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OD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Hebrews 1:1-6) (Soli Gloria Deo)
There is a great contrast between the first-born of the flesh (Cain) and the First-Born of God of the Spirit (Jesus Christ). In Cain was exemplified every sorrowful blemish of sin, even to the extent of brotherly murder. But, in Christ, being the First-Born of the living, we have the hope and surety of Redemption and a Holy unction. By the first man, Adam, came sin and death: And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (1 Corinthians 15:45-49) Just as the second son of Adam (Abel), Abraham (Isaac), and Isaac (Jacob), Christ is the second Adam by which the perfect will of God is made possible in the salvation of souls.
The first-born was considered the rightful heir of the father under Old Testament law; however, it was always the second son of righteous living that was the inheritor of the blessings of the father. This went against popular custom, but nevertheless true. Being the Second Adam, the inheritance falls to Jesus Christ owing to His perfection in righteousness and truth. Like the second born of Adam, our Lord was murdered by His own.
Let us examine the emblems of grace inherent in the Office of Christ as the first-Born of all redeemed of God:
1. Christ is the First-Born of the Virgin, Mary, despite Roman claims to the contrary. If there is a first-born, there must, of necessity, be a second, a third, and so forth. (see Gospel of Luke 2:7) It was by means of this Incarnation of our Lord that His purity is established in the flesh.
2. Christ is the First-Born of all His (spiritual) brethren: 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. Romans 8:29 Not of those who have gone the way of Cain, but those who are the chosen and elect in Christ!
3. Christ is the First-Born from among the dead: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18 As the dead have died in the first Adam, the eternally living are born in the second Adam (Christ). His Resurrection from death assures His elect the privilege of the same resurrection. This is evidence of His power to save to the uttermost – life eternal.
4. Christ is the First-Born of every creature: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 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.1 Colossians 1:15-16 I pray that the first-born of every creature will point to our beloved pets and all the beast of Eden Garden. This points to the Pre-eminence of Christ in all things.
There are moments in the writing of these devotions I stop and praise God for making the beauty of His Word open to the understanding of my simple mind. Of course, my understanding lacks the depth of greater men of God than myself, but, still, God has opened my eyes to the simple truths made manifest through His Word and He, therefore, makes it available in the understanding of the little child as well as the hoary-headed scholar (see Proverbs 16:31)
What a joy it is to commune with the Lord and His people in our daily walk – even to that Foyer of Grace that we see, by faith, just beyond Jordan’s Waters. In a sense, we of faith are also the second-born in that we were born into newness of life through our Lord Jesus Christ.
