Self-Portraits of God

Studies in the Life and Work of Jesus

Lesson 3: Snap-shots in Titles

Firstborn

My brother is older than I am; you already know! He was born first! Abraham Lincoln was born before George Bush—a long time! You already said it! Abraham Lincoln was born first! The firstborn was born first! I agree. So why are we starting a study of this word? Notice Hebrews 1:5,6.

For to which of the angels did He ever say: You are My Son, today I have begotten you?
And again:

I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son?
But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
Let all the angels of God worship Him.

What is the significance of Jesus being called the firstborn in Scripture?

Luke 2:7. And she brought forth her firstborn son. In the Greek word order—and she bore the son of her, the firstborn.

Hebrews 11:28. By faith, he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

This text of course comes from the story of the deliverance of the twelve tribes of the Israelites from being slaves in Egypt. On the night of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt all who were born first and were not in a marked house died.

In these two texts when someone, including Jesus, is called the firstborn, the word means born first.

Revelation 1:5. This text reads in part, Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead.

Now we have a problem! In the Old Testament, there are accounts of a number of miracles, including stories of people being resurrected from the dead. Therefore the title firstborn cannot mean born first when Jesus is called the firstborn from the dead.

We have also noticed that Joseph had two sons; the oldest being Manasseh, the younger being Ephraim (Genesis 48:17,18). However in Jeremiah 31:9 the Lord says Ephraim is My firstborn.

Now we have the exciting question put in front of us; if firstborn sometimes does not mean born first, what is the significance of the title, firstborn? Remember Hebrews 12:23 tells us there is a church of the firstborn in Heaven.

To look for the significance of this title in those occurrences were it does not seem to refer to being born first, we will examine some more texts in the Bible where this title appears.

Genesis 43:33. This text comes to us from the story of Joseph seating his brothers to eat with him. In part it reads,

And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth.

We should have many such texts! The firstborn title refers to the receiving of the birthright when it does not mean born first.

Notice the following passage. Psalm 89:20-28.

I have found My servant David; with my holy oil, I have anointed him, with whom My hand shall be established; also My arm shall strengthen him.

The enemy shall not outwit him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague those who hate him. But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, and in My name his horn shall be exalted.

Also I will set his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers. He shall cry to Me, You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

Also I will make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. My mercy I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall stand firm with him.

In this passage we see set forth some of the blessings that were part of receiving the birthright. This generally went to the one born first. But in this passage, as in others we noted, the blessing of the birthright did not go to the one born first; David was the youngest of the sons of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:10-12), but he is here made firstborn by the Lord.

When Hebrews 12:23 speaks of the General assembly and church of the firstborn, who are registered in Heaven we now know that all who will belong to the Kingdom of Heaven will be participants in the blessings that are tied to the title Firstborn.

The richness of the blessings that come with the title firstborn is seen when we read about Jesus that He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for by Him all things were created.

here is of all the Gold-Metal wearers; Him who made what God has, and is therefore the firstborn of all creation, and those God made to be His firstborn, sharers of His title Firstborn.