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highly exalted Him . . . . . Wherefore, my beloved . . . . . work out your own salvation"
(Phil. 2: 6-12).
In other words the picture includes the `mind' of Christ now (Phil. 2:); the `body' like
unto His then (Phil. 3:). Christ is to be the firstborn among many brethren, and this
`likeness' must be `deeper than the skin'. In the day of glory He will stand as the
"Firstborn" among many brethren (Rom. 8: 29); the "Firstborn" from the dead
(Col. 1: 18; Rev. 1: 5), even as He became for us men and for our salvation, the
"Firstborn" of the Virgin (Matt. 1: 25), Who Himself was before time,
"The Image of the Invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature" (Col. 1: 15).
He must have the pre-eminence, the first place, even as He must be the Firstborn
among many brethren.