People who were called by God's name were called "sons". "...bring my sons from far...Even every one that is called by my name" (Isa. 43:6-7). People were called by God's name as early as the sons of Seth (the son of Adam and Eve). "And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD" (Gen. 4:26).
Seeing that God has many "sons", it is very important that Bible teachers keep the word "begotten" in John 3:16:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
People need to realize that Satan is very cunning and that Satan is out to deceive people by slowly changing Bible teaching and godly customs.
Think for a moment how much Satan has changed godly customs. The Scripture that reads, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel..." (I Tim. 2:9) is today considered to mean what is "modest apparel" for the time in which we live. But what was "modest apparel" in Paul's day is what is "modest apparel" in our day. We have become so lenient today that there is no shame in nakedness. There are so-called churches that allow women to sing in the choir with their breasts showing, or naked over the shoulders, or dressed like men.
So be careful, Bible students. The devil is at it again by trying to remove the word "begotten" from John 3:16. God has other "sons" but only one "begotten son", Jesus Christ. If we continue to allow it to be preached and taught that "God gave His only son" (instead of "only begotten son"), future generations will not know that God gave His only begotten Son.
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isa. 7:14).
There is no sign unless it is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16)! Remember:
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21).
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:13-14).
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18).
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life...He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16-18).
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him" (I John 4:9).
