Jesus the Firstborn & We the Church of the Firstborn

There is a title of Jesus that in our modern cultural context rubs us the wrong way. Most modern westerners like ourselves can hardly fathom that Jesus is the firstborn son and that ought to be great news to you and me. Smell of snobbishness and unfair to individualistic Western sniffers - why should one child, in ancient culture the eldest son - be favoured above the rest. Other cultures and older western cultures that have the household the community more at the centre than individual kind of get this. Imagine 200 years ago - ran a blacksmith shop - whole household each member identity part of that all contributing together - continue for years to and generations to come - wealth invested and - though all kids get an inheritance, their would be one child who would take over the family operation - - that favoured child - greater responsibility - this child got double inheritance not to spend on self - but for the operation of the family enterprise. Book of Proverbs like Egyptian wisdom - that crown prince, that eldest son and heir - had to br trained with wisdom - or loose the enterprise the wealth and the household that was built up an passed on for generations. God democratizes that says: all my children need this wisdom all my firs born inheriting. A good modern day example Guiness beer - Arthur Guiness senior - then to junior then to - that one son got more - but also as made risky and wise business decisions - global - blessed urban poor, doctors for whole family, education of whole family,. His brothers ended up in trouble , some became poor clergymen -.

This is how agricultural Israel worked, and why Leviticus/Deuteronomy - double inheritance to the eldest son. When know sons had died, daughters of Zelophed case to Moses and God says those daughters can inherit. Not a snobby o chauvinistic thing - but with household and community at center - the first-born a position of leadership, greater responsibility, and also preimminence. And so often too show of grace and not biology or social status. God reversed the order - Issac instead of Ishmael, Esua instead of Jacob, the eldest Reuben is replaced by Judah. Not about social conventaion, biology, but postion of leadership and responsibility, and privlege. Interestingly David, the least and youngest of his family - God sets him aside to lead God’s people and look what God says he will make David, and especially David’s greater son Jesus become: Psalm 89:27

Psalm 89:27 ESV

And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

The first born is the position of preeminence not biological title.

And that is what is remarkable about the firstborn in the OT, God says to Israel - not because so great morally, strength, wisdom but my love and mercy - I am taking you from being slaves, adopting you not just as my children, but whole nation adopted as God’s firstborn heirs! Setting my love on you, and I will make you - my firstborn - Ex 4:22-23a

Exodus 4:22–23 ESV

Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’ ”

Well what does it mean to you and me especially as approach Good Friday and Easter that Jesus is the firstborn and especially the first born of many brethren? And that we are the church the gathering the community of the firstborn? And on Easter Sunday evening we will look at what it means that Jesus is the first born from among the dead.

A. Jesus is the Fulfillment of God’s Firstborn as the Head and Leader and Servant of the Human Race

But before thinking of Jesus death as the firstborn, lets think of how he fulfills being God’s firstborn as the earthly representative that would lead the world - endowed with gifts of God fulfilling the mission of God, leading the family of God. While its true that Jesus is the only begotten son of God, this title the firstborn son is not speaking of Jesus eternal origin as Triune Son of the Father. This is speaking of the earthly role that Father gave the Son as he steps forward to be the leaders of all creation and especially the human race, and even more especially the redeemed people of God. And so we read in Psalm 2:7-8

Psalm 2:7–8 ESV

I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

First, Adam then, Abraham then Abraham’s seed each were to be the head of a people devoted to God and the ways of God, through this head all families of nations would be blessed; Then Israel before mountain Sinai before the giving of the covenant promises and laws, set free, God says to them as His first born . Exodus 19:5-6b

Exodus 19:5–6 ESV

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

And in so many ways, we can say Jesus came to fulfill this for us and to invite us into being this people that would become holy in fellowship with God, in mission and service to this world. Fulfilled in t in his own person and then invited us to be that with Him as our firstborn.

And we see that in the last part of our text from Romans 8:29

Romans 8:29 ESV

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 among many brothers - how would Jesus take not only his OT people but also the Gentiles who would come to believe in him, and make them part of the great family that he would be the householder of? And this is where it is impossible to understand Jesus as the firstborn without understanding the Passover and Jesus fulfillment of that great event on the Cross.

B. Christ being the firstborn for us, means we must become God’s firstborn by being redeemed

Do you remember why the Passover happened, part of the 10 plagues on Egypt when Pharaoh hardened his heart and wouldn't let God’s people go. But what is so interesting is that some of the plagues where just on Egypt, but some where on Israel too, and they need deliverance as much as Egypt from some of those plagues, and by faith in God’s word and promise - they and their livestock for instance when hail fell in God’s judgment - delivered form it. What number was the Passover Plague - 10th and final and complete one. Just on Egypt, or Israel and Egpytp, all - in the land. And this is vital for you to apply to yourself too. God’s people Israel had neglected forgotten compromised their relationship with the living God - life was practically immersed in serving idol gods, cration, living wn way - And the Passover plague says the punishment ofr that will be the firstborn - the future household inheritance all wrapped up in one - I will visit them with the angel of Death. That’s a picture of judgment dday bevore God whole human race is under.

But look at this mercy - Exodus 12:13

Exodus 12:13 ESV

The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

When it happens so clear not just Egyptians, but all firstborns both slaves like Israelites and first born Egyptian citizens. But any and all who take the blood of the Spotless sacrificial subtitionary Lamb - they were saved - so there firstborn could live - how God saved all Israel - and because of that God says every first born of yours belongs to me - devoted to me -

Whole of Israel became God’s firstborn - by calling but now also by redemption by sacrificial blood of Lamb, pointing to Jesus that and that alone made them God’s adopted community of firstborns. Prized and special and serving among the nations of this world - holy to God.

Do you recognize that you need this Lamb, this blood? No escape from coming judgment without it, No adoption by God without it, no special endowment and inheritance from God , no special role and calling and service without being included in Christ’s death for you, his resurrection and Passover deliverance. Jesus is offered to you as the firstborn, this is a title given to Son of God as he comes to us His people as Mediator and King, as God’s earthly representative.

Greatest assurance that it is only in Jesus that we look to be accepted by God, not in our record, our effort, our… but solidly and totally accepted in Christ our Passover Lamb. Not earning a position as firstborn, but receiving this person - Eph 1:3

Ephesians 1:3 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Ephesians 1:6 ESV

to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

This is the assurance you can have tonight: Blessed, accepted in the Beloved. And that brings us to the wonderful blessings, the privileges the inheritance that Jesus shares with his brethren.

This is Psalm 2, and Psalm 110, it speaks of eternal Son of God, stepping forward and saying I will come down for them - reign like Adam was supposed to but failed to - I will be the Sn of Man of Daniel 7 and establish a universal kingdom on earth. Jesus is W, C , MG, EF , P of P, in Is 9 sit why? So he could be our King upon throne of David, est and uphold a kingdom among us! That is the first born in preeminent position .

C. Those redeemed inherit all the firstborn’s blessing as co-heirs

Jesus was full of glory in fullness with God from eternity, but in plan of creation and redemption - the Father makes him preeminent - whole creation made by and through and for him for him to be all in all in. Only accomplished by this Christ becoming preeminent in redemption. Being the firstborn means he gets the inheritance of God’s riches. So we read in Col 1:15

Colossians 1:15 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

But in Jesus work of becoming the firstborn like Israel for us, Jesus turns around and say I am doing this for them and I will share the reward, the riches, the fullness, with them! It is such an interesting title isn’t in Hebrews Heb 12:22-23

Hebrews 12:22–23 ESV

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 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 assembly of the firstborn. In the OT the law was that the first born got the double inheritance. The practice as we with Isaac to Jacob was that firstborn was to get the special blessing. But Jesus fulfills God’s will, perfectly, the way he was to fulfill everything Israel was to be and do - he does that all and God says I’ve got the greatest inheritance not only promised to you - but because fulfilled it all, even signing the deal with your death - did unto death - here now you come into the inheritance. IN his human nature exalted and blessed - given seat of authority, given glorified body set free from weakness, sickness, and death, set free from temptation - in fact Gal says given the promise of the Father to Him - which was the Holy Spirit in fullness indwelling the human nature. Ephesians 1:13 describes this extraordinary inheritance and gift to us like this:

Ephesians 1:13 ESV

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

And unlike a selfish firstborn - he takes his inheritance and says - I want to share this glory with my brethern. Our text is saying, God chose us in love - not passively say get to go to heaven, but chosen in Christ, in love why - to be actively, bit by bit, conformed to the image of God’s son - the firstborn.

Yes, we are accepted in the beloved, but now indwelt with His Spirit receiving gifts of fruits of l,jp,pkg, faithfulness, gentleness, s-c; the character of Christ - in this rich communion we become little firstborns with our life in communion with Christ. No so much that we have direct union with God’s essence and nature but in contact and fellowship with Christ, participate and here and now in this life and fullness inheritance and gifts.

This is what it means that in Christ, we become co-heirs, male and female slaved or free, Sycthians, Greek or Jew. We are those who share in the inheritance of Christ: Col 1:12 - he is the one who is first born over all creation - preeminent in all, and he shares that with us

Colossians 1:12 ESV

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

So Romans says we become Romans 8:17

Romans 8:17 ESV

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Like Michelangelo and that block of stone - stood - chipped away - using flaws and all - but when done David. What sharing in the inheritance of the firstborn Christ, all he earned in and now shares, not mechanically or automatically, but as we actively live in communion with Him - being conformed in his image, ruling with him - and when that is fully compete - through this life, but then in heaven and new glorified bodies, - we will reign with him - Christ will be all and in all.

This process has begun, and he will complete, which is why he is not ashamed to calls his brethren. Heb 2:11

Hebrews 2:11 ESV

For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

But there is one last aspect that Jesus title of the firstborn should mean to us.

D. Those Firstborn of God in Christ, serve daily life devoted to God

And here again it is so interesting to see what happened in the Passover, the firstborn of every family is redeemed - and God right away says: Exodus 13:2

Exodus 13:2 ESV

“Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

Every household would be devoted to God as firstborn consecrated always. Well intersersting that not every household would -give one to be priest - but God says serve me in all life - but set apart one tribe to be the pirests and the minsiters for each community. And that was the tribe of Levi. Deut 10:8

Deuteronomy 10:8 ESV

At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.

The Levites symoblically became picture that this nation was dedicated to the Lord, the priase of God in worship abut in all lie, Levites scattered in each community - bring Word of God teaching of God God’s grace and truth and holiness spread to all life. And of course the priests part of the Levites from Aaaron’s line, they has they incredibly unique privelege of more direct contact with God - and the highpirest most of all - come into glory presence of God.

Well, in the NT those united to Christ the priest, guess what they all beconme levites unto God. And no longer is there indirect worship that happens with God’s people through merely human pirests and Levites - Remember Jer 31:33-34

Jeremiah 31:33–34 ESV

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

That knowing isn’t intellectual knowing facts, its knoweing and expereincing God intiately and directly - one in Christ, indwelt by Spirit of God directly -

Unlike OT have a calling from God in regular life - don’t have to leave that to have this direct knowing of God and service to God. Paul instructs us that our earthly callings are from God assigned by him, but then he says: 1 Cor 7:24

1 Corinthians 7:24 ESV

So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

Sure some called to serve in offices of church for equipping of te saints for the work of minsitry. But all are firstborn know God directly, all are consecrated unto God in daily work in the world. Sure some called to offices in church, even to preside the preaching and teaching of Ghcurch. Elders and deacons to lead in spiritual care and oversight and the works of mercy. But all directly knowing God serving Him. All equally firstborn of God, consecrated to his service to his family business in all the work of our lives.

Why did God chose Israel, . .. how are we to share in Christ’s first born status… redeems to serve… Jesus consecrated to service, qualified as high priest, kind of like Arthur Guinesss assuming a role in the family , in his whole community - and we with Christ step into that kind of role - not Lords and masters but servants

Jesus Christ came to this planet to be God’s firstborn. He came as your Saviour to share the inheritance of God with you today and to share it fullly with him in glory. But let us now live up to our pirvelege and calling to be God’s church of the firstborn!