Christ, tell us.'' But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.
68. "And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.
69. "Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.''
70. Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?'' And He said to them, "You rightly say that I am.'' NKJV

When the priest and scribes said, "Are You then the Son of God?"

• And He said to them, "You rightly say that I am.''

Thus, Jesus affirmed that He is indeed the "Son of God". .

John the Baptist testified that Jesus is the "Son of God"

3G.6   What is the testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus?

In John 1:29-34, these are written:

29. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
30. "This is He of whom I said, `After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'
31. "I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.''
32. And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
33. "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
34. "And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.'' (NKJV)

John the Baptist said this about Jesus,

• And I have seen and testified that this is the "Son of God.''

How did John the Baptist know that Jesus is indeed the "Son of God"?

• God, who sent John to baptize with water said it to him. (John 1:32-33)

God introduced Jesus as " My beloved Son"

3G.7   How did the God, the Father in Heaven, introduce Jesus just after He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan river?

In Matthew 3:16-17, :this is written

16. Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
17. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' (NKJV)

God introduced Jesus, through a voice coming from heaven saying,

• This is "My beloved Son", in whom I am well pleased.
   

3G.7   How did God introduced Jesus after He was transfigured before Apostles Peter, James and John?

In Matthew 17:1-5, these are written: 8

1. AND AFTER six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart.
2. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light.
3. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
4. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."
5. He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (Revised Standard Version)

God introduced Jesus, through a voice from the cloud saying:

• This is "my beloved Son" with whom  I am well pleased;

God also commanded. . . . . .  "listen to Him".
 

The Angel proclaimed the Holy One to be born will be called the "Son of God"

3G.9   What did the angel say who is the Holy One to be born of Mary? 

In Luke 1:35, this is written:

And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. (NKJV)

The angel said to Mary, that Holy One who is to be born,

• will be called the "Son of God"
   

Apostle Paul proclaimed that Jesus is the "Son of God"

3G.10   Just after Apostle Paul's conversion in Damascus, what did he immediately proclaim about Jesus in the synagogues?

In Acts 9:15-20 (also verses 1-14), described how Apostle Paul was chosen by the Lord Jesus as His instrument to carry His name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the descendants of Israel.

15. But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
16. for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake."
17. So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18. And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;
19. and he took food and was strengthened.
Saul Begins to Preach Christ Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,
20. and immediately he {began} to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." (New American Standard)

After Saul regained back his sight, he was baptized and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying,

• that Jesus is the "Son of God".

In the Bible, the term "Son of God" is applied repeatedly only to Jesus. 

3G.11   What are some of the Bible verses that proclaim that Jesus is indeed the "Son of God"?

In the following verses these are written:

• Matthew 4:3 - Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.'' (NKJV)  

• Matthew 4:6 - and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: `He shall give His angels charge concerning you,' and, `In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.' '' (NKJV)  

• Luke 4:3 - And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.'' (NKJV)

• Luke 4:9 - Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. (NKJV)

• Mark 3:11 - And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God.'' (NKJV)

• Luke 4:41 - And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!'' And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. (NKJV)

• Matthew 8:29 - And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?'' (NKJV)

• Matthew 14:33 - Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God.'' (NKJV)

• Matthew 27:54 - Now when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!'' (NKJV)

• Mark 1:1 - The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (NKJV)

• Mark 15:39 - Now when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!'' (NKJV)

• Romans 1:4 - and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, (NKJV)

• John 1:34 - "And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.''  (NKJV)

• John 1:49 - Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!'' (NKJV)

• John 11:27 - She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.''  (NKJV)

• John 20:31 -  but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (NKJV)

• Acts 9:20 - Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. (NKJV)

• 2 Corinthians 1:19 - For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us by me, Silvanus, and Timothy was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. (NKJV)

• Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NKJV)

• Hebrews 4:14 - Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (NKJV)

• Hebrews 6:6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (NKJV)

• Hebrews 7:3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. (NKJV)

• Hebrews 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (NKJV)

• 1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (NKJV)

• 1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (NKJV)

• 1 John 5:5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (NKJV)

• 1 John 5:10 All who believe in the Son of God know that this is true. Those who don't believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don't believe what God has testified about his Son. (NLT)

• 1 John 5:13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (ISV)

• 1 John 5:20 We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we know the true God. We live in union with the true God--in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and this is eternal life. (TEV)

• Revelation 2:18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, `These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: (NKJV)

• Matthew 26:63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God." (NLT)

Throughout the New Testament, as shown in the numerous verses above, the phrase "Son of God" is applied repeatedly, in the singular, only to Jesus. 

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The Gospel was written so people may believe that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God". Thus, the  "true Jesus" is indeed, simply and purely the Christ, the "Son of God" according to the proclamation of God, the testimonies of Jesus Himself, the testimonies of Christ's Apostles and disciples, the testimony of John the Baptist, and of the angel who talked to Mary. Throughout the New Testament the phrase "Son of God" is applied repeatedly (in singular) only to Jesus. Let us therefore believe this basic truth that the "true Jesus" is the Christ, the Son of God, so we may have eternal life in His name. (John 20:31)

Note: Jesus was never referred to by any writer in the Bible as "God the Son". This is the reason why the phrase or title "God the Son" cannot be read in the Bible as the title God the Son is associated more with the development of the Trinity doctrine which include the doctrine of Incarnation.

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