is the Firstborn of many brethren. Then,
in Colossians 1:18, He's again referred to
as "the Firstborn." Let's look at it in the
AMPC:
13 FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON
THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE
SAVED.
14 HOW THEN SHALL THEY CALL ON HIM
IN WHOM THEY HAVE NOT BELIEVED?
AND HOW SHALL THEY BELIEVE IN HIM
OF WHOM THEY HAVE NOT HEARD?
AND HOW SHALL THEY HEAR WITHOUT
A PREACHER?
18 HE ALSO IS THE HEAD OF [HIS] BODY,
THE CHURCH; SEEING HE IS THE
BEGINNING, THE FIRSTBORN FROM
AMONG THE DEAD, SO THAT HE ALONE
IN EVERYTHING AND IN EVERY RESPECT
MIGHT OCCUPY THE CHIEF PLACE
[STAND FIRST AND BE PREEMINENT].
Jesus, our LORD and Savior was, and
is, the Firstborn, and we are joint heirs
with Him according to Romans 8:17.
Now, let's think about this. What if you
had never heard any of this?
Remember Romans 10:13-14:
Let me give you a perfect example of
this. On Sept. 22, 1862, President
Abraham Lincoln issued the
Emancipation Proclamation declaring
freedom for all slaves. Then, a terrible
war was fought which ended in 1865.
But listen to this: Most, if not all, slaves
in Texas were unaware of their
freedom. No one can act on
something they don't know about!.
That all changed, however, on June 19,
1865, when federal troops arrived in
Galveston, Texas, and Maj. Gen.
Gordon Granger read General Order
No. 3, announcing the Emancipation
Proclamation. Glory to GOD! Freedom!
That's the reason we celebrate what is
now known as "Juneteenth," in
recognition of the abolition of slavery.
When were the slaves DECLARED free?
Sept. 22, 1862. When did it become
law? When the war ended on April 9,
1865. When did the people in
Galveston hear about it? Two months
and 10 days later. Had someone died a
few days earlier, that person would
have never heard the wonderful news
of their victory.
Well, it's easy to see where I'm going
with this. Let's go back to Romans
10:6:
6 THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF
FAITH SPEAKETH.
Most Christians don't know that.
Now, let's read verse 8:
8 BUT WHAT SAITH IT? THE WORD IS
NIGH THEE, EVEN IN THY MOUTH, AND
IN THY HEART: THAT IS, THE WORD OF
FAITH, WHICH WE PREACH.
Did you notice the phrase "word of
faith, which we preach"? We do
preach the Word of Faith. I said "we"
because you and I are Partners
together in the calling of this ministry.
