The Word of Truth

One always makes a new beginning and there is always only one who is first – and that can only be the One who has no beginning and no end (Revelation 22:13). Only God can truly create something! With us humans there is “no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). To be a first-born has nothing to do with time or space, but of destiny, eternity and the will of God. A first-born emerges, or is born, only in accordance with God's decision (John 1:12-13). Jesus Christ is in this way, our absolute example, our purpose – the perfect One, who is God's Son in every way (Romans 8:29). Jesus is thus the first-born of many brothers (and sisters). One who is so unique and will remain so eternally, as we also may be, by the grace of God, through the Gospel. Can we fathom that He who is the exact image of the invisible God by whom all that exists on heaven and earth is created, calls us brothers and sisters (Colossians 1:15-16)? We are unable to grasp God – the heaven and all heaven of heavens cannot contain Him (1 Kings 8:27). This eternal God and omnipotent and perfect supreme Spirit, who dwells in the light, who no man in himself can approach, who no man has ever seen, desires so to speak nothing other than to make a beginning in Jesus Christ and thereby reveal His Person, His love and His grace (1 Timothy 6:16). Jesus therefore consequently said: “he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9)! Thus the Man Jesus Christ is also much higher than an angel, for these are not sons and daughters begotten of God, but created beings (Hebrews 1:4-6). Therefore, according to the Bible, new born men and women are not created, but begotten of God.

There is a difference, whether something stems from God, or out of God! Thus either from His strength and power which, for a certain time and for a definite purpose creates, or the spiritual, eternal, incorruptible and perfect begotten from His Spirit. This is also the reason why God knows and sees those who belong to Him even before the foundation of the world (Psalm 139:13-16). Thereto a non-binding example: a man, so it is said, should in his lifetime build a house, plant a tree and produce a son. Building a house is accomplished through an acquired skill and/or earned or inherited funds and much planning. Planting a tree is much easier – however, as a person one is not the house (even if one builds and finances it) neither is one the tree (although one planted and cultivated it) – that makes sense! It differs greatly with a son or a daughter – because one invests oneself, not one's abilities or possibilities! God invested Himself in Jesus Christ a hundred percent and in full. We read in Colossians 2:9-10 “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power”. Through His death and resurrection, God also invested Himself in you and me (when we choose to believe from our hearts in the forgiveness of sin) and thus Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:11). Jesus was and is also a first-born – that of the invisible God – certainly the first first-born (1 Corinthians 15:20) and thus the first-born of the dead (Revelation 1:5). Peter tells us what happened “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). Amen!

Jörg Bauer