This afternoon I want to set before you the greatness and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is most certainly the greatest man who has ever lived, in all of human history. Indeed, even now, He lives ruling and reigning over all the world. On the third day after his death, He was raised up again, after His awful crucifixion on the cross of Calvary. And after 40 days of showing Himself alive to His disciples, He ascended on high where He is presently seated at the right hand of the Father. How did He come to have this highest of all positions in heaven and earth? He came have to have it because it was the Father’s purpose to do this great thing; to raise Him up to this highest of positions, in the highest of all places, because He was worthy of it. God the Father has decided that Jesus, the Son of God, our Redeemer, is worthy of all praise and honor, worship and obedience, because He was His Firstborn. What does this word, “Firstborn” mean? It is mentioned twice in the verses that I just read to you. Well, 1st of all, we need to understand that the Father appointed the Son as the Firstborn over all creation. And 2nd, the Father has also appointed the Son to be the Firstborn from the dead. Let me proceed now to open up these precious and lofty truths for you, so that you might better understand the basis of this great salvation that I preach to you. |
