Christ, The Firstborn

Paul has been speaking of a blessed and privileged people for whom all the works of creation, providence and redemption have been ordered to accomplish their earthly and eternal good. He identifies these individuals as the people foreknown of God, that is, men and women loved before time, called and set apart in union with the Lord Jesus Christ under the terms of the everlasting covenant of grace and peace.

God knows who are His

Those foreknown of God were loved in the infinite wisdom of God and distinguished in the mind of the Almighty before the world was formed. With sovereign purpose the Father chose and ordained them individually, personally and particularly to be united to His Son and made holy in Him with God’s own righteousness. God’s elect are predestinated to be made like Christ and conformed to the image of His Son. 

Christ’s success is our good

Now Paul enlarges upon the purpose of electing grace. Its end is primarily the glory and pre-eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man. The glory of our Saviour was conditional upon His success in redeeming, reconciling and bringing many sons to glory. In the all-wise counsel of Jehovah the glory and happiness of the Son is the glory and happiness of the elect. In glorifying His people Christ takes glory to Himself. In His people’s salvation He has all the pre-eminence and praise.

A word with broad meaning

Christ’s pre-eminent status is comprehended in the title ‘The Firstborn’. Thereafter, the high status of His people is reflected in their title ‘Brethren’. Christ is the firstborn, first-begotten and only-begotten Son of the Father. The elect are sons of God, too, made so by adoption. Paul tells the church at Ephesus the Father has ‘predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ’. Adoption into the family of God by the saving work of Christ makes us brethren to Christ and heirs with Him.

A powerful OT type

The description of the Saviour as ‘the firstborn among many brethren’ draws very largely upon Old Testament typology. The son born first in a family was highly revered. Jacob speaks thus of Reuben, ‘My firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength; the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power’. Actually, Reuben’s blessing was diminished on account of his sin but the firstborn son ordinarily obtained a double portion of the father’s inheritance and as his heir carried on the official responsibilities of his father.

The firstborn belong to God

The firstborn in Jewish history also referred to a category of people claimed by God following the exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt. At the passing of the death angel the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt together with the firstborn of the cattle were slain by God unless they dwelt in a house where the blood of the passover lamb had been painted on the door posts and lintel. Jewish sons would have died with their Egyptian peers had they not been ‘covered’ by the blood of the lamb.

A high priest from among the people

That passover night God claimed all the firstborn of Israel for His own saying, ‘Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine’. Later He adopted the tribe of Levi in lieu of the firstborn in all the tribes and appointed them to be priests before God for the whole nation, and one the high priest among them. Also, from that time forward Jewish parents were obliged to redeem every firstborn son with a payment made to the priest. Even firstborn animals had to be redeemed.

A very suitable title

The firstborn son carried a weight of honour and pre-eminence amongst his brethren and this is what Paul is alluding to in this description of the Lord Jesus. He is the Firstborn in honour amongst His brethren. He is our Mediator, Intercessor and Representative moving constantly between the Father and the Family. He is a representing High Priest before His Father for His people. He is the bearer of kingly authority over His brethren in the kingdom of God upon earth. In this doubled role the Firstborn is worthy of double honour and blessing.

A very successful Saviour

Our Saviour is also the firstborn from the dead for the same reasons. Paul tells us in Colossians 1:18  ‘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’. It is an apt and illustrious title for a victorious and successful Saviour. Christ, the firstborn, is He by whom many brethren are delivered from death and many sons are fitted for glory.

Amen.