The Purpose of God in Election and Predestination
“That he might
be the firstborn among many brethren”
--
Romans 8:29
God's chief design in
predestination is the glory and honor of his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In predestination, as in all other things, God ordained that Christ "have the preeminence" (Col.
1:18). THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE FIRST BORN SON IN THE FAMILY
OF GOD. In the New Testament, our Savior is called "The Firstborn" or "The
Firstbegotten" seven times, because the law of God relating to the
firstborn had a specific reference to him.
1.
The firstborn son is the
first to be born. Christ is the firstborn both as God and man. He is God the eternal
Son, eternally begotten of the Father. He is the Man of Redemption, brought
forth by divine decree in the covenant of grace (Pro. 8:22-30). And he is the
firstborn of Mary's womb.
2.
The firstborn son is the one
in whom the whole family is dedicated to God. (Ex. 13:2). We were sanctified unto the Lord
in Christ from eternity.
3.
The firstborn son is the
head of the family after the father. This is "the
right of the firstborn"
(Deut. 21:17). And Christ is the Head of his family, the church.
4.
It is also "the right of the firstborn"
to hold and manage all the property of the family The Lord Jesus Christ has
taken possession of all things and holds the inheritance of heaven for his
people. (Heb. 6:20; John 17:2; 3:35).
5.
It is by the first- born son
that the name and family of the dead is raised up and lives (Deut.25:5-6). He has the
right of redemption. Christ, the Firstborn, is our kinsman Redeemer!
GOD HAS PREDESTINED "MANY" TO BE
SONS IN THE FAMILY OF GRACE. We are told that Christ shall be "the firstborn among MANY BRETHREN." At any given time
in history, and at any given place, God's elect appear to be few. To all
outward appearance, it may be said,
"few are chosen." But
God's few shall be many in the end. When they are all gathered into heaven, the
saints of God shall be a vast, vast multitude which no man can number (Rev.
5:11; 7:9).
This word, "many," suggests a great
multiplicity. But put it together with the next word, "many brethren," and you will see that in the family of
God there is not only great vastness of number but also a great unity. The
saints of God are all brethren. We all have one Father, one Elder Brother, one
Home, one Name (Eph. 3:15), one Hope, and one Inheritance. We are all of one
Blood, and we all worship at one Altar (Heb. 13:15). WE ARE BRETHREN!
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #745
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net