_ There is a saying that the more things change, the more they stay the same.  When we think about Christ, there is a sense of change and sameness as well.  The tenth article of the Belgic Confession reflects this truth. 

First, the Son of God shares sameness with God the Father.  “He is one in essence with the Father,” states the Belgic.  The Son of God is equally God just as God the Father.  This means that the Son of God is:

Eternal:  He existed before the foundation of the world.  There was never a time when the Son of God did not exist. 

Almighty:  The Son of God shares this attribute with God the Father.  All power and authority in this world derives from God, which includes the Son of God.  He is reliable, trustworthy, and can do far more than anything we imagine. 

Worthy of Worship:  A popular song leads us to sing that “It’s all about you, Jesus.”  While this is not entirely true, because God the Father as well as the Holy Spirit are involved in all aspects of salvation, it is not entirely false.  Jesus, as much as God the Father and the Holy Spirit, is worthy of our worship. 

Second, there is also a sense of change or distinction among the persons of the Trinity.  Even though the Son of God is one in essence with the Father, the Son of God is also:

Assumed:  The Son of God became man, not God the Father or the Holy Spirit.  He stooped low to us.    

Eternally begotten:  What does this mean?  First, we must understand that it is biblical.  It is a translation of John 3:16.  Second, we must understand what it does not mean.  It does not mean that the Son of God is a created son of God.  He is the eternal begotten Son of God, not the created Son of God.  This makes him different than us.  You and I are created and adopted by grace to be sons of God.    Jesus, on the other hand, is the eternal Son of God, neither created nor adopted.  Third, we must recognize that it is a difficult concept to understand.  I think it is sufficient to say that it refers to a relationship between the Father and Son that is unique and unshared between God and us.  To say that the Son of God is “eternally begotten” serves as a way to relationally describe how the Son is different with the Father than us. 

Jesus is not just a glorified teacher; he is the glory of God.  Worthy of worship, because he is God, we rejoice that the eternal Son of God assumed our flesh so that we might partake in a life of godliness.