(Col. 1:15-18.)
(Concluded.)
There is also another line of thought, which comes in here in connection with this first-born title of Christ. We have seen that pre-eminently connected with it is His headship of a new race, and that this race is formed from the material of the old. The formation of this new race is carried on in the world, and thus that which is the part of it on earth is constituted of weak and failing men, who are in creature-impotence as to the circumstances they are placed in. The Head of the race of which they form a part is in heaven on the Father's throne, their Forerunner, and upon Him, as the Head, devolves the responsibility to care for and succor those to whom He has communicated a life like His own, the proper sphere of which is heaven, where He is; but these are on earth, in the midst of a scene of evil and trial, filled with everything contrary to the life of the new race indwelling them.
In this relation comes in His title as Priest-the Priest forever after the order of Melchisedek. The office of the priest we know is that of presenting himself on behalf of others, so that the priesthood of Christ began on earth with the presentation of Himself as the sacrifice for sin. And this work being accomplished, He is perfected as the Originator of salvation to all them that obey Him. The full perfection of His authorship of eternal salvation is accomplished in resurrection, that being the answer to the perfect work wrought out by Him; and perfected in this way, He is saluted of God in resurrection a High Priest after the order of Melchisedek. Then we have His heavenly service as Priest on the throne; that is characterized by continual intercession, which is on behalf of our weakness and frailty, and with which He is fully acquainted, since He can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, having been tempted in like manner-sin apart.
He is thus able to help those who are being tempted, those whom He calls brethren, among whom He is First-born. His intercession, therefore, secures the working of the power of God on our behalf, by which we are kept unto salvation, so that it is said of Christ, as Priest, He is able to save completely, because He continues forever, therefore has an unchangeable priesthood, the surety of God's power working on our behalf for the accomplishment of all His purposes and counsels, which is really what to be saved completely implies.
Still another title comes in here. Connected with our weakness and frailty we find sin. And here we have Him as the Advocate. It implies the maintenance of our case before the bar of God's holiness and righteousness in heaven against the charge of the adversary. It is He Himself who is the Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous. His occupation of the place upon the Father's throne is in itself the advocacy of our case. God, to silence all accusations against us, has but to turn to Christ; and is He not the propitiation for our sins ? And it is the being this, and as being this on the Father's throne, that constitutes the advocacy, and Him as the Advocate for us. But this has to do also with the maintenance of our communion. Sin is that which shuts the soul out from God and hinders the proper fellowship with Him. The removal of it, therefore, is an absolute necessity. Christ effects this on God's part, and repentance being wrought and confession made on our part, the way is open for the fullest fellowship between the Father and His child.
Briefly, these are the titles and characters which associate themselves with and are implied in these First-born titles of Christ. They are both in connection with His incarnation. We have seen how the first one implies all His glory as a divine person, and that it is the fact of this glory being His, that makes Him truly the First-born of all creation. He is supreme, and in the place of superiority, as a Man over every other creature. He occupies the foremost place as a Man in the creation; but this is not all God had in His mind; His purpose reached out to a new creation, in view of the failure of the first; and the new is to be the bringing of His glory out of the ruins of the first, a fallen one. The accomplishment of this is through death, as we have seen, and ensuing resurrection and the giving of a new life; and in the new race thus formed God is to find His center of exhibit for all His glory, and in it He is to rest with eternal complacency.
This being God's purpose, failure is impossible to come in; but this new creation will thus be the preeminent order of life in eternity, and the Head of it -for it must have a head also, in whom it stands or falls; the head of the old fell, and the creation linked with him fell of necessity-will therefore be the first and foremost in the eternal order, pre-eminent in this way above all else. Therefore, that Christ might have the first place in all things, He is not only the First-born of all creation, but also the Firstborn from among the dead, thus becoming the Head of the new creation, as we have been seeing. The divine reason for Him having taken the creature-place, suffered death and been raised up, the Communicant of the new life, is that in all things He might have the pre-eminence (Col. 1:18). Occupying the first place over all creation as a Man, He must also occupy the first place as being the Head of the new, in which all the purpose and glory of God is to find fulfilment.
Who can comprehend the wonderful thought that with this all-glorious One, the center of creation now and to come, in time and eternity, we are associated in the possession of life eternal, a life given to us by Him, so that in Him we have an inheritance ? We will be associated with Him in His headship during all eternity-we with Him the vessel of display for God's glory to every created intelligence. We are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power, blessed-oh how richly!-with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We can contemplate Him in the sorrow and trial of His path, the pain that rent His heart as He felt the keen edge, as none other could, of the scorn and hatred of men, who nevertheless were dependent upon Him for the very breath with which they cast their reproaches at Him. Alone. How trying to Him who found His delight in the sons of man, but with no response from them-alone in the uniqueness of His perfection and the depths of sufferings endured at the hand of those for whom His heart yearned with an eternal love! Man has counted the cross a fitting reward for His love and ministering power for every need. God has placed Him on the throne of glory, Head over all. What joy it is to think that He shall be manifested as this before the whole universe, and we manifested with Him! We are going on to this, it is the portion that God has set before us, but we are to enjoy by faith what He has been pleased in this connection to reveal to us.
What questions of the most practical importance this brings us to consider! Are we to be associated with Him in glory, and should we not, then, be also in His rejection and sorrow ? Can we be associated with a world which has cast Him out ? The world has not changed in its enmity and hatred to Him. Is He any more accepted by them now than when He was here ? How clear must be, if faithful to His name, the line of demarcation! and oh, for the grace to draw that line and maintain it for His glory! Shall we compare the sufferings of this little while with the glory that is to follow? Oh, I love to think how His smile will recompense it all! His face we shall gaze upon; God's glory we shall read where once were graven the lines of pain and sorrow, and that, beloved, for us. May the hope, the bright reality for faith now, of seeing Him face to face, make our hearts bound with that joy which shall fill us and lead our whole being out to Himself, so that every step of the path will then be ordered in conformity to His mind and heart's desire concerning us! Let us be careful not to grieve Him.
We need God's grace that it may be so. Surely, having suffered for us as He has, He is worthy of being now made glad by us. We know the way of it. His delight is to dwell with us, to have our hearts empty of all else that He may fill them, our communion thus to be with Him now as in eternity it shall be, when as perfected He shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied. What a heavenly privilege and portion is ours! May God in His grace awake us to it more fully, that faith may gain its victory for His name and glory! J. B. Jr.