Jesus – The Firstborn - Col 1:13-18

-Introduction

-In last week’s lesson on evangelism we started by considering some information about angels –

God’s messengers.

-We noted that they are created beings.  To support this, we looked at Col 1:16.

-For the lesson this evening, I want to re-visit Colossians one and focus on verses 13-18.

-Notice that Jesus is described as the firstborn – of every creature (vs 15) – from the dead (vs 18)

-This evening, I would like to focus on the statement, the firstborn from the dead.

-However, first, we’ll briefly look at Jesus as the “firstborn of every creature”.

-The Firstborn of Every Creature

-Contrary to what some teach, this does not indicate that Jesus is a created being.  Some say He

was first created and then utilized in the creation of all else.  Scripture teaches otherwise.

-The very passage in Col 1 teaches otherwise in its own explanation – vs 16-17.

     -John 1:1-3

-This is used to show the exalted position of Jesus – His authority.

     -‘Firstborn’ in vs 15 and “before” in 17 are not used in the order of time but in the order of

        authority.

     -John 1:15 – NASB – “…He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed

       before me.”

     -“In respect to creation he occupies the relation of priority.  From this it follows that over all

       creation he occupies the relation of supremacy, such as is accorded to the ‘firstborn,’ and

       such as is pre-eminently due to ‘the firstborn of all creation,’ because he is in his higher

       nature Maker and Head of all created being…” (J.W. Shepherd, pgs 258-259).

-Firsborn From the Dead – Importance of Consistency

-When it comes to proper Bible study, we must study within the context of a passage.

-Then within that context, we must be consistent.

-We have seen that the word ‘firstborn’ in vs 15 does not refer to time.

-Therefore, it is within this same context that we find the exact word in vs 18 – firstborn.

     -It would be terribly inconsistent to then try to apply the meaning of time to the word in vs 18.

-Obviously, Jesus was not the first to be raised from the dead:

     -1 Kings 17:17-23 – Elijah raised the widow’s son.

     -2 Kings 4:18-20, 25, 32-37 – Elisha raised the son of the Shunammite.

     -2 Kings 13:20-21 – Upon coming into contact with Elisha’s bones, a man was raised.

     -Luke 7:11-15 – Jesus raised the widow’s son in Nain.

     -Matt 9:18-19, 23-26 – Jesus raised Jairus’ (Luke 8:41) daughter.

     -John 11 – Jesus raised Lazarus.

     -Acts 9:36-37, 40-41 – Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas).

            -With the exception of Tabitha, these accounts of the dead being raised took place before

              the death burial and resurrection of Christ.               

            -Acts 26:23 – Didn’t Paul realize that Jesus was the first to rise from the dead?

-Firstborn From the Dead – What Does it Mean?

-So, what does it mean when it says that Jesus was the first-born from the dead.

-To be consistent in our context, we must understand ‘firstborn’ in terms of authority.

-Consider this if you would – What happened to those individuals referred to earlier that were

raised from the dead?  They died.

   -Had they escaped death?  No.

     -What happened to Jesus when He rose from the grave?  Did He ever die again?

     -Rev 1:18        

     -John 10:14-18   -power = authority  (NASB & NIV – “authority”)

-Because Jesus overcame death and holds the keys to it – power and authority over it – we can

have great hope.

   -Think about the passages we looked at previously that reveal the raising of the dead.

   -What hope do we get from them?  Do we hope to be raised from the dead only to die again?

-Now consider the hope that we have through the resurrection of Jesus.

     -He overcame death and showed His authority over it.  He never died again.

     -1 Cor 15:19-27

-Thanks to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, we can have the hope of eternal life.

-Summary and Invitation

-Rom 5:12 – death (both physical and spiritual) came as a result of sin

     -Rev 1:5 – Thanks to the death of Christ, we can have our sins washed away by His blood.

            -Acts 22:16

-This brings us back to Colossians 1.  Consider verse 14.

-Jesus, the firstborn of all creation became the firstborn from death so that we could live with

Him for all eternity.

   -Notice what our response should be – Col 1:20-23.  We should be reconciled to God

     through Christ and then continue in the faith – Obey and Remain Faithful.

-1 Cor 15:58

-Don’t you want to share in that victory for all eternity?  Then obey and remain faithful.

-Have you obeyed?

     -Believe (John 8:24), Confess (Rom 10:9-10), Repent (Luke 13:3,5), Be Baptized (Mark

       16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16), Walk in Newness of Life (Rom 6:4)

     -Have you remained faithful?  If not, come back to God – 1 John 1:7-9, example of Simon in

       Acts 8:22-24