◄ What Does Hebrews 1:5 Mean? ►

As the second Person of the Trinity, Christ is sometimes referred to as the 'eternally begotten' Son of the Father Who was, and is, and is to come, the Almighty. But in another way, the Lord Jesus was begotten at His incarnation, when He laid aside His glory and took upon Himself the form of a servant and became God with us - God incarnate - God in the flesh.

The Son Who was given by the Father to redeem mankind from their sins, was that little baby boy, born 2000 years ago at Bethlehem. The child of Mary that was laid in a manger so long ago, was the eternal God Who had clothed Himself in vulnerable humanity. He was truly born the only begotten Son of Father, for He was the visible image of the invisible God.

But in the truest and biblical sense, the Lord Jesus was begotten at His glorious Resurrection. It was when He rose from the grave that Christ became: "The first-begotten from the dead." It was when He rose from the grave that the Father could say: "This day have I begotten Thee."

The glory that had been laid aside for a season was returned to the Son when He was highly honoured in His humanity: risen, ascended, and glorified. Paul tells us that the Lord Jesus was: "Declared to be the powerful Son of God at His Resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness." It was at His glorious Resurrection from death the Christ was legitimately able to declare: "The LORD hath said unto Me, 'Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten Thee.'"

We rejoice that Jesus is the eternal Son of God. We delight to remember His miraculous birth, His exemplary life and His sacrificial death on the Cross. And we marvel at the eternal significance of His Resurrection from the dead, when the powers of death were shattered forever for all who believe on Him as Saviour, and when, on that Resurrection morning, God the Father was finally able to pronounce: "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee."

Heavenly Father, thank You that You gave Your only begotten Son to become the sacrifice for my sins. Thank You that by faith in Christ's finished work at Calvary my sins have been forgiven forever and my life has been redeemed from the pit. Thank You that Christ rose from the dead and has become the first-begotten from the dead, and thank You that in Him I have life, eternal life, and life more abundantly. Help me to live my life to Your honour and glory, and may I never forget what it cost You to have the new life in Christ empowering me. Thank You, in Jesus' name, AMEN.