Expert: Paul Walker - 4/13/2009

Question
In 1 Col 15, it says Christ is the firstborn of all.  In John 1:1 it says Christ was with the Father from the very beginning.  Later the Father has Christ come and sit at His right hand calling Him God (family name).  So was Christ always existing like the Father or was He the 1st born of all??

Answer
Dear Robert,

Colossians 1:15-18 KJV  Who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE:  (16)  For BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (18)  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The Lord was the firstborn from the dead.

Romans 8:29 KJV  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN.

He was the firstborn of many brethren, those born again.

Hebrews 12:23 KJV  To the general assembly and CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

If saved, then you are a member of the assembly, the Church of the firstborn.

So the firstborn has to do with the resurrection unto newness of life. He was the firstborn from the dead.

John 1:1-3 KJV  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1:16 KJV  For BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED,...

John 1:14 KJV  And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us,...

2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV  To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST,...

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the body of flesh God, that is the Word that was God of John 1:1, put himself in.

Hebrews 10:5 KJV  Wherefore WHEN HE COMETH INTO THE WORLD, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but A BODY HAST THOU PREPARED ME:

Galatians 4:4 KJV  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, MADE OF A WOMAN, made under the law,

Isaiah 9:6 KJV  For unto us A CHILD IS BORN, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, The Prince of Peace.

So, Christ, the body of flesh that God put himself into was the firstborm from the dead, at his resurrection, and the everlasting God. Not understanding this has lead to many errors.

I hope this has helped.

Your Servant In Christ Jesus,

Paul Walker