Jesus, The Firstborn

January 10, 2017

I know what I think of when I think of the word firstborn–first in birth order, but is that what the Bible means?

Exodus 4:22 uses the word firstborn for Israel, but how can it mean birth order when Israel was not the first nation that was “born”? Does firstborn have a different meaning? It would appears so by this verse. If Israel refers to the man and not then nation, Israel was the second born of Abraham, his son Jacob before God changed his name, Genesis 32:22-32.

 

Romans 8:29 translates firstborn from prototokos (G4416) which is a compound word from /prṓtos (4413), “first, pre-eminent” and /tíktō (5088), “bring forth”. The idea of rank comes into thought, and it opens a whole area where God has persistently spoken that He weighs a person not based on what he or she is, but who he or she is, meaning the motive, the position of the heart. The unseen part of our being that speaks loudly to God.

 

 

When God, the Father Calls Jesus God

January 6, 2017

 

Hebrews 1 contains and interesting verse, verse 8. But in order to appreciate it you must read it in the context of who is speaking and that is God, Hebrews 1:5.

 

1:8 But about the Son He says:

“Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever,

and righteousness will be the scepter of Your kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

therefore God, Your God, has placed You above Your companions

by anointing You with the oil of joy.”

 

Immediately, I notice that God is calling Jesus God. It is the same Greek word that is used throughout the New Testament.

 

In verse Hebrews 1:3, Paul use the phrase the exact representation (G5481, charaktér: an exact reproduction). This is the only time that this word is used in the New Testament. To me, it helps to signify the uniqueness of Christ as Triune. I understand that every Christian may not feel this way.

 

If I were to read a Scripture like this and strip out the evidence of Triuneness, then I would feel like I was reading with the intent of making Scripture match what I believed instead of the other way around.

The Mystery of John 1:1 – Part 1

January 5, 2017

I find that this verse has always been one that has been debated as pointer to the Triuneness of God.

I have even spoken with someone who believed it proved the Jesus was a “lesser god” because of the Greek usage of the word theos (G2316 God: Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ὁ (G3588)) the supreme Divinity).

 

But what did this word truly mean in the Greek culture of that day?

 

Why would it be open to misinterpretation?

 

These are some of the questions that I have pondered, but I realize that God has always, if nothing else, been perfect, and He is far more than perfect!

 

This will be a big verse to tackle especially for the amount of information contained in it.

Knowing the Trinity as God was Pivotal for Me – Part 1

January 1, 2017

 

I still remember the image that Larry Crabb drew on the whiteboard, a circle which contained an F with two curved lines (like an oval with the tips cut off) extending toward an S, centered below those two lines was an HS.

That image in me sparked a recognition, a truth I have always known but could never verbalize.

 

John 17:24 NLT was key for me. It put into perspective what was happening in Eternity Past. It allowed a curiosity to pique in me that require more information. What was God doing before He created the known universe?

 

I knew this answer would not only give me insight into the greatest mystery–how did life begin, but also–why did life begin? This was a journey I wanted to go on!