WE BELIEVE—Session 11-Plumb Line - Firstborn Status.
The Word of God is God's breath, equipping us with wisdom for salvation and correcting our path.
We looked at Paul last time in this Plumbline Series – Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Hebrews 2:11 Both the One who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Exodus 4:22-24 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’”
The Word of God is God’s breath, equipping us with wisdom for salvation and correcting our path. As a child of God, your standard—your plumb line—is the life of Jesus. He perfectly revealed the Father, so much so that he could declare, “If you see me, you have seen the Father.”
Positionally, we are raised with him and seated in heavenly places because he is our Lord (Ephesians 2). Functionally, this means our lives on earth must reflect his. In every interaction, whether with a spouse, coworkers, or customers, his nature should be clearly on display. In Christ, we are made partakers of the Firstborn status, and this is a truth we must hold on to. When we genuinely believe this, we’ll find ourselves no longer living in fear of the world’s systems. This year, we’ve been dedicated to exploring our beliefs, helping us discover our identity and purpose so that we can worship God with unwavering confidence and reverence. Exodus 4 presents a pattern that the church should learn from. God refers to Israel as His firstborn and takes action to destroy Egypt so that His people can be free to worship Him.
Positionally, we are raised with Him and seated in heavenly places because He is our Lord (Ephesians 2). Functionally, this means our lives on earth must reflect His.
. In our studies on the Plumb Line, we observed that Jeroboam feared losing his kingdom and, as a result, interfered with the Divine Standards of worship. His unfaithfulness to Divine Commands stemmed from a distorted perception of his circumstances. This is why, in Amos 7, God judges Jeroboam for deviating from His standard.
Similarly, we often replace God with education, jobs, and harmful cultural practices, which prevents us from worshiping Him in Spirit and Truth. Consequently, judgment follows.
1 Kings 12:26-27 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: if these people go to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their Lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah (NKJV)
Colossians 1:15-18 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in 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 may have the preeminence.
Sonship is our primary identity—rooted not in performance, but in divine inheritance. It is a spirit, a position, a relationship, an attitude, and a mature mindset made possible through the finished work of Christ.
As sons, we boldly declare: “I take my rightful position and status as a firstborn son to receive grace, divine provision, hidden wealth, generational blessing, and favor. I am blessed, I have become a blessing, and I am daily loaded with benefits.”
“As a firstborn son, I decree and declare: what has been released for me shall not be lost, stopped, delayed, diverted, stolen, leaked, exchanged, hijacked, buried, or destroyed—in Jesus’ name.” (Inspired by E. Goodman)
The Divine Intent: Christlikeness Revealed
God’s intent is that Christlikeness—His exact representation—be visibly expressed in every believer. Christ is the facsimile of God—perfect in essence, radiant in glory, and revealed for our transformation. We are partakers of Divine Nature!
