The Church of the Firstborn
Sunday, March 11, 2007
As it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every [firstborn] male that
opens the womb shall be set apart and dedicated and called holy to the
Lord. Luke 2:23 AMP
In Israel, the true firstborn was the first child, not only of his
mother, but also of his father. The firstborn – particularly the male –
was considered sacred. He was dedicated and sanctified unto God and the
recipient of the birthright – a double-portion of his father's estate –
more than his brothers – and he carried both the physical and spiritual
responsibility of the family. In patriarchal times, primogeniture
(being the firstborn) gave princedom and priesthood.
And
she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in
swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room
or place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 AMP
For to which of
the angels did [God] ever say, You are My Son, today I have begotten
You [established You in an official Sonship relation, with kingly
dignity]? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He will be to Me a
Son? 6 Moreover, when He brings the firstborn Son again into the
habitable world, He says, Let all the angels of God worship Him.
Hebrews 1:5-6 AMP
Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the firstborn
of His mother, Mary, and His Father, God. Not only was He God's
first-begotten Son, but He was His only-begotten Son as well. He was
born to die, offered as a sacrifice, and then powerfully and
majestically raised from the dead – the firstborn from the dead! Now He
was not the first person raised from physical death, but He was the
first raised up from spiritual death. He took our sin upon Himself – He
became sin for us – and died with that sin on Him. He took our place,
giving up His life and taking our death, so that He could give us His
life and we could be raised up with Him at the resurrection. When we
believe God's Word and accept Jesus' sacrifice, death is turned into
life and we are born-again into newness of life; new creations;
justified and glorified; made to be kings and priests unto our God!
For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand],
He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded
into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He
might become the firstborn among many brethren. 30 And those whom He
thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also
justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing
with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising
them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. Romans
8:29-30 AMP
[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to
Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has
transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 In Whom we
have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of
our sins. 15[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the
visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all
creation. 16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven
and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones,
dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist
through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. 17 And
He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist
(cohere, are held together). 18 He also is the Head of [His] body, the
church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead,
so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the
chief place [stand first and be preeminent]. 19 For it has pleased [the
Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine
perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently. 20
And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him
[the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself,
whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace
by means of the blood of His cross. 21 And although you at one time
were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of
mind in your wicked activities, 22 Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah]
reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in
order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the
Father's] presence. Colossians 1:13-22 AMP
The expression
"first-born" not only means the first one born, but it can also mean
the prime, most excellent, and most distinguished of things. Jesus
Christ is not only the first-born of every creature – begotten before
creation - but He is the first-born from the dead. Jesus is the
Firstborn of many brethren! We are the Church of the Firstborn and we
enjoy all the rights and privileges of a firstborn child of God, thanks
to Jesus, the Firstborn of creation and Firstborn from the dead!
And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as
citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the
spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made
perfect. Hebrews 12:23 AMP
And from Jesus Christ the
faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead [first to
be brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the
earth. To Him Who ever loves us and has once [for all] loosed and freed
us from our sins by His own blood, 6 And formed us into a kingdom (a
royal race), priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the
power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever
and ever. Amen (so be it). Revelation 1:5-6 AMP
And You have
made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall
reign [as kings] over the earth! Revelation 5:10 AMP
Recent:
Righteous Now
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
“Therefore if any man be in Christ…” What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” You are baptized into Christ when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The moment
Defeating Strife
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP
Faith Facts
Faith is persistent
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
John 16:24 AMP
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Faith is single-minded
James 1:5-8 AMP
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the