The Firstborn Son

The First Prophecy

The New Testament depicts Jesus the Messiah, as the ultimate human descendant of Eve who defeats Satan.

Genesis 3:15 is the most significant prophetic passage in the Bible and is the foundation of each of God’s actions throughout the entirety of Scripture.” - Rabbi Eric Walker

Genesis 3:15 (ESV) - I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

The enmity is a combat between the serpent and its offspring (those that follow its ways), and the woman and her descendants.

The Jewish people expected the coming Messiah to be a descendant of David, establish God’s eternal rule on the earth, and subdue Israel’s enemies. They expected the Messiah to be the catalyst in ushering the age of righteousness on earth.

The Messiah was also expected to lead a rebellion against Rome and battle Israel’s enemies right out of the gate, but Jesus battled Satan instead.

Jesus’s first act as the King of Israel was waging war in the wilderness against the devil. By doing so, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Messianic prophesies not with a king’s sword but with the Word of God.

Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament messianic expectations primarily on a cosmic, spiritual level.

The Cosmic War!

What we see on earth, is not all there is to reality. There was a cosmic conflict, a heavenly war, between angels and demons, between Satan and Michael.

Revelation 12:7–9 ESV

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Jesus was victorious by his death and resurrection!

The Fullness of God

Colossians 2:9–10 ESV

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Colossians 2:9-10 (KJV) - For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

The phrase “for in him the whole fulness of deity bodily.”

Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, writes,“The [One God] of the Old Testament has attracted to Himself all divine power in the cosmos, and on the early Christian view He has given this fulness of power to Christ as the Bearer of the divine office.”

Kleinknecht writes that “theiotês” is“that which shows God to be God, and gives Him the right to [receive] worship.”

The “fullness of all that God is” which is “in” the Messiah “bodily” is in believers as well, because they are part of his Body.

The Cosmic Ruler

Colossians 1:15–20 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Firstborn of All Creation

Exodus 4:22 (ESV) - Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son.

The term firstborn expresses the relationship between Israel and God. Since God produced Israel miraculously through Abraham and Sarah, He is father to the nation (Gen 18; 21:1–5).

The term sonship is also used in the bible to refer as divine beings.

Psalm 89:27 (ESV) - And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

This particular psalm is about Yahweh’s covenant with David.

Interestingly enough, David was not the firstborn of his family. In fact, he was the youngest of his brothers.

Therefore we can suggest that the term “firstborn” within the context of Psalm 89 is used in a figurative manner.

Prototocos (Greek) - Firstborn (Colossians 1).

The term “firstborn” can also be interpreted as “the highest of the kings of the earth.” This indicates that, in the context of Psalm 89, to be made “firstborn” by God means to be exalted to the highest place. This makes perfect sense in the context of Colossians 1.

The phrase, “firstborn of all creation,” does not mean that Jesus was the first created being, but speaks of his eternal sonship, and is an essential and eternal element of the inner nature of God.

The Messiah is the firstborn of a new humanity through being the first to be resurrected from the dead

The Firstborn of the Dead

Revelation 1:5 (ESV) - and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

Jesus is the “firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”

Paul also claims that Jesus was the “firstborn from the dead” (Col. 1:18).

There is the notion of time in Revelation, with John intending us to understand Jesus as the first person resurrected in history. Others were resuscitated (like Lazarus), but they all died again.

Jesus, on the other hand, has conquered death forever. At the same time, he is sovereign over death, having triumphed over it. Death no longer rules—Christ rules. Indeed, he rules over the “kings on earth.”

Predestination

Romans 8:29 ESV

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

“Firstborn” is metaphorical here and points to Christ’s unique and exalted status as God’s one and only Son.

“Foreknew” points to Paul’s conviction that God’s knowledge and purpose precede and are the ultimate cause of the salvation of those who love him.

Those who love God do so in keeping with him, who “predestined” them “to be conformed to the image of his Son.” God’s “secret and hidden wisdom” was predestined “before the ages for our glory”

Paul reveals there will be “many brothers,” to share in Christ’s status as “firstborn” as the result of God’s predestinating work.

The Assembly of the Firstborn

Hebrews 12:23 ESV

23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

The human worshipers are introduced under two titles:

“The assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven”

“The spirits of the righteous made perfect.”

“The assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven” - The term translated “assembly” (ekklēsia) typically refers to the “church” in the NT.

The firstborn children of God make up this heavenly “assembly.” This is because all whom the unique divine and messianic Son calls his “brothers” share by grace in the Son’s inheritance (2:12; Rom. 8:17). Their names are “enrolled in heaven,” inscribed for eternal life in God’s book.

“The spirits of the righteous made perfect.” These are the OT people of faith on whose behalf God testified that they were righteous as they lived by faith. That they are “spirits” indicates they have not yet participated in the final resurrection of the dead (Rev. 6:9–11; 20:4).

Yet, in contrast to their condition prior to Christ’s coming (Heb. 11:40), now they have been “made perfect”—along with us—through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Conclusion:

1 Timothy 3:16 ESV

16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.