And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,
which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 3:15 & 16
Thy word is true from the beginning:
and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Psalm 119:160
| The Firstborn and the Reubenite Syndrome |
Preface
This study is taken from two sermons preached one week after another. The purpose is to understand what the Scriptures reveal about the firstborn in the Holy Bible as well as to learn about the tragic loss of leadership and blessing for the firstborn son of Jacob Reuben. Reuben’s sin of his youth caused untold damage to his descendants. His descendants were plagued with failures after failures because of his sin and the curse that was pronounced upon him by his father Jacob on his deathbed. The sad state of decline and failure of the tribe of Reuben is termed the Reubenite Syndrome.
Christians can draw many precious lessons concerning the firstborn in the Holy Bible. It is the author’s hope and prayer that Christians should learn from the mistakes of others from the Holy Bible and avoid the Reubenite Syndrome.
While the firstborn of fallen men fail, the Firstborn from heaven, even our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome the world for us. Christians need not live out the Reubenite Syndrome that so plagued the descendants of Reuben. The victory is ours to claim even as we live according to the will of firstborn from the dead, the Head of the Church of the firstborn, our blessed Lord Jesus Christ.