Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "preeminence"
The Chicken or the Egg? – Part 1
He will cry to Me, “You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.” I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth [Psalm 89:26-27].
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? We’ve all heard that trick question before, most of us in the first grade! If we are your everyday run-of-the-mill worldling, then we find ourselves in a quandary. Hmm. That’s a tough question to answer. How do we get a chicken without it being hatched from an egg? And how do we get an egg without a chicken to lay it?
Then along comes those pesky Christians. They have the answers to everything! Well, the Bible does anyway, and they believe the Bible. According to Genesis 1, the chicken came first. God created everything full-grown to reproduce after its kind.
This is why evolution and uniformitarianism cannot determine the age of the material universe. Fossil fuels were created by God fully developed. They didn’t take millions of years to form under uniform conditions. Diamonds were created by God fully formed. Tons of pressure over humongous periods of time weren’t required to produce those gems.
Man too was created fully developed. There was no procreation, conception, nine months of carrying child, and then a teeny tiny baby came out, followed by two decades of growing into manhood. Not on your life! Man was a fully mature being the day the Lord God created him.
In our Bible verses today we have another instance of the “which came first” trick question. It’s sort of like the joke, “In an emergency call 9-1-1.” To which comes the question, “What’s the number?” Duh! If you have to ask, you probably need instruction on how to use the telephone, maybe a copy of “Telephones for Dummies” or something like that.
Today’s verses make reference to the “firstborn”. This is a Biblical concept having to do with the inheritance. It should be rather obvious—like what’s the number for 9-1-1—but the “firstborn” is the person who is born first in a family. More correctly, the “firstborn” is the male child who is born first in a family.
In the Bible as well as among many other cultures, the firstborn son received the leadership of the family after dad was deceased. He also received the double portion, which entitled him to twice as much of the family wealth. The concept of the “firstborn” served in the place of a will. The inheritance was always divided into equal parts for each son, except for the firstborn who received two parts.
This procedure vis-à-vis the inheritance was standard practice in Scripture from the beginning of time. In the story of Cain and Abel, Cain was the firstborn and Abel his younger brother. When the Lord accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s, Cain’s nose was bent out of shape. He was the firstborn, you see. How dare God favor his twerp punk bro over him!
The Law of Moses made the law of the firstborn a part of the legal code for the Israelites, while they inhabited the Promised Land. The inheritance procedure of the natural firstborn was thereby perpetuated throughout history.
We will vet the Biblical concept of the spiritual firstborn in our next study. For now spend some time alone with the Lord Jesus. He beckons us into His presence.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? We’ve all heard that trick question before, most of us in the first grade! If we are your everyday run-of-the-mill worldling, then we find ourselves in a quandary. Hmm. That’s a tough question to answer. How do we get a chicken without it being hatched from an egg? And how do we get an egg without a chicken to lay it?
Then along comes those pesky Christians. They have the answers to everything! Well, the Bible does anyway, and they believe the Bible. According to Genesis 1, the chicken came first. God created everything full-grown to reproduce after its kind.
This is why evolution and uniformitarianism cannot determine the age of the material universe. Fossil fuels were created by God fully developed. They didn’t take millions of years to form under uniform conditions. Diamonds were created by God fully formed. Tons of pressure over humongous periods of time weren’t required to produce those gems.
Man too was created fully developed. There was no procreation, conception, nine months of carrying child, and then a teeny tiny baby came out, followed by two decades of growing into manhood. Not on your life! Man was a fully mature being the day the Lord God created him.
In our Bible verses today we have another instance of the “which came first” trick question. It’s sort of like the joke, “In an emergency call 9-1-1.” To which comes the question, “What’s the number?” Duh! If you have to ask, you probably need instruction on how to use the telephone, maybe a copy of “Telephones for Dummies” or something like that.
Today’s verses make reference to the “firstborn”. This is a Biblical concept having to do with the inheritance. It should be rather obvious—like what’s the number for 9-1-1—but the “firstborn” is the person who is born first in a family. More correctly, the “firstborn” is the male child who is born first in a family.
In the Bible as well as among many other cultures, the firstborn son received the leadership of the family after dad was deceased. He also received the double portion, which entitled him to twice as much of the family wealth. The concept of the “firstborn” served in the place of a will. The inheritance was always divided into equal parts for each son, except for the firstborn who received two parts.
This procedure vis-à-vis the inheritance was standard practice in Scripture from the beginning of time. In the story of Cain and Abel, Cain was the firstborn and Abel his younger brother. When the Lord accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s, Cain’s nose was bent out of shape. He was the firstborn, you see. How dare God favor his twerp punk bro over him!
The Law of Moses made the law of the firstborn a part of the legal code for the Israelites, while they inhabited the Promised Land. The inheritance procedure of the natural firstborn was thereby perpetuated throughout history.
We will vet the Biblical concept of the spiritual firstborn in our next study. For now spend some time alone with the Lord Jesus. He beckons us into His presence.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Chicken or the Egg? – Part 2
He will cry to Me, “You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.” I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth [Psalm 89:26-27].
The concept of the “firstborn” has to do with inheritance rights. It began with Adam and Eve and has continued to this day. The “firstborn” refers to the son born first in a family.
In the realm of natural birth, the firstborn received the leadership of the family when dad died. He also received “the double portion”, twice as much of the family wealth as the other sons.
In the spiritual realm the Lord also employs the concept of the “firstborn”. Truth be told, the concept in the spiritual realm came first. The Lord made use of it to establish “the law of the firstborn” for the natural realm.
There is a significant difference in the concept of the “firstborn”, with respect to the natural and spiritual realms though. We will assay this distinction in today’s study. Without understanding this distinction, we cannot rightly divide the Word of Truth. The Bible will be inexplicable with regard to the spiritual firstborn.
In our two Bible verses today God is speaking. He notes that the future Messiah, the Son of God, will recognize Him as His Father (v.26). Then Father God adds, “I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (v.27).
This is a reference to the spiritual firstborn, dear friends. God is spirit. He doesn’t procreate and have children. The Son of God eternally coexists with Father God and with the Holy Spirit through all eternity. The Son of God was never born, so He cannot be “the son born first”, as is true of the “firstborn” in the natural realm.
What, then, are we to make of this concept of the “firstborn” in the spiritual realm? Well, the most significant aspect of the spiritual firstborn is defined in our Bible verse: he is “the highest of the kings of the earth.” The spiritual firstborn is a reference to preeminence, not to who was born first.
Three offices existed in Old Testament Israel under the Law of Moses. These were,
1. prophet
2. priest
3. king
The Messiah was to combine all three offices in His one person. This was a no-no for anyone else to ever do. Each person of authority in Israel held one or the other of these three offices, but no one was to hold all three. Indeed, even those who held one office had to be chosen by God to that office. Man could not take it upon himself to lay claim to the office of prophet or priest or king.
The Messiah held all three offices. He was the fulfillment of the Law and the fulfillment of all righteousness. He was the King of kings and Lord of lords. He was “the highest of the kings of the earth.”
You can see from this that the spiritual firstborn refers to preeminence. It has reference to being the most distinguished person of his type. He is unique and outstanding above all others.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is also fully man, but only since circa 3 B.C. Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, making Him preeminent over all creation, not the person or thing born first in creation.
Jesus Christ is also the firstborn of all recreation. He is the first man to rise out of death as being dead to sin but alive evermore to righteousness. Those of us who are born again are “second born”. Jesus has the preeminence. All glory goes to Him.
Let’s spend time now giving Him the glory. Let’s stop being full of self and instead deposit self in the nearest rubbish bin. To God be the glory! Jesus Christ be praised. Hosanna to the Son of David!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The concept of the “firstborn” has to do with inheritance rights. It began with Adam and Eve and has continued to this day. The “firstborn” refers to the son born first in a family.
In the realm of natural birth, the firstborn received the leadership of the family when dad died. He also received “the double portion”, twice as much of the family wealth as the other sons.
In the spiritual realm the Lord also employs the concept of the “firstborn”. Truth be told, the concept in the spiritual realm came first. The Lord made use of it to establish “the law of the firstborn” for the natural realm.
There is a significant difference in the concept of the “firstborn”, with respect to the natural and spiritual realms though. We will assay this distinction in today’s study. Without understanding this distinction, we cannot rightly divide the Word of Truth. The Bible will be inexplicable with regard to the spiritual firstborn.
In our two Bible verses today God is speaking. He notes that the future Messiah, the Son of God, will recognize Him as His Father (v.26). Then Father God adds, “I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (v.27).
This is a reference to the spiritual firstborn, dear friends. God is spirit. He doesn’t procreate and have children. The Son of God eternally coexists with Father God and with the Holy Spirit through all eternity. The Son of God was never born, so He cannot be “the son born first”, as is true of the “firstborn” in the natural realm.
What, then, are we to make of this concept of the “firstborn” in the spiritual realm? Well, the most significant aspect of the spiritual firstborn is defined in our Bible verse: he is “the highest of the kings of the earth.” The spiritual firstborn is a reference to preeminence, not to who was born first.
Three offices existed in Old Testament Israel under the Law of Moses. These were,
1. prophet
2. priest
3. king
The Messiah was to combine all three offices in His one person. This was a no-no for anyone else to ever do. Each person of authority in Israel held one or the other of these three offices, but no one was to hold all three. Indeed, even those who held one office had to be chosen by God to that office. Man could not take it upon himself to lay claim to the office of prophet or priest or king.
The Messiah held all three offices. He was the fulfillment of the Law and the fulfillment of all righteousness. He was the King of kings and Lord of lords. He was “the highest of the kings of the earth.”
You can see from this that the spiritual firstborn refers to preeminence. It has reference to being the most distinguished person of his type. He is unique and outstanding above all others.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is also fully man, but only since circa 3 B.C. Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, making Him preeminent over all creation, not the person or thing born first in creation.
Jesus Christ is also the firstborn of all recreation. He is the first man to rise out of death as being dead to sin but alive evermore to righteousness. Those of us who are born again are “second born”. Jesus has the preeminence. All glory goes to Him.
Let’s spend time now giving Him the glory. Let’s stop being full of self and instead deposit self in the nearest rubbish bin. To God be the glory! Jesus Christ be praised. Hosanna to the Son of David!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Chicken or the Egg? – Part 1
He will cry to Me, “You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.” I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth [Psalm 89:26-27].
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? We’ve all heard that trick question before, most of us in the first grade! If we are your everyday run-of-the-mill worldling, then we find ourselves in a quandary. Hmm. That’s a tough question to answer. How do we get a chicken without it being hatched from an egg? And how do we get an egg without a chicken to lay it?
Then along comes those pesky Christians. They have the answers to everything! Well, the Bible does anyway, and they believe the Bible. According to Genesis 1, the chicken came first. God created everything full-grown to reproduce after its kind.
That is why evolution and uniformitarianism cannot determine the age of the material universe. Fossil fuels were created by God fully developed. They didn’t take millions of years to form under uniform conditions. Diamonds were created by God fully formed. Tons of pressure over humongous periods of time weren’t required to produce those gems.
Man too was created fully developed. There was no procreation, conception, nine months of carrying child, and then a teeny tiny baby came out, followed by two decades of growing into manhood. Not on your life! Man was a fully mature being the day the Lord God created him.
In our Bible verses today we have another instance of the “which came first” trick question. It’s sort of like the joke, “In an emergency call 9-1-1.” To which comes the question, “What’s the number?” Duh! If you have to ask, you probably need instruction on how to use the telephone, maybe a copy of “Telephones for Dummies” or something like that.
Today’s verses make reference to the “firstborn”. This is a Biblical concept having to do with the inheritance. It should be rather obvious—like what’s the number for 9-1-1—but the “firstborn” is the person who is born first in a family. More correctly, the “firstborn” is the male child who is born first in a family.
In the Bible as well as among many other cultures, the firstborn son received the leadership of the family after dad was deceased. He also received the double portion, which entitled him to twice as much of the family wealth. The concept of the “firstborn” served in the place of a will. The inheritance was always divided into equal parts for each son, except for the firstborn who received two parts.
This procedure vis-à-vis the inheritance was standard practice in Scripture from the beginning of time. In the story of Cain and Abel, Cain was the firstborn and Abel his younger brother. When the Lord accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s, Cain’s nose was bent out of shape. He was the firstborn, you see. How dare God favor his twerp punk bro over him!
The Law of Moses made the law of the firstborn a part of the legal code for the Israelites, while they inhabited the Promised Land. The inheritance procedure of the natural firstborn was thereby perpetuated throughout history.
We will vet the Biblical concept of the spiritual firstborn in our next study. For now spend some time alone with the Lord Jesus. He beckons us into His presence.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? We’ve all heard that trick question before, most of us in the first grade! If we are your everyday run-of-the-mill worldling, then we find ourselves in a quandary. Hmm. That’s a tough question to answer. How do we get a chicken without it being hatched from an egg? And how do we get an egg without a chicken to lay it?
Then along comes those pesky Christians. They have the answers to everything! Well, the Bible does anyway, and they believe the Bible. According to Genesis 1, the chicken came first. God created everything full-grown to reproduce after its kind.
That is why evolution and uniformitarianism cannot determine the age of the material universe. Fossil fuels were created by God fully developed. They didn’t take millions of years to form under uniform conditions. Diamonds were created by God fully formed. Tons of pressure over humongous periods of time weren’t required to produce those gems.
Man too was created fully developed. There was no procreation, conception, nine months of carrying child, and then a teeny tiny baby came out, followed by two decades of growing into manhood. Not on your life! Man was a fully mature being the day the Lord God created him.
In our Bible verses today we have another instance of the “which came first” trick question. It’s sort of like the joke, “In an emergency call 9-1-1.” To which comes the question, “What’s the number?” Duh! If you have to ask, you probably need instruction on how to use the telephone, maybe a copy of “Telephones for Dummies” or something like that.
Today’s verses make reference to the “firstborn”. This is a Biblical concept having to do with the inheritance. It should be rather obvious—like what’s the number for 9-1-1—but the “firstborn” is the person who is born first in a family. More correctly, the “firstborn” is the male child who is born first in a family.
In the Bible as well as among many other cultures, the firstborn son received the leadership of the family after dad was deceased. He also received the double portion, which entitled him to twice as much of the family wealth. The concept of the “firstborn” served in the place of a will. The inheritance was always divided into equal parts for each son, except for the firstborn who received two parts.
This procedure vis-à-vis the inheritance was standard practice in Scripture from the beginning of time. In the story of Cain and Abel, Cain was the firstborn and Abel his younger brother. When the Lord accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s, Cain’s nose was bent out of shape. He was the firstborn, you see. How dare God favor his twerp punk bro over him!
The Law of Moses made the law of the firstborn a part of the legal code for the Israelites, while they inhabited the Promised Land. The inheritance procedure of the natural firstborn was thereby perpetuated throughout history.
We will vet the Biblical concept of the spiritual firstborn in our next study. For now spend some time alone with the Lord Jesus. He beckons us into His presence.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Chicken or the Egg? – Part 2
He will cry to Me, “You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.” I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth [Psalm 89:26-27].
The concept of the “firstborn” has to do with inheritance rights. It began with Adam and Eve and has continued to this day. The “firstborn” refers to the son born first in a family.
In the realm of natural birth, the firstborn received the leadership of the family when dad died. He also received “the double portion”, twice as much of the family wealth as the other sons.
In the spiritual realm the Lord also employs the concept of the “firstborn”. Truth be told, the concept in the spiritual realm came first. The Lord made use of it to establish “the law of the firstborn” for the natural realm.
There is a significant difference in the concept of the “firstborn” with respect to the natural and spiritual realms though. We will assay this distinction in today’s study. Without understanding this distinction, we cannot rightly divide the Word of Truth. The Bible will be inexplicable with regard to the spiritual firstborn.
In our two Bible verses today God is speaking. He notes that the future Messiah, the Son of God, will recognize Him as His Father (verse 26). Then Father God adds, “I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (verse 27).
This is a reference to the spiritual firstborn, dear friends. God is spirit. He doesn’t procreate and have children. The Son of God eternally coexists with Father God and with the Holy Spirit through all eternity. The Son of God was never born, so He cannot be “the son born first”, as is true of the “firstborn” in the natural realm.
What, then, are we to make of this concept of the “firstborn” in the spiritual realm? Well, the most significant aspect of the spiritual firstborn is defined in our Bible verse: he is “the highest of the kings of the earth.” The spiritual firstborn is a reference to preeminence, not to who was born first.
Three offices existed in Old Testament Israel under the Law of Moses. These were,
1. prophet
2. priest
3. king
The Messiah was to combine all three offices in His one person. This was a no-no for anyone else to ever do. Each person of authority in Israel held one or the other of these three offices, but no one was to hold all three. Indeed, even those who held one office had to be chosen by God to that office. Man could not take it upon himself to lay claim to the office of prophet or priest or king.
The Messiah held all three offices. He was the fulfillment of the Law and the fulfillment of all righteousness. He was the King of kings and Lord of lords. He was “the highest of the kings of the earth.”
You can see from this that the spiritual firstborn refers to preeminence. It has reference to being the most distinguished person of his type. He is unique and outstanding above all others.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is also fully man, but only since circa 7 B.C. Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, making Him preeminent over all creation, not the person or thing born first in creation.
Jesus Christ is also the firstborn of all recreation. He is the first man to rise out of death as being dead to sin but alive evermore to righteousness. Those of us who are born again are “second born”. Jesus has the preeminence. All glory goes to Him.
Let’s spend time now giving Him the glory. Let’s stop being full of self and instead deposit self in the nearest rubbish bin. To God be the glory! Jesus Christ be praised. Hosanna to the Son of David!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The concept of the “firstborn” has to do with inheritance rights. It began with Adam and Eve and has continued to this day. The “firstborn” refers to the son born first in a family.
In the realm of natural birth, the firstborn received the leadership of the family when dad died. He also received “the double portion”, twice as much of the family wealth as the other sons.
In the spiritual realm the Lord also employs the concept of the “firstborn”. Truth be told, the concept in the spiritual realm came first. The Lord made use of it to establish “the law of the firstborn” for the natural realm.
There is a significant difference in the concept of the “firstborn” with respect to the natural and spiritual realms though. We will assay this distinction in today’s study. Without understanding this distinction, we cannot rightly divide the Word of Truth. The Bible will be inexplicable with regard to the spiritual firstborn.
In our two Bible verses today God is speaking. He notes that the future Messiah, the Son of God, will recognize Him as His Father (verse 26). Then Father God adds, “I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (verse 27).
This is a reference to the spiritual firstborn, dear friends. God is spirit. He doesn’t procreate and have children. The Son of God eternally coexists with Father God and with the Holy Spirit through all eternity. The Son of God was never born, so He cannot be “the son born first”, as is true of the “firstborn” in the natural realm.
What, then, are we to make of this concept of the “firstborn” in the spiritual realm? Well, the most significant aspect of the spiritual firstborn is defined in our Bible verse: he is “the highest of the kings of the earth.” The spiritual firstborn is a reference to preeminence, not to who was born first.
Three offices existed in Old Testament Israel under the Law of Moses. These were,
1. prophet
2. priest
3. king
The Messiah was to combine all three offices in His one person. This was a no-no for anyone else to ever do. Each person of authority in Israel held one or the other of these three offices, but no one was to hold all three. Indeed, even those who held one office had to be chosen by God to that office. Man could not take it upon himself to lay claim to the office of prophet or priest or king.
The Messiah held all three offices. He was the fulfillment of the Law and the fulfillment of all righteousness. He was the King of kings and Lord of lords. He was “the highest of the kings of the earth.”
You can see from this that the spiritual firstborn refers to preeminence. It has reference to being the most distinguished person of his type. He is unique and outstanding above all others.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is also fully man, but only since circa 7 B.C. Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, making Him preeminent over all creation, not the person or thing born first in creation.
Jesus Christ is also the firstborn of all recreation. He is the first man to rise out of death as being dead to sin but alive evermore to righteousness. Those of us who are born again are “second born”. Jesus has the preeminence. All glory goes to Him.
Let’s spend time now giving Him the glory. Let’s stop being full of self and instead deposit self in the nearest rubbish bin. To God be the glory! Jesus Christ be praised. Hosanna to the Son of David!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
