"That He Might Be The Firstborn

 Among Many Brethren"

Romans 8:29

 

            God's chief design in predestination is the glory and honor of his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In predestination, as in all other things, God ordained that Christ "have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18). THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE FIRST BORN SON IN THE FAMILY OF GOD. In the New Testament, our Savior is called "The Firstborn" or "The Firstbegotten" seven times, because the law of God relating to the firstborn had a specific reference to him.

 

            1 The firstborn son is the first to be born. Christ is the firstborn both as God and man. He is God the eternal Son, eternally begotten of the Father. He is the Man of Redemption, brought forth by divine decree in the covenant of grace (Prov. 8:22-30). And he is the firstborn of Mary's womb.

            2 The firstborn son is the one in whom the whole family is dedicated to God. (Ex. 13:2). We were sanctified unto the Lord in Christ from eternity.

            3 The firstborn son is the head of the family after the father. This is "the right of the firstborn" (Deut. 21:17). And Christ is the Head of his family, the church.

            4 It is also "the right of the firstborn" to hold and manage all the property of the family The Lord Jesus Christ has taken possession of all things and holds the inheritance of heaven for his people. (Heb. 6:20; John 17:2; 3:35).

            5 It is by the firstborn son that the name and family of the dead is raised up and lives (Deut.25:5-6). He has the right of redemption. Christ, the Firstborn, is our kinsman Redeemer!

 

            GOD HAS PREDESTINED "MANY" TO BE SONS IN THE FAMILY OF GRACE. We are told that Christ shall be "the firstborn among MANY BRETHREN." At any given time in history, and at any given place, God's elect appear to be few. To all outward appearance, it may be said, "few are chosen." But God's few shall be many in the end. When they are all gathered into heaven, the saints of God shall be a vast, vast multitude which no man can number (Rev. 5:11; 7:9). This word, "many," suggests a great multiplicity. But put it together with the next word, "many brethren," and you will see that in the family of God there is not only great vastness of number but also a great unity. The saints of God are all brethren. We all have one Father, one Elder Brother, one Home, one Name (Eph. 3:15), one Hope, and one Inheritance. We are all of one Blood, and we all worship at one Altar (Heb. 13:15). WE ARE BRETHREN!

 

Don Fortner