Romans 1:3-4 Christ the Son of God as the Prototype VS Romans 8:29 Many Brothers as 'Mass-Produced' from the Prototype

 

Romans 1:3-4 Christ the Son of God as the Prototype VS Romans 8:29 Many Brothers as 'Mass-Produced' from the Prototype

Ro 1:3 Concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

Rom 1:4 Who was designated the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead;

Ro 8:29 For those whom God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

 

Item	Romans 1:3-4 (Prototype)	Romans 8:29 (Mass Production)
Subject	The Son of God, Christ	Many Brothers (Believers)
Significance	The prototype pattern as God's firstborn Son	Sons being conformed according to the prototype
Process	1. Originally God's only begotten Son (only divinity) 2. Put on humanity through incarnation 3. Passed through death and resurrection 4. Designated as the Son of God (both divine and human natures)	1. Originally sinners 2. Believe and receive Christ 3. Transformed through the operation of the Spirit of life 4. Conformed to the image of the Firstborn
Result	Became God's firstborn Son with: - Blending of divine and human natures - Basis and model for producing many sons	Became Christ's many brothers: - Same in life and nature as Christ - Constituting Christ's Body
Purpose	Became God's basis for producing sons as: - Foundation  - Pattern - Element  - Means	For God's corporate expression: - Today's church - New Jerusalem in eternity
Related Scriptures	- Originally the only begotten Son:  John 1:18, Rom 8:3 - Incarnation: John 1:14 - Sent to the world:  1 John 4:9 - Designated as Firstborn in resurrection:  Acts 13:33, Heb 1:5	- Sons of God with Christ: Heb 2:10-11 - Manifested as God's sons: Rom 8:14,19,21 - Born together in resurrection: 1 Pet 1:3 - Expression of Christ's Body: Eph 1:23, 3:19 - Ultimate expression: Rev 21:11
Relationship	1. Christ as prototype pioneers the way: - Brings God into man through incarnation - Brings man into God through resurrection - Designated in resurrection as Firstborn with both natures	1. Believers as products follow His steps: - Receive Christ as life - Transformed by the Spirit of life - Together designated as God's many sons 2. Finally united as one: - Christ as Head, believers as Body - Constituting God's complete corporate expression

Conclusion:

These two passages reveal the two aspects of God's complete salvation: Christ becomes the Firstborn Son with both divine and human natures through incarnation, death, and resurrection; believers become many sons with the same image as Christ through receiving Him and being transformed, together expressing God.

 

*Please refer to the July 2024 Anaheim, California, USA training Experiencing, Enjoying and Manifesting Christ (II) Week 13 David’s descendants become the sons of God