The Lord’s anointed in Verse 2 of Psalm 1 and the King established on Mount Zion in verse 6 are the same. Now in verse 7, the chosen one to rule the world speaks and says, “I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.’” He often referred to himself as the “son of man.” He was the son of man in that Mary was his mother. It seems that all history acknowledges the humanity of Jesus. Dr. Robert Price is an exception. He argues that Jesus is a fictional character with no basis in reality. It’s interesting that Price, an atheist, and mythicist, finds it far easier to believe in aliens than in the actual existence of a person named Jesus from the first century. He is outside the realm of the belief of legitimate historians. Josh McDowell’s website says, “Historian Bart Ehrman, who also rejects Jesus as God, still counters that Price and other scholars skeptical of Jesus the historical person are simply choosing to disregard clear evidence.” Yet, the historicity of the person of Jesus is only half of the story. Over two hundred times in the New Testament is the phrase “Son of God” used to refer to Jesus.
It is not the recognition of Jesus as the son of man; that’s the real issue. The question is whether he’s the Son of God mentioned in the Old Testament who will come and reign on earth according to Psalm 2. Jesus once asked his disciples who they thought he was, and in Matthew 16:16, “Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” Psalm 2 will end with a beatitude, “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” Jesus pronounces that blessing on Peter in Matthew 16:17-18, “Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The “rock” here is not the human named Peter, but his profession of faith in Christ as the son of God. Those in every generation that acknowledge Jesus as the Son of Man and the Son of God will become stones in the church of Christ.
Whereas the title “Son of Man” informs Jesus’ humanity, the title “Son of God” informs his deity. The humanity of Christ is a historical fact and well established. What establishes his deity? It is seen in his teachings in his life as well as the many miracles he performed, but it finds its conclusive evidence in the resurrection. In his sermon in Acts 13:32-33, Paul says, “And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’” Paul also informs the Romans that Jesus is the fulfillment of Psalm 2:7. Romans1:3-4 says, speaking of Jesus, “who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Believing that there was a human, historical person named Jesus means no more to God than believing that George Washington existed. Paul tells us what matters in Romans 10:9. He says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”