We must cling on to the teaching of Paul in the New Testament that CHRIST IS PRE-EMINENT. We have already noted this in relation to the Father, the Godhead and ourselves but Paul takes us still further.

CHRIST IS PRE-EMINENT IN RELATION TO CREATION

• it is important to grasp the truth of ‘FIRSTBORN’ in the Bible
• it does NOT mean that someone was ‘the first in time to be born’, e.g. Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were not the first in time to be born in their families but they were ‘the firstborn’, i.e. THEY WERE FIRST IN RANK / POSITION / SUPREMACY in their particular families as far as the purposes of God were concerned
• Christ is NOT the first in time in relation to creation but He is ‘the FIRSTBORN over all creation’, Colossians chapter 1 verse 15. Indeed, He is not a created Being  – far from being part of creation, He is the producer and upholder of it; therefore, He is first in rank and supremacy in relation to it
• ‘All things were created through Him and for Him – He is before all things, Colossians chapter 1 verses 15-17
• a Christmas Carol expresses these truths: Very God, BEGOTTEN, NOT CREATED
• all creation and created beings are dependent on Christ!

CHRIST IS PRE-EMINENT IN RELATION TO THE BODY, i.e. THE CHURCH

• the CHURCH comprises all believers from the time of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 until the time of the Rapture, when Christ comes again to take all believers to be with Him in heaven – 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 13-18
• Christ is the HEAD, Colossians chapter 1 verse 18 – He has complete authority over the church
• He is the beginning and the firstborn (first in supremacy)
• the church, the body, owes its existence, worth and value to Him

CHRIST IS PRE-EMINENT IN RELATION TO THE DEAD

• He was not the first to rise from the dead – BUT He is the first in rank and supremacy. He is the first to rise from the dead never to return
• the church was not ‘born’ until He rose from the dead and ascended into glory!

Concluded