Topics: Jesus, firstborn, Christmas
I. Firstborn of all Creation
* Jesus is the prototokos of all creation which means prior to creation!
- He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15).
- For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church (Colossians 1:16-18a).
- All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being . . . He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him (John 1:3, 10).
II. Firstborn from the dead
* Jesus is the prototokos from the dead which means most important!
- He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18b).
- When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One, and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades" (Revelation 1:17, 18).
- If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins . . . But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep(1 Corinthians 15:17, 20).
III. Firstborn is everything
* Jesus should be the prototokos of our lives which means first love!
- So that He Himself will come to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:18c).
- "But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place - unless you repent" (Revelation 2:4, 5).
- For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15).
Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins December 26th, 2021
