Birthright is a word the sense, at least, of used by many in appraising their relationship to God
and eternity. It may be defined as "the rights of persons born in a family." Let us consider this
thought of "Birthright" in four different categories, as presented to us in the scriptures.

1. In the beginning Adam and Eve were created to enjoy, and to have dominion over all that God
had made, and to multiply and replenish the earth. That was Adam’s birthright, and Eve was to
share all those blessings through Adam and with Adam. But this beautiful scene of blessing was
broken up and destroyed. One of God’s created angels, Satan, as a result of his own sin and
subsequent fall (Isaiah 14:12-20), became the persistent and malignant foe of all mankind, and
through disobedience to God and yielding to Satan’s temptation in the garden, sin came in and
Adam forfeited his birthright. Therefore all born into this world have no right to God, in their
natural state. (Rom. 5:12; Heb. 9:27), Not until these facts are known and really felt, and one’s
own sins acknowledged in true repentance to God, is one ready to receive the new birth into God’s
family through the work of Christ on their behalf, without any added effort needed or accepted
by God for salvation. (Eph. 2:8,9).

2. Birthright is also presented in the Old Testament as Israel’s relationship to*”God in principle
and subsequent blessing. The story of Esau in Gen. 25:31-34, gives us a picture of one who places
no value on his birthright and the blessings attached. He, in order to satisfy his natural hunger,
sold out, and lost his eternal blessing, although he later sought it unsuccessfully with tears. (Heb.
12:16,17). In this present day of God’s grace, new birth is scorned by many, and bartered away
for the pleasures of this world, and their souls are eternally lost.

3. Birthright conveyed to some the fancied spiritual advantage because of being born into any so-
called religion. An outstanding example in scripture is that of the apostle Paul. He was born, grew
up in, and adhered to the popular religion of the day, and was zealous toward God beyond
reproach. He took great pride in his birthright. Yet he was so blinded by what he thought was
right, that he rejected Christ and persecuted Christians. Had not the Lord Jesus intervened in rich
grace, and revealed Himself to him (Whom he received into his heart), he would have died in his
sins. The chief mark of Satan’s counterfeits is a religion without the cleansing blood of Christ.

4. Birthright also conveyed to some the mistaken idea of a standing before God because of having
godly parents. By far the greatest opposition to the Lord Jesus Christ and His ministry when on
earth, was from those who claimed to be the children of Abraham, but in reality were under the
bondage of Satan, and needed new birth. Jesus said, "Ye must be born again." There is a
birthright now being offered by a loving God to all who have forfeited theirs through sin.

Man is born into the first category, but he need not stay in any of the other three except by his
own will.