Son of God and Messiah

Two titles sit at the center of the New Testament's portrait of Jesus: Son of God and Messiah. When Peter confessed, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16), he summed up the whole gospel in a single sentence. Understanding these titles helps new believers grasp exactly who they are trusting.

Messiah: the promised one

"Messiah" is a Hebrew word meaning "anointed one"; the Greek equivalent is "Christ." For centuries, Israel awaited an anointed King from the line of David who would rescue God's people and establish His kingdom. The prophets foretold His coming, including the promise that "unto us a child is born" who would be called "The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus fulfilled these hopes, though not as a political warrior. He came first to defeat sin and death and to bring people back to God.

Son of God: sharing the Father's nature

The title "Son of God" speaks to Jesus' unique relationship with the Father. It does not mean He was created; it means He shares the Father's divine nature. At His baptism a voice from heaven declared, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). John writes that God sent His "only begotten Son" so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). To call Jesus the Son of God is to confess that God Himself came to save us.

Why both titles matter together

Held together, these names show that Jesus is both the long-awaited King and the divine Savior. He is qualified to forgive because He is God, and He is able to represent us because He became truly human. Believing this is the foundation of the Christian faith. As you grow in Christ within our free community, these truths move from facts you know to a Savior you love and follow.