ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, FIRSTBORN SON, ANY DIFFERENCE?

A few days ago, a poster on a forum I am subscribed to christian exjws asked a very valid question about the Sonship of Jesus Christ. The verse in Colossians 1:15 where the JWs try to prove that Jesus Christ is the firstborn of ALL creation. The NKJV, KJV and NIV render this verse as HE is the "firstborn over all creation"

So a number of exJWs and others believe that this verse is showing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the firstborn OF all creation, instead of firstborn OVER all creation.

So last night in an in depth study we had with Peter Sozou our fellow worker in Ministry, we explored various texts to try and find out what the scriptures are telling us about the "firstborn" or "only begotten Son" We looked at a few verses, but John 3:16 and this one in Colossians seemed to be awkward to explain to a JW or other Unitarian.

When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, he told him that he needed to be Born Again. In those days a man went through 7 various births. Obviously his birth as a baby, but up till the age of 30 another 6 births. So Nicodemus wanted to know what Jesus meant.

Jesus pre human existance is explained in John 1:1 where we are informed that in the beginning wa sthe WORD (Logos) and the WORD was WITH God and the WORD was God. This shows that the WORD was within the Godhead at that time and proceeded forth when creation took place as the WORD is the creator.

When sin entered the world through Adams disobedience, a redeemer was needed and the WORD later became that redeemer by becoming a Man by natural birth by means of the Holy Spirit transferring him to the womb of Mary.

That is when the WORD became flesh or the Only Begotten Son of God. Paul wrote in Colossians that the Son is the image of the Invisible God and that he did the creating.

As we progressed through our study, Christine found the verse in Revelation 1:5 tells us that the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the "Firstborn from the DEAD", so now it all makes sense. As a man born from a Virgin Jewish Girl he is the "Only Begotten Son of God" but later he is called the "Firstborn Son" in Colossians 1 and in other verses such as Romans 8:29 and even verse 18 of Colossians 1, where he is also called the firstborn from the dead.

Jesus Christ opened up the way, by becoming the firstborn of the dead for all of those who calls his Sons and Daughters to be reborn with him into his death and life.

This is now an incredible Revelation to me and should be a superb teaching point to JWs and others who do not accept the true Divinity of our Lord and Saviour.


Many Blessings


Pastor David