Manna

It was stated that if Moses after his death appeared on the Mt. with Elijah then Jesus could not be the first born from the dead.

Yet, those who do not know how the Lord is honoured with this title of firstborn cause this belief. The term firstborn is more than an act it is a crowning of the Father and the title of the Son’s preeminence.

Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:7; Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15, 18; Hebrews 11:28; 12:23;

It is of interest to note that the word firstborn only appears in the N.T. seven times (Watch out for those sevens). And in every case it is directed to Our Lord. This being so, no other could be the firstborn of firstborns anyway.

He is the first begotten and the only begotten of the Father.

HE HAS THE DISTINCTION IN EVERY THING!

A. King of Kings.

B. First and last

C. First begotten of the dead

D. Lord of Lords

E. Alpha and Omega

F. Only begotten of the Father

G. In the beginning

H. Firstborn see below

1. Firstborn at birth.

Matthew 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

The firstborn of Mary was Jesus and she also had other children (Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him Mark 6:3) (and I do not mean cousins as some would mean it by.)

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Father will not have his Son second place in anything.

He willfully chose a daughter of Israel of the seed of David, a virgin who had not known man. (The reading of the R.V. is not only an insult to the Father, but also an insult to all women especially those who believe that the “maid head” is reserved for marriage alone and that includes Mary). Mary was not a tramp and God chose a woman that had not known a man to give birth to a vessel (her firstborn Matt. 1:25), which the eternal Son of God could be clothed with (Hebrews 10:5).

The verses below show the type and the purity of his birth and bring not only honour to the undefiled Son of God but all women who would follow God’s standard of purity and rather than the abandonment of the flesh. The firstborn came from such a woman.

Does this mean that God will not save tramps; he does, just ask Rahab or others.

John 4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen [it], repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. (Matthew 21:32)

Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Deu 23:2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

The old rhyme of Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow is a perversion of our Saviour being the firstborn.

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Exo 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine.

Two the image

The order of salvation in Romans eight shows us that we are to be conformed to his image (see also Philippians 3:21)

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

He respectfully is our older brother, the firstborn of the Father. The image of The Son is the image that pleases the Father.

Mat 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

This is the only image we are to fall before and we are commanded not to make unto ourselves any image of the host of heaven.

Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:

Yet, we could not make ourselves into his image even if we wanted to. This is the work of God not made with hands of man.

2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The glorification of all Christians is to be transformed unto this image, that is the image of the FIRSTBORN.

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30)

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2).

Phi 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

We shall be the image of the firstborn, our older Brother.

Three firstborn of every creature

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

John 1:18 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 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

From the Voice in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3) to the Revelation to John no other image of the Godhead has ever be seen.

He is the firstborn of every creature, and why not HE is the Creator of every creature as well as creation itself.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)

And as the firstborn of every creature, the Father has given him the rights over all.

The firstborn inherits it all. As the firstborn he is heir to everything above all creatures and being the First and the Last this firstborn can claim it all.

1 Corinthians 15:27-28 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under [him, it is] manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. (28) And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

A beloved perfect Son always is subject to the perfect Father and pleases him.

John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

The will of the Son is to be subject to the Father. No wonder the host of heaven praises this firstborn of every creature.

There was never a time when the Father was without the Son or the Son without the Father and there never was a time that the Father did not have this image.

The blood of the firstborn

Hebrews 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

What an antitype it took the blood of the firstborn, the first and the last, the firstborn of Mary and of every creature to save us.

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Knowing the above Paul could conclude with the usage of the word FIRSTBORN when he wrote.

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.