Monday, 20th February, 2023
By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
"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" (Colossians 1:18 KJV)
Notice that the Bible didn’t call Jesus the firstborn from Mary; rather, He’s called “the firstborn from the dead.” It’s talking about spiritual death, because Jesus died spiritually. Our sins were laid on him (Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 2:24) as He was the representative of all sinners. But upon fulfilling the righteous demands of justice, God raised him from the dead. Hallelujah!
When He was raised from the dead, God declared: “…Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” (Acts 13:33). That’s why He’s called the first begotten or firstborn of the Father. Before His death, He was called the only begotten of the Father.
Jesus being the firstborn of the Father means He’s the Head and we, the Church, are His Body. God raised Him from the dead together with His Body. We’re therefore inextricably one with Him. He heads up the new creation who are begotten of the Father.
The Bible says “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). He’s the first among us, and as He is, so are we in this world! Hallelujah!
He is the glory of God; and like Him, we're the glory of God. The Bible says He has brought many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10). He was the first to be born again; and like Him, we’ve been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23). Blessed be God!
PRAYER/CONFESSION
"Dear Father, I thank you for the vicarious death of Jesus in my behalf, who was delivered for my offences, and was raised again for my justification. Now, I walk in the consciousness of my oneness with Him, walking in, and manifesting your righteousness; reigning and ruling with Christ from the heavenly realms, in Jesus’ Name. Amen."
FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 2:19-22; Hebrews 2:11; John 20:17
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Mark 4:21-41; Leviticus 16-18
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Matthew 16:1-12; Exodus 1