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What does it mean that Jesus is the 'first-born' over Creation?

In a letter to the church at Colossae, the Apostle Paul gave an intriguing description of Jesus. In it, he explained Christ's relationship to God the Father and to creation. Some have claimed that Paul’s description of Christ as the first-born of creation means that Jesus was created -- not eternal, not God. Such a doctrine, however, conflicts with the rest of the Bible. Christ could not be both Creator and created; John 1 clearly names Him Creator. Let’s take a careful look at the passage where Jesus is called the first-born.

Colossians 1:15-21

“And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

Jesus himself affirmed his eternal existence, when he said to the Jews: “Before Abraham was born, I am” (Jn. 8:58). The present tense form, ego eimi (“I am”) stands in contrast to the aorist form “was born” (genesthai – to begin to be, to come into existence). The two expressions contrast the eternal and the temporal.

The Jews certainly caught the drift of what Christ was saying, i.e., that he was claiming eternality, therefore, the status of being God. That is why they sought to stone him. The expression “I am” points one back to Exodus 3:14, where Jehovah identifies himself as the “I AM,” i.e., the self-existent One.

Ahadi za Biblia

Mungu hutimiza ahadi zake. Imeandikwa katika 2Wakorintho 1:19-20 "Maana Mwana wa Mungu, Kristo Yesu aliyehubiriwa katikati yenu na sisi yaani mimi na Silwano na Timotheo hakuwa Ndiyo na siyo; bali katika yeye ni Ndiyo. Maana ahadi zote za Mungu zilizopo katika yeye ni Ndiyo; tena katika yeye ni Amin, Mungu apate kutukuzwa kwa sisi."

Mungu hazirudishi ahadi zake au kuzibadilisha. Imeandikwa katika Zaburi 89:34 "Mimi sitalihalifu agano langu, sitalibadili neno lililotoka mdomoni mwangu."

Hakuna mojawapo ya ahadi za Mungu ambazo hazijatimika. Imeandikwa katika Yoshua 23:14 "Angalieni mimi nimekwenda njia ile waendayo watu wote wa ulimwengu...... Mungu wenu katika habari zenu yote yametimia kwenu hapana neno lo lote mlilopungukiwa."

Tumeahidiwa uzima wa milele. Imeandikwa katika 1 Yohana 2:25 "Nahii ndiyo ahadi aliyotuahidia, yaani uzima wa milele."

Mungu aweza kufanya mambo yasiyowekana. Imeandikwa katika Luka 18:27 "Akasema yasiyowezekana kwa wanadamu yawezekana kwa mungu." Tume ahidiwa moyo mpya na maisha mapya Imeandikwa Ezekieli 36:26 "Mimi nitawapa moyo mpya nami nitatia roho mpya ndani yenu nami nitatoa moyo wa jiwe uliomo ndani ya mwili wenu, nami nitawapa moyo wa nyama." Ametuahidi kutusamehe dhambi zetu. Imeandikwa katika 1Yohana 1:9 "Tukiziungama dhambi zetu, yeye ni mwaminifu na wa haki hata atuondolee dhambi zetu, na kutusafisha na udhalimu wote."

Biblia Inasema nini kuhusu uhusiano na Mapepo au Majini

Mungu ametuonya kutokuwa na uhusiano na pepo. Imeandikwa, Mambo ya Walawi 19:31 "Msiwaendee wenye pepo wala wachawi, msiwatafute ili kutiwa unajisi na wao mimi ndimi BWANA Mungu wenu."

Ilikuwa kawaida ya watu wa zamani enzi za Biblia kusali pepo. Mungu aliwaonya wana wa Israeli kuhusu uombaji wa pepo na uchawi. Imeandikwa katika Kumbukumbu la torati 18:9-12 "utakapokwisha ingia katika nchi akupayo BWANA Mungu wako usijifunze kutenda kwa mfano wa machukizo ya mataifa yale asionekane kwako mtu ampitishaye mwanawe au binti yake kati ya moto wala asionekane mtu atazamaye mbao wala mtu atazamaye nyakati mbaya wala mwenye kubashiri wala msihiri wala mtu alogaye kwa kupiga mafundo wala mtu apandishaye pepo wala mchawi wala mtu awaombaye wafu kwa maana mtu atandaye hayo ni chukizo kwa BWANA kisha ni kwa sababu ya hayo BWANA Mungu wako anawafukuza mbele yako."

Biblia yatupa mwanga kuhusu hali ya pepo. Imeandikwa, katika Matendo ya mitume 16:16-18 "Ikawa tulipokuwa tukienda mahali pale pa kusali kijakazi mmoja aliyekuwa na pepo wa uaguzi akatukuta, aliyewapatia bwana zake faida nyingi kwa kuagua akamfuata Paulo na sisi akipiga kelele akisema watu hawa ni watumishi wa Mungu aliye juu wenye kuwahubiria njia ya wokovu akafanya hayo siku nyingi lakini Paulo akasikitika akageuka akamwambia yule pepo nakuamuru kwa jina la Yesu Kristo mtoke huyu akamtoka saa ili ile."

Pepo ni wale malaika waliomwasi Mungu kule mbinguni na kutupwa hapa duniani. Imeandikwa katika Ufunuo 12:7-9 "Kulikuwa na vita Mbinguni Mikaeli na malaika zake wakapigana na yule joka naye akapigana nao pamoja na malaika zake nao hawakushinda, wala mahali pao hapakuonekana tena mbinguni. Yule joka akatupwa yule mkubwa nyoka wa zamani aitwaye Ibilisi na Shetani adanganyaye ulimwengu wote akatupwa hata nchi na malaika zake wakatupwa pamoja naye."

Sheria ya Mungu

Sheria za Mungu ni pamoja na amri kumi. Imeandikwa, Kutoka 20:1-17 "Mungu akanena maneno haya yote akisema.[1] Mimi ni Bwana Mungu wako niliye kutoa katika nchi ya misiri katika nyumba ya utumwa usiwe na miungu mingine ila mimi.[2] Usijifanyie sanamu ya kuchonga wala mfano wa kitu cho chote kilicho juu mbinguni wala kilicho chini duniani wala kilicho majini chini ya dunia usivisujudie wa kuvitumikia kwa kua mimi, Bwana, Mungu wako, ni Mungu wenye wivu nawapatiliza wana maovu ya baba zao hata kizazi cha tatu na cha nne cha wanichukiao, nami nawarehemu maelfu elfu wanipendao na kuzishika amri zangu.[3] Usilitaje bure jina la Bwana Mungu wako, maana Bwana hatamuhesabia kuwa hana hataia mtu alitajaye jina lake bure. [4] Ukumbuke siku ya sabato uitakase siku sita fanya kazi utende mambo yako yote; lakini siku ya sabato ni ni ya Bwana, Mungu wako siku hiyo usifanye kazi yo yote wewe, wala mwana wako, wala binti yako, wala mtumwa wako, wala mjakazi wako, wala mnyama wako wa kufuga, wala mgeni aliye ndani ya malango yako. maana kwa siku sita Bwana Mungu alifanya mbingu na nchi na bahari, na vyote vilivyomo, akastarehe siku ya saba; kwa hiyo Bwana akaibaria siku ya sabatu akaitakasa.[5] Waheshimu baba yako na mama yako; siku zako zipate kuwa nyingi katika nchi upewayo na Bwana, Mungu wako.[6] Usiue.[7] Usizini.[8] Usiibe.[9] Usimshuhudie jirani yako uongo.[10]Usiitamani nyumba ya jirani yako, usimtamani mke wajirani yako, wala mtumwa wake, wala mjalkazi wake, wala ng'ombe wake wala punda wake, wala cho chote alicho nacho jirani yako."

Je! kiini cha sheria ni nini? Imeandikwa, Warumi 13:10 "Pendo halimfanyii jirani neno baya; basi pendo ndilo utimilifu wa sheria."

Sheria za Mungu ni upendo. Imeandikwa, Mathayo 22:37-40 "Akamwambia mpende Bwana Mungu wako kwa moyo wako wote na kwa roho yako yote na kwa akili zako zote hii ndiyo amri iliyo kuu tena ni ya kwanza na yapili yafanana nayo, nayo ni hii mpende jirani yako kama nafsi yako katika amri hizi mbili hutegemea torati yote na manabii."

Kupitia kwa Yesu amri za Mungu zime dhibitishwa. Imeandikwa, Mathayo 5:17-18 "Msidhani ya kuwa nilikuja kuitangua torati au manabii, la, sikuja kutangua bali kutimiliza kwa maana amin nawaambia mpaka mbingu na nchi zitakapoondoka yodi moja wala nukta moja ya torati haitaondoka hata yote yatimie."

FAHAMU UWEZO WA DAMU YA YESU KRISTO

Ukweli ni kwamba katika damu ya Yesu Kristo kunapatikana zaidi ya mambo manne nitakayokushirikisha humu; lakini kwa sasa naona nianze na haya manne:-

1. Uwezo wa Damu ya Yesu Kristo katika kuondoa dhambi. Imeandikwa katika kitabu cha 1Yohana 1:9 kuwa; “Tukiziungama dhambi zetu, Yeye ni mwaminifu na wa haki hata ATUONDOLEE dhambi zetu, na kutusafisha na udhalimu wote”.

2. Uwezo wa Damu ya Yesu Kristo katika kupatanisha. Imeandikwa katika kitabu cha Waefeso 2:13-16 kuwa; “Lakini sasa, katika Kristo Yesu, ninyi mliokuwa mbali hapo kwanza mmekuwa karibu kwa damu yake Kristo. Kwa maana yeye ndiye amani yetu, aliyetufanya sisi sote tuliokuwa wawili kuwa mmoja; akakibomoa kiambaza cha kati kilichotutenga. Naye akiisha kuuondoa ule uadui kwa mwili wake; ndiyo sheria ya amri zilizo katika maagizo; ili afanye hao wawili kuwa mtu mpya mmoja ndani ya nafsi yake; akafanya amani. AKAWAPATANISHA wote wawili na Mungu katika mwili mmoja, kwa njia ya msalaba, akiisha kuufisha ule uadui kwa huo msalaba”

3. Uzima wa Milele katika Damu ya Yesu Kristo. Imeandikwa katika kitabu cha Yohana 6:53-54 kuwa; “Basi Yesu akawaambia Amini, amini, nawaambieni, msipoula mwili wake mwana wa Adamu nakuinywa damu yake, hamna uzima ndani yenu. Aulaye mwili wangu na kuinywa damu yangu anao UZIMA WA MILELE…..”

4. Uwezo wa Damu ya Yesu Kristo katika kutulinda. Imeandikwa katika kitabu cha ufunuo wa Yohana 12:11a kuwa; “Nao wakamshinda (shetani) kwa damu ya mwana-Kondoo….” Mtihani mkubwa sana kwetu sisi wakristo ni kuyaweka katika matendo yale tunayofahamu katika Biblia. Nakushauri kwa Jina la Yesu Kristo kuwa uwe mtendaji wa neno, na usiwe msomaji tu. Ni maombi yangu kwa Bwana ya kuwa Roho wa ufahamu wa Bwana atakuwa juu yako unaposoma na ketenda neno lake.

Imeletwa kwenu na

Max Shimba 

Isaac (Christian) or Ishmael (Islam)

Bible = Genesis 17:18,19 “And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shall call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him”.

Koran = 19:54 “Also mention in the Book [the story of] Ishmael: He was [strictly] true to what he promised, and he was a messenger [and] a prophet”.

Bible = Genesis 16:12 “And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him”.

The Bible called Ishmael a wild man; the Koran called him messenger and a prophet.

Jews, Christians and Moslems follow the steps of Abraham as a father of faith. Abraham was the first human being who was so much in love of God that he was called “the friend of God” (James 2:23). He had such faith and trust in God that he became the first person with whom God make an everlasting covenant; as it is written, “I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee” (Genesis 17:7).

Sarah also received the blessing and the promise along with her husband; as it is written, “And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her [Isaac]: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her” (Genesis 17:16).

Because Sarah was old and had no children, “Abraham said to God, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael [the son of the slave Hagar] might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shall call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him” (Genesis 17:18,19)

Jews and Christians believe according to the scriptures that the promise was given to Isaac who became the father of the Israelites, father of Moses who received the Torah, father of king David who ruled in righteousness upon God’s people and who also received the promise that from his descendents would come the king who would rule the world for ever and ever (Psalm 89:29) As it is written concerning Jesus Christ, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32).

Unajimu na Kutafsiri Nyota

Je? Mungu anasema nini kuhusu wao wanao tafsiri nyota kuweza kujua jinsi maisha yao yatakavyokuwa? Imo katika Biblia, Isaya 47:13-15 "Umechoka kwa wingi wa mashauri yako basi nawasimame hao wajuao falaki, wazitazamao nyota watabirio kila mwezi mambo ya mwezi huo, wakakuokoe na mambo yatakayokupata. Tazama watakuwa kama mabua makavu; moto utawateketeza hawatajiokoa na nguvu za mwali wa moto; hautakuwa kaa la kukota moto, wala moto wa kukaa karibu nao ndivyo itakavyokuwa mambo hayo uliyojitaabisha nayo; wale walio fanya biashara nawe tangu ujana wako watatanga-tanga mbali nawe, kila mtu akienda zake; hapatakuwa na mtu wakukuokoa." 

Unajimu ni imani ambayo yafundisha kuwa uwambatano wa mwezi, nyota na jua waweza kuleta tukio katika maisha ya mtu. Katika lugha ya kiebrania neno unajimu ni kutabiri mbingu, kuweza kutoa siri, kutabiri jambo litakalotokea. Imo katika Biblia, Walawi 19:26 "...... Msifanye kuloga, wala kutumia utambuzi." 

Kabla ya wana waisiraeli kuingia katika nchi ya ahadi, walionywa kutofanya unajimu, imo katika Biblia, Torati 18:9, 12, 14 "Utakapokwisha ingia katika nchi akupayo Bwana, Mungu wako usijifunze kutenda kwa mfano wa machukizo ya mataifa yale 12- kwamaana yule atendaye hayo ni chukizo kwa Bwana; kisha ni kwa sababu ya hayo Bwana Mungu wako anawafukuza mbele yako 14 maana mataifa haya utakaowamiliki huwasikiliza wanao shika nyakati mbaya na kutazama bao; bali wewe Bwana, Mungu wako, hukupa ruhusa kutenda hayo." 

Is Jesus the Creator God?

Is this even an important question? Absolutely! If Jesus is not God, and therefore the Creator, then He is a created being. If Jesus is created, then how could He have been an adequate sacrifice to atone for sins committed against an infinite God? Jesus must have been God to adequately atone for our sins, which bring upon us unlimited guilt and cause us to deserve an eternal hell.

But does it really matter whether or not we believe that Jesus is God? Yes! If one places faith in a false Christ, one that is not described in Scripture, then can this false Christ save them? Truly, the identity of Christ is of utmost importance. And yet, in today’s culture there are people teaching that Jesus was a created being. They are leading people astray.

What sets biblical Christianity apart from cults and other world religions? It is the person of Jesus Christ—who He is. In Islam, Jesus was a messenger of God, but not the Son of God. In many cults, the deity of Jesus Christ is negated, and in many world religions and personal views, Jesus is just another wise teacher. But the Bible says that all things were created by Him and for Him:

For by Him [Jesus] 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 (Colossians 1:16).¹

Hebrews indicates that God calls Jesus, the Son, God:

But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions” (Hebrews 1:8–9).

We should expect Satan, the adversary of God and the father of lies, to advance many variants of the person of Jesus Christ. Satan would want all the false views to succeed in some measure to lead people away from the true Jesus.

One may recall the temptations of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11). The great deceiver even attempted to use Scripture to trick Jesus into sinning (Matthew 4:6). The tactic of the serpent in the garden was to deceive the woman by distorting the plain meaning of the Word of God (Genesis 3:1–6). Satan, through the serpent, quoted the words of God and abused their meaning. We must be aware of the devil’s devices (1 Corinthians 2:11).