Wednesday 4th March 2020 Devotion
Scripture:- Genesis 1:1-31
Topic:- Christian Gene [3]
Text:- Genesis 1:26
C. Begotten, Not Made:
What could possibly be wrong with this? Well, to start with, genetic engineering when applied to human beings is profoundly dehumanizing.
In God’s design, children are conceived in the context of the most intimate personal relationship of husband and wife, and they are brought up in the highly personal relationship of motherhood and fatherhood.
Children are not commodities to be bought and sold, or products to be manufactured, or objects to be designed for someone else’s use.
The Nicene Creed makes a biblical distinction that can clarify what is wrong with the genetic engineering mind-set. The second article of that Trinitarian confession says, I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is “begotten, not made.”
The creed quotes John 3:16. Most modern translations of the Bible leave out “begotten,” though this is a critical concept for orthodox Christology.
To “beget” means to generate from one’s own substance. The Lord Jesus Christ is “begotten,” which means that he is “of one substance with the Father.”
This is distinguished from another way of coming into being, namely, being “made”; that is, created. Christ was not created; he is not one of God’s creatures. He was “begotten,” so that he is the same kind of being that God the Father is.
Thus, the Son of God is “very God of [with the meaning “from”] very God.” Far from being “made,” according to the creed, as the divine Logos, he is the one “by whom all things were made.”
Jesus Christ is the “only-begotten Son of God.” There is no other like him. We, on the other hand, are “made.” We are God’s creatures.
Furthermore, Jesus Christ is the “only-begotten Son of God.” There is no other like him. We, on the other hand, are “made.” We are God’s creatures. This means that we are not deities of any sort.
Though we were created in God’s image, we do not share his substance, unlike Jesus. But isn’t God our Father too? Yes! We are God’s children by adoption. See Galatians 4:4-7; Romans 8:14-17.
Adoption is the very description of our salvation. And here we see the biblical solution to many of the problems that reproductive technology attempts to address.
There are medical treatments that can help infertile couples who yearn to have a baby, but rather than go to the extreme measures involving sperm or egg donors, surrogate mothers, or conceiving disposable embryos, adopt a child.
Yes, this is becoming more and more difficult, largely due to the practice of abortion, which ends the life of children who otherwise would have been put up for adoption. But it is still the optimum, God-pleasing, life-affirming solution.
Prayer Point:- Oh Lord God, help me to have dominion henceforth by fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Happy Mid-Week!