Incomparable Christ

Jesus is divine. He exists from eternity (John 8:58). He never had a beginning, and will never have an ending. He is from eternity (Micah 5:2).

Christ’s eternal nature is intimately linked to His ability to redeem the human race. An angel could not redeem us. Angels are created beings. They do not have eternal life, so they could not give us eternal life. If Jesus was not eternal, He would not have the authority to give us something He does not have.

Some people read certain Bible texts that Jesus is “the beginning of the creation of God,” “the firstborn of creation,” and “begotten of the Father,” and wrongly conclude that He was brought forth sometime in ages past and is not eternal. In this month’s lesson we will carefully examine these passages.

What title did John the revelator use to describe Jesus? Read Revelation 3:14.

Some people wonder about the expression, “the Beginning of the creation of God.” Was Jesus the first being created? The Greek word for “beginning” in this passage is arche. It literally means the originator, the principal cause, the one who began God’s creation. Jesus is the beginning of God’s creation in the sense that He created all things (Eph. 3:8, 9).

In describing Jesus as Creator, what term did the apostle Paul use? Read Colossians 1:15, 16.

In the Bible the “firstborn” was privileged to receive the inheritance as the representative of his Father. The firstborn held the title deed to his father’s wealth and property. The term firstborn did not always relate to the time of one’s birth, but to his privileged position.

David was called firstborn when he was actually the youngest son of Jesse. He was preeminent over all the tribes of Israel. Jesus is called the “firstborn” from the dead (Rev. 1:5). Many were raised from the dead before Him, but He is preeminent over death because He conquered the grave.

How does Hebrews 1 reveal Jesus’ eternal nature? Read verses 1-3.

Jesus is the “brightness” of the Father’s glory, the “express image” of His person. These two expressions powerfully portray Christ’s eternal relationship with the Father.

Why does the Bible use the expression “only begotten” to describe Jesus Christ? Compare John 1:14, 3:16, and 1 John 5:1.

“Only begotten” describes Jesus’ unique role as the divine Son of God born into this world. No one else in the universe is like Him. He is both Son of God and Son of man. “Begotten” is used to portray the new birth (1 John 5:1). When we are born again, we are “begotten” of God. This does not mean we existed before; it simply reveals the uniqueness of our new birth when we were reborn to new life.

When the angel revealed to Mary that she would give birth to the Christ child, what terms did he use to describe Jesus? Read Luke 1:31-35.

If Jesus and the Father both existed from eternity, why is Jesus called the “Son of God,” and why does He declare that the Father is greater? Compare the following passages: Luke 19:10, John 14:28, and Philippians 2:5-9.

Jesus’ statements declaring “the Father is greater than I” were spoken in light of His incarnation. When Jesus became a man, He gave up His privileges and prerogatives as God’s equal. He “made Himself of no reputation,” or, as many translations put it, He “emptied” Himself. Jesus voluntarily surrendered His rights as God to redeem us. Only One equal with the Father could reveal the Father’s love to lost humanity, represent the Father to fallen humanity, and redeem us from the penalty and power of sin.

Jesus is unique. No one else is like Him in the universe. He is the eternal Son of God, coexistent with the Father from eternity. For this reason He has the ability to save us. We can praise God for His marvelous love. n