“The Firstborn from the Dead”

“The Firstborn from the Dead”

Pastor Cameron Jungels

Eastside Baptist Church

Easter Sunday AM, April 16, 2017

 

²² But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen-- 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles."  (Acts 26:22–23, NIV)

 

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  ²³ But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (1 Co. 15:20–23, NIV)

 

¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  (Colossians 1:15–20, NIV)

 

⁴ Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶ and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.  ⁷ "Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen.  (Rev. 1:4–7, NIV)

 

What does it mean for Christ to be “the first to rise from the dead,” “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep,” or the “firstborn from the dead”?

 

     1.  What It Does Not Mean

 a.  It does not mean that Jesus was a created being who had a beginning.

 b.  It does not mean that Jesus is the firstborn of a family in a strictly literal, physical sense.

 c.  It does not mean that Jesus will be the only one to rise from the dead. There have been and there will be many more who will rise from the dead.

 d.  It does not mean that Jesus was the first in history to have died and then be resurrected from death. There were others brought back to life from death before Jesus’ resurrection.

          i.   Elijah resurrected the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17–24).

      ii.  Elisha resurrected the son of the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:18–37).

     iii.  A dead man comes back to life when he touches Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:20–21).

     vi.  Jesus resurrected the son of the widow at Nain (Luke 7:13–15).

      v.  Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead (Matthew 9:25).

     vi.  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43–44).

     vii. Many saints were resurrected at the death of Jesus (Matthew 27:52–53).

 

    2.  What It Does Mean

 a.  Though Jesus was not the first in history to rise from the dead, he is the first to rise from the dead in the manner that he did. When Jesus rose from the dead, he rose with a resurrected, glorified body that will never die again.

 b.  Jesus is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in that he is the first of many who will follow him in rising from death into a resurrected, glorified, immortal existence.

 c.  Jesus is the firstborn from the dead in that he is the one who receives the honor and preeminence in the family of God.

 

     3.  What Is the Significance?

 

a.  We have a loving, suffering Savior who gave himself for us to rescue us from our bondage to sin and its penalty of death.

 b.  We have a glorious, risen Sovereign who has conquered death and reigns as King over the whole world.

 c.  We have a holy, righteous Judge who is coming again to judge the world—vindicating his people and condemning the wicked.

 d.  We have a joyful, future Hope when all of Christ’s people will be raised at the last day to enter and enjoy immortal, eternal life.