(Col. 1:15-18.)

(Continued from page 74.)

We pass on now to His second title, " First-born from among the dead." This brings in a different line of truth. It brings, first, the thought of His death, which is the prime consideration in such a connection. But, of course, we cannot think of His death and not bring in all that is connected with it. We must consider what death means in relation to the creature. Introduced with man's fall, we know it as part of the judgment he fell into because of sin. It is therefore the judicial means in God's hands for the removal of the creature from the scene of his re-rebellion and wickedness, and it is the introduction into that unending sphere of existence, the character of which is governed by the course and conduct followed before the removal of the responsible creature from the place he occupied."By one man sin entered the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."We understand then that the wages of sin is death and that it is appointed unto men once to die, but after death the judgment. This is the inevitable result for the creature, who remains in his fallen condition. Death in this way is a real mercy from God to ruined men. For have they not fallen and filled the world with all the sorrow and pain of sin, with all its bitter fruits and suffering? What, if they were allowed to live on and on without death's hand to smite? Can we comprehend what this scene would develop into, and the awful character it would assume? Words would fail to describe it. How well God knew all this and brought in, therefore, that judicial removal of man by death. It means removal into judgment for them from which there is no escape, but which is eternal. Is it interposed that such a thought is against the character of God and His love for the creature? It is not. Does not the man who dies a sinner remain that eternally in the condition into which he passes? And. this being so, can judgment, which was his rightful due as a sinful man, be anything less than eternal since he remains in the character of a sinner for eternity? The holiness of God's character could allow of nothing less. But the judgment is not only the due of sin, but of necessity also the means of restraining it.

Death and judgment after it bring in of necessity resurrection after death for judgment, and the man
must be raised up to receive the execution upon himself of the sentence of his condemnation.

To be the first-born one, therefore,, from among those who are under the sentence of death and under judgment, it would necessitate an absolute passing beyond the ultimate end of which death speaks, and the reception of a new life as new born beyond all the power of death and what it is the judicial entrance into-eternal judgment. The one doing this for the first time is, the First-born from among the dead. It is plain that no mere creature could arrive at this position of blessedness, because death removing him as such, judgment awaits and his doom is fixed. We are told, therefore, that Christ is the First-born from among the dead. This implies that He passed through death and judgment and reached the other side, as it were, with a life beyond all touch of death and its consequences. This required Him to be in the creature's place to which death and judgment attached. Has not He, who being in the form of God, counted equality with Him a thing not to be grasped at, taken upon Himself the form of a servant, taken His place in the likeness of man, and having been found in fashion as a man, humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death? A man then He was, and that in all the full meaning which this implies. He grew in wisdom and stature. He could be weary at times and sleep. He would weep with the sorrowing, and be grieved in His spirit, while He could rejoice also in season. All perfect in their exhibition in Him as in no other, but nevertheless showing how truly man He was, preeminently therefore the Son of man, a title in itself which implies creaturehood.

Sonship always implies likeness to him with whom this relationship is connected, and to be a son of man means to be in the likeness of man. But Christ is not a son but the Son, the One who above all others is in the likeness of man because according to God's mind. What then is man properly? I do not mean as fallen, for he is not that properly, but as a creature of God ? He was created in the image of God, and that image should have been manifested in him and his associates. A son of man is one in whom this likeness is reproduced. But man has fallen, the image is broken, its character marred, and God is not manifested by that which He had made in His own image. Therefore Christ as a man among men is the Son of man, because in Him we find the likeness of man, fully and perfectly developed and exhibited. The image of God how perfectly it showed itself in Him, and how the relationship, which this existed was fully manifested to the praise of God and also to the vindication of His work in making man in His likeness, and the perfect fulfilment of His purpose in so doing.

But how then, since He was so perfect, can death and ensuing judgment which He must pass through and beyond to be First-born from the dead, attach to Him? Death and judgment were the fruits of man's fall. But Christ was the perfect expression as a man of God's purpose, without taint of sin, perfect in His every part. The shadow of the fall had never been thrown on Him. He was the unique Man in Himself, the embodiment of the thought of the Creator.

Here comes in the blessed truth that meets the need of the creature in his ruin. Can we think of Him as coming into this world simply to be a justification of God's creation ? Surely this would only add to the condemnation of the creature. Man had ruined himself and ..come tinder judgment, because God is light and cannot look upon sin. But God is love, and He will not, if it be possible, execute the sentence of eternal doom upon him. So we have a note of deliverance and promised victory at the very beginning. The woman's seed is to bruise the serpent's head. And this develops and expands as the ages roll on, voicing the one essential truth, in all type and shadow, of the deliverance first promised.

The reason for all this is plain. We have said that death and ensuing judgment are the creature's portion as fallen, and God cannot in one iota abate the holiness which claims this as the righteous judgment of sin; and therefore if the creature is to be delivered, these must be born and endured to the full. Then His love can flow in an unobstructed channel of endless blessing. Who then shall meet this requirement and bring deliverance to the creature ? One under the ban of them never can. It must be one who nevertheless is a creature, and yet beyond their power or applicability to him. Who has ever occupied this position but the peerless Son of man, alone qualified to be the Substitute for fallen creatures and bear what was their due because of sin?

Will He take this place ? He had claim upon life beyond all reach of death and judgment because of His own perfection. Will He be the Substitute for those who have forfeited all claim to such a life ? He is the only one that can be; if He will not, there is no hope. Thanks be to His all worthy Name, that when the agonizing anticipation of what this meant for Him was upon His soul, He said:"Not My will but Thine be done."And God's will was for the blessing of His creatures, and the endurance by Him of death and judgment was the only possible way to accomplish it.

We know Him thus as having been made an offering for sin, the load of our sins borne in His own body on the tree, making in this way full and perfect atonement for sin, effecting propitiation, that is the appeasal of God's righteous wrath, and as a result, accomplishing reconciliation between God and His rebel creatures, and insuring all the blessing of His hand being bestowed upon them.

The glorious witness to all this is in resurrection. He was raised up by the glory of the Father. The glory He had so wonderfully served demanded the exaltation of the servant, and so, He having made purification of sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. But in this very resurrection, the passing beyond death and judgment, He is the Firstborn from among the dead. He has come out the triumphant Victor over all, and the only One having rightful title to life eternal beyond the power of death and judgment, the necessity of bearing which devolves on every creature, but which now He has borne for them, if they will receive the provision thus made. J. B. Jr.

(To be continued.)