JESUS, THE FIRST-BORN

And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of earth (Psalms 89:27).

He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation (Colossians 1:15).

Psalms 89:27 is another of the Old Testament prophecies that was fulfilled in Christ Jesus.  Sometimes a thoughtful Bible student will ask, "What does it mean that Christ was the first-born of creation?  Does that mean that Jesus was created?"  In modern times we tend to think in more literal terms than the ancients.  Sometimes, literal thinking can lead us to conclusions that are not true, as in this instance.

Taking a good concordance and looking up the term "first-born," one will find that it is used more than 110 times in the Bible.  Most of the time the term can be taken quite literally, but there are a significant number of times when it does not mean first in order, but first in place or first in rank, being the absolute best or the absolute worst.  For instance, Job 18:13 says, "By disease his skin is consumed, the first-born of death consumes his limbs," meaning that the worst kind of dying is consuming Job.

When the Bible speaks of Jesus as being the "first-born of all creation," it means that Jesus is preeminent over all creation--not that he was created, but that he is the creator and sustainer of the universe. So, imagine the Creator lying in a manger because there was no room for him in the inn, or, imagine the Creator some 33 years later, dying on a cross for you and me.  To the wise of this world, it just doesn't fit, but: God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast (I Corinthians 1:27-29).

The name, "First-Born," was a prophesied title of the Messiah who bore very nature of God (Hebrews 1:3) and the nature of man.  The most important question is, however, is Jesus Christ the Preeminent One in your life?

Grace&Peace;
Tom